Monthly Archives: July 2009

What to Do?

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Hello children! And how are you today? ………. GOOD!!

So, another posting here on my safety raft that is christabelle.com. I haven’t been coming in here much lately as I’ve fallen victim to the FaceBook forum. I joined, and I like it. There. I said it! My name is Christa, and I’m a FaceBook-aholic! (hears in head: “Hi, Christa.” from the other junkies!) I’m enjoying connecting to people I haven’t heard from, nor seen, in years! I like that part of it. But, I don’t like that an hour or so has passed, within what felt like five minutes, as I sit there looking and searching. It’s a bit of a life-sucker. I need to practice control. Make a schedule, if you will, as War-N does. He’s always a good guru to go to when I’m feeling all fuzzy and uncertain. One of the many reasons I love him!

Aside from that, I will be meeting with an editor in a couple of weeks to give him a few chapters to edit and proofread as a sort of test for both him and myself. If I like what he does, he’ll edit the whole thing. If not, then I guess I find another editor, yes? But, I don’t think that will be the case. I just have a good feeling about him. So, I’m excited about that! I’m anxious to get “Days with Indigo” off and running. Right now, she’s just sitting there waiting to be revised and perfected. At least she’s not going anywhere. That’s the beauty of a story. There’s really no rush. It’s not all that time-sensitive. It’s still a story, and it will be years from now as well. It’s only me that is impatient. Not the book.

In Hungry Lucy news, things are really going well. I won’t say much more than that, but we’re nearly done with all vocal recordings now. Only two more to go. Woo hoo! Oh, the album got a new title. It was going to be “The Standing Ones”, but that time has passed. It spoke to us in a new voice, and therefore, gave War-N a great new title. I think his choice was a good one. I like it much better with the new name. But, I shan’t spoil it. No more news. I’ll wait until it’s finished now!

Speaking of HL, I really miss doing the podcast. But, you see, there’s a glitch. War-N doesn’t. He’s happy to be done with it. So, what to do? I have had thoughts of making my own podcast with just me and a few guests now and then, but I don’t know if it would be well-received after so long out of the podcast world? People are used to the duo, so would they embrace me as much as they did the two of us? I don’t want it to sound “hollow” or one-sided. A lot of thinking to do. What to do… what to do?

In photo news, I’m anxiously awaiting a new lens for my D300! I had ideas of photos in my head that would require me to get a wide angle lens. I’ve wanted one for years, but never did anything about it. So, no better time than the present! Plus, I will need it to shoot some new HL shots soon. Oh darn! I had looked into the Nikkor AF 14mm/f2.8D ED lens, but it isn’t really meant for the newer version Nikon cameras (which the D300 is), since it was made in 2000. Because of that, there’s a 1.5% differentiation from body to lens. Within that, the 14mm then becomes a 21mm and doesn’t offer the ultra-wide angle that I desired. Not to mention it was very high in the cost department! But, it would have been worth it. It’s an amazing lens! So, I went to my friend Pete at Cord Camera, the one in Kenwood, and he steered me in the right direction, as he always does! I have ordered a Tamron SP AF10mm-24mm/f 3.5-4.5 Di-II LD lens that will make the same 1.5% difference, but then equals a 15mm angle. Not far from the 14mm I was searching for. Make sense? Oh, and because I still have my older Nikon cameras, they WILL work with the 10mm for any film work I want to do. Awesome!! Plus, I get an added expandable option with a short zoom. Flexibility is always nice. With the money I’m saving, I may just get a new flash to go along with it!! I’ve got some good options! Thanks, Pete!!

All in all, things are happily busy at the moment. But, we still take time to relax and enjoy being “War-N and Christa” and not spending all of our weekends as just Hungry Lucy. There is a big difference. We recently went down to the Serpentine Wall at the edge of Cincinnati and walked over the Purple People Bridge to Newport. It was a lovely Saturday together at a place we both hold dear. We should do that more often.

Hope you are well and happy out there, wherever you are. I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to Fall! And with it, many new exciting happenings!

Much Love,

Christa Belle

It’s Drafty in Here!

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…or, ‘Days with Indigo Update, part 3′. Either way, I’ve got the first draft completed (Finished at end of June and well before my July 4th deadline) and will be sending it off to an editor shortly! Although this is fabulous news, it is merely the first step of many in order to get the book to a completed state. But… WOO HOO!! I friggin’ finished a first draft before my deadline!! I just had to say that!

I have been struggling with finishing the first edit, only because I keep getting sucked back into the story! War-N keeps reminding me that this isn’t a bad thing. But, I find I’m still not truly letting go of the story and letting it manifest into its own entity. It still very much feels like a part of me, inside my head, heart and soul. It’s hard to just smack a “done” label on it and send it on its merry little way. This edit is only to provide “crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s” for the next fellow to see it in a not-so-sloppy manner. He may still find it to be a complete and utter mess! Who knows? But, I’m willing to give over a little control and see what he thinks. For some strange reason, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed. Am I scared? Absolutely! But, it’s a fear I want to have. If I live my life without putting anything of my own out there, what good is that? I know… I’ve done music for over ten years now, but that was a co-effort. I do work hard at the music, and I adore it! But, this writing thing is entirely my own. I’ve never had something that I wanted to put out there, as an actual “something”, that I’ve done entirely on my own. I find just the mere thought exhilarating and terrifying all at once. I can’t wait!!

So, this first draft wound up being roughly 110,000 words, or about 250+ printed book pages. Honestly, I thought it was going to be bigger than that. But, it reads well and you get a good sense of the characters and the story. But, that’s what a professional editor will tell me. Is it too long? Too short? Not enough details? Too many details? I’m very anxious to get notes back and see what a person in the book world actually thinks.

Then, there’s the publishing aspect. Do I self-publish? Do I hope for a book deal? What do I really want to do once this book is ready to find a home in the public eye? My music background says “Self-publish, you fool!” and the other side of me says “Let someone else help you make good decisions, help fund the pressing of the book and distribute in more places”. These two voices get along right now, as they don’t really see each other that much, but I will eventually have to decide. Either way, the plan is this. I’ll finish a great draft, write an awesome Query Letter (which is basically like a One Sheet in the music world.), send it off to a few book folks and then, depending on that, go from there. If nothing else, I’ll just self-publish on a smaller scale. Books are not cheap to print yourself!!!! At least, not the quality that I want to put out there. And, of course, I’d want to offer a non-paper edition as well. But, as a book reader myself, I just have to have an actual book or I don’t feel like I’m reading! So many options to think about. Oh my!

So, you see, I have a lot more work to do and a lot of decisions to make. But, the main story is enjoying its first incarnation as I mark it up with blue ink. My hope is to have a completed first edit to hand off by Friday! Here’s hoping :)

Well, that feels better. Now, maybe I can fall asleep. Yes. It’s one of “those” nights. My mind is so busy. But, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have something to worry about. My idea of absolute calm usually only lasts for a day at the most. I don’t like sitting still for too long. The beauty is, I don’t have to.

If you have something you want to give to the world, find a way to give it! It’s worth every second of hard work!!

Take care,

Christa Belle