Opportunity????

What a day I had the other day! As some of you know I work part-time as a manager at an all women's fitness facility. I love this job as it coordinates well with my other part-time job as a greeting card merchandiser and also allows me some time to write and do my art. Apparently I might be having more free time as the owner approached me with the idea of making the facility a mostly self-maintained 24 hour center. Which means my hours could be cut back to as few as three hours a week...YIKES! That won't pay the medical bills! (I am feeling better finally, however) I spent the day trying to figure out the pros and cons of this conversion for me personally. Finally I just decided that it didnt' matter. There are still alot of logistics to figure out before the change happens...if it happens. She is thinking of trying to accomplish this by the first of the year...so I guess there could be only a couple months of regular paychecks...bummer!

Anyway, when I got home that evening, I decided I needed to go on-line and see if I can figure out how to find an agent to help me promote my books and writing. As I was searching, I came across a site that told about a current contest with Amazon.com and Penguin Publishing...Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award...a search for the next great novel. The deadline is November 5! So I thought, what the heck, and entered. However, only 5000 submissions were going to be accepted and I received an email stating registration was full but they would place me on a stand-by list. So, I went to bed laughing and telling my husband that I am probably now one of another 5000 who are on stand-by. The next morning, I got up and (after my Bible reading time) I went to check my email and there it was...a message from Amazon congratualing me that a submission spot opened up and I had 7 days to submit my manuscript for consideration. I was stunned...but then I thought...WOW, what an opportunity! And immediately called my husband, who was cautiously enthused. I received a new hope of excitement for "The Scrapbook" , oh, I know the odds of my little romance book being chosed as the "next great novel" are slim, but I'm excited about the opportunity anyway. I finished the final edit and sent the manuscript in this morning. They thanked me for the submission and wished me luck, stating they would notify me in approximately 48 hours with confirmation of receipt and by November 12 if my submission is valid and accepted as an entry into the contest. Whooohooo! It took three attempts to complete the submission form accurately with the exact information required...the right number of words, character count, etc. I said a prayer as I clicked the "submit" button.

On another note, I am feeling much better. (Thanks for the prayers!) I have been told I have a slightly enlarged thyroid (the lump in my neck) and that it is nothing to be worried about...just to have it checked annually. Everything...I mean everything else checked out fine. I did do a trip to the emergency room with lower right abdominal pain which ended up being a packed bowel (Yes, I was full of crap...medical confirmation for those of you who always suspected!) The last virus played havoc on my whole system...but I think I'm finally over it and have much of my energy back....PRAISE THE LORD!

Well, that's all for now.