New Year, New Ideas, New Obstacles

So the new year has hit me like a ton of bricks.

I just finished peak season at my day job, and they threw inventory hell on top of that. Add one messed up shoulder and you have a recipe for aggravation.

Regardless, I've been nursing some story ideas in my head. I'm working on a new vampire erotic story called Blood and Moonlight. Also, I'm working on the next Hell House story, which happens to be surly Sora's story, called Hell House: Fairy Fury. I'm excited about my Hell House characters the most. There's so much to pull from, and it's Sapphire Blue's first young adult release as well.

The only thing is, it's a little difficult to type when your shoulder is screaming at you to stop. So, things are a little slow until I'm back at 100%.

But I have faith that I'll be back on track soon!

Preditors and Editors Poll

My two short stories, Summon Me Swiftly and Holiday Hell House are nominated in the Preditors and Editors Poll!

Summon Me Swiftly is in the Sci Fi/Fantasy short story category. You can vote for it here:
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstorysf.shtml

Holiday Hell House is in the All Other Short Stories Category.
You can vote for it here:
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstory.shtml

(Voting is open until January 14, 2010. There are lots of other categories with great books as well, so look around and have a voting party!

New Holiday Release - Holiday Hell House!

I have a new release for the holidays!


Blurb:

There’s no place like Hell House for the holidays…
At least that’s what Danielle Stewart hopes for as the director of Hellsner Halfway House for Troubled Paranormal Teens. But all her plans come to an abrupt halt with the help of bickering teens, unannounced zombies, and a portal to hell among other things.

When the arguing leads to things quite literally going up in smoke, will Danielle find that her true calling lies elsewhere, or will the help of an unexpected angel show her the family she has longed for is right before her eyes?

Available from www.sapphirebluepublishing.com and many other e-retailers!

(It's already a best seller at All Romance Ebooks!)

Happy Holidays!

The Most Craziest Time of the Year

I'm a bit stressed. November flew by, and December is here. That means Christmas is now less than a month away.

I work in retail, so this time of year gets crazy at my day job. Our business doubles, even triples some days. I enjoy being busy, but keeping up with deadlines can be hectic! Not to mention, the orders get more complicated and take more time to do, since people like to give shadowboxes as gifts. I usually end up sewing and pinning things until I can't feel my fingertips!

I always have grand plans on things I want to give as gifts. I want to crochet scarves and hats, draw portraits, make jewelry. And yet, every year, I find myself scrambling to make things at the last minute, or breaking down and buying something instead.

Apparently, I suck when it comes to planning.

However, one present I am giving myself this year is the completion of a holiday short story, which Sapphire Blue has picked up for publication. I've always wanted to write a holiday story, but never forced myself to take the time for follow through. We are in the editing process, and hope to have it out later this month. I can't wait to see what they come up with for the cover!

I'll share more as the details come in!

And now, on to more craziness...

Christle
http://www.christlegray.com

Retail Rant Revisited - Episode Seven - You Want To Do What?...With What?

My days are filled with questions at my day job. This is ok, since the biggest part of my job is customer service, and I actually enjoy helping people for the most part.

But sometimes, customers are extremely vague about what they are looking for, yet expect me to know EXACTLY what they need. As if I can use my super powers to see inside their brains. If I had these super powers, I really don't think I'd be working a retail job.

So on occasion, I get to spend time with a customer, playing twenty questions and wandering around the store in order to figure out that "that stuff that looks like felt, but isn't felt" IS indeed felt.

Whatever.

Other times, customers are so confused, they don't even know where they are. I get asked where the shower curtains are, or the bedspreads. I find myself having to explain that we do not carry these items in an arts and crafts store, and that maybe they should try Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Usually, they nod, their eyes glazing over as they try to recall where they are shopping at the moment. I've even had them laugh and ask me where they are.

And since I am at an arts and crafts store, I get alot of questions from people who are trying to figure out how to something themselves, even if that isn't the best way. This can be fun, since I get to rack my brain with ideas to help others be creative. But sometimes, the questions can be a little, well...disturbing.

For example, a few years ago, I was asked by a man for something clear that you could preserve something in. Of course, I asked what, exactly, he was wanting to preserve. He then proceeded to explain to me how he wanted to preserve his recently amputated leg, because he didn't want the hospital to dispose of it, and he didn't want to bury it. Instead, he wanted to be able to look at it whenever he wanted, because it was a good leg, and deserved the best.

I swallowed hard and convinced him we did not have anything that would be sufficient for that. And then I ran to the break room, too weirded out for words.

Sometimes, I really just want to show someone where the ribbon is, and leave it at that.


*A new one for the list - A customer asked a coworker of mine for a glue that would be sufficient for holding on a toupe. Not at an arts and crafts store, people!

Retail Rant Revisited - Episode Six - Black Friday Blues

Black Friday.

Such an ominous name that retailers have for their best sales weekend of the year. Given such, because the sales made tend to shift each company from the red to the black for the year.

Last year was my tenth year of working Black Friday at my job. And the company started early, opening for three hours Thanksgiving evening as a preview. Since it was the first time we were open on Thanksgiving proper, no one knew exactly what to expect.

All I have to say about it is...Holy Crap.

There were so many people in the store, every cart and basket was in use. You couldn't walk down an aisle, it was so packed. The store did over $16,000 in three hours. And there were only nine people there to handle it all.

And Friday was even busier, as usual. You couldn't tell from the crowds of shoppers that there was any problem with the economy at all. Two stores down, people camped out in tents in the parking lot in front of the Best Buy to get an XBox 360.

Whoa.

In all my years of doing this, I still can't think of one item that I want so badly that I stand in line or sleep in a parking lot for a chance to get it.

And forget the whole "season of cheer and giving" thing this weekend. All politeness goes out the door as people complain, argue, and shove each other around to fill their carts with holiday gifts.

And I lost count of how many things crashed to the floor in a dozen or more pieces, casualties of the chaos. You Break It You Buy It is a thing of the past.

I don't hate people - I don't hate my job. I just get disgusted at the hipocrisy of it all. Customers descend like vultures, trashing stores and being rude to the sales people that wouldn't be there if they didn't have to, all under the guise of gift giving and holiday cheer.

What a crock.

Nothing like ten years of retail to turn you into a complete cynic.

If you can't tell - regardless of my schedule - I don't shop on Black Friday weekend. It's a principle thing.

*This year - I will be working Thanksgiving Day once again, as well as Black Friday. I'll be sure to come back with a full report for you after all the chaos!

Retail Rant Revisited - Episode Five - Wood Glue To You! And A Scrapbook Paper Too!

Through my years in retail, I've often wondered what happened to common courtesy. It seems like all manners and politeness have taken a back seat in people's lives.

I was always taught to be courteous to others. Ask politely if you need help, and always thank the person who aided you.

Some customers try to adhere to this policy. "Could you help me please?" "Can you tell me where something is?" I have no qualms helping these people find whatever they need.

But there are those that can't even take the time to form a complete question. These people walk up to me and simply blurt out items. "Yarn." "Glue." "Candles." As if I'm supposed to know from one word exactly what they need and why.

It's like they are using some kind of secret greeting, a substitute for "hello" or "hi."

One of my coworkers gets this even more than I do. One day, he'd had enough. He was working in an aisle, and a customer walks up to him and blurts out "wood glue!"

He smiled politely and waved. "Wood glue to you, too!"

Luckily, the customer had a sense of humor and laughed, then asked in a complete sentence for help finding a certain kind of wood glue.

So, in his honor, wood glue, everyone! And a scrapbook paper too!