in My books, political science, Politics, The Writing Life 1,067 Words

It’s been one of those weeks

Sometimes the best-laid plans just don’t pan out. Such is life.

This is Janet’s Writing Blog, so today I start my post with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my life this week as a self-published writer.

If you read my blog on Tuesday, Traveling Through History is released today!, you know I was celebrating the release of the e-version of my new book, Traveling Through History: A Collection of Historical Short Stories, but I mentioned that the paperback was not being released that day as planned.

Traveling Through History: A Collection of Historical Short Stories, by Janet Morrison

I thought I had everything in place for the paperback’s release worldwide by Ingram-Spark.

I sent handwritten notes to various independent bookstores along with a detailed information sheet about the book. I told them they would be able to order the book from Ingram-Spark and have it in stock in their stores on November 4 or very shortly thereafter.

The e-book is available – and I’m over the moon about that! But as of today, I still don’t know what the hold-up is for the paperback. Perhaps I will learn something today.

I decided to go ahead and self-publish the paperback on Amazon in the United States, and I expect it to be available here on November 11. I hope Ingram-Spark will release it for worldwide distribution next week – which will include Amazon in countries other than the U.S. — but that remains to be seen. Bookstores will not order it from Amazon. I needed Ingram-Spark for that.

Such is the life of a self-published author! This glitch is not the end of the world. It was just something I had hoped to get checked off my to-do list on November 4.

Thank you to those of you who have congratulated me on the release of the e-book. And a huge thanks to those of you who have purchased the book! I understand that Ingram-Spark has distributed the e-book to Amazon.UK, so I assume it is also available on the worldwide e-markets of Amazon.

Meanwhile, in Washington, DC…

The government shutdown continues as I write this on the night of November 6. One result of the shutdown is that the air traffic controllers and TSA agents who keep the flying public safe are not being paid. They are expected to show up for work and give their undivided attention to all the details their jobs entail… without pay.

To try to force Congress to do its job and pass a federal budget, the White House gave the airlines less than 24 hours’ notice that they had to start cancelling flights at the forty busiest airports in the country. A certain percentage of flights must be cancelled with each passing day beginning today.

But none of this will interfere with Trump’s weekly trip to play golf in Florida.

Since an alleged “businessman” is President of the United States, it baffles me that the order came from the White House (or what’s left of it) with no regard for the chaos such a sudden order will cause airlines, airports, passengers, and the employees of the airlines and airports.

It appears “President Marie Antoinette” knows no more about business than he knows about a democratic government. Throwing a Great Gatsby-themed party at his mansion in Florida last week while federal employees are not receiving paychecks is the height of being tone deaf. He is completely out-of-touch with the average American.

President Antoinette says commercial aviation in the U.S. is “100% safe,” even though air traffic controllers work without pay and some have had to take a second job and are working exhausted.

And why was a large “The Oval Office” sign installed at what’s left of the White House this week? Can President Antoinette not find his office?

Yesterday, the President announced that he will force the price of weight-loss drugs down because they are too expensive. Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Medicare and Medicaid programs announced that Americans will lose 135 billion pounds before the mid-term elections next November. I’m not good at math, but the population of the United States is around 343 million. That means every American would have to lose 394 pounds to make Dr. Oz’s statement true.

Something is very, very wrong in Washington, DC, and it is being denied by the members of Congress and by what’s left of the White House.

A cheaper Thanksgiving Dinner?

Trump and various Republicans in Congress have bragged this week that they talked to the CEO of Walmart and he told them that everyone’s Thanksgiving Dinner will be 20% cheaper this year than it was last year while Joe Biden was US President.

What Trump and none of the Republicans have explained is that the Walmart CEO based that on the fact that this year Walmart decreased the number of items it considers to be a Thanksgiving dinner. Slick move, Walmart!

Of course, Trump has changed the 20% to 25% because that is what he does. He exaggerates or decreases statistics in whichever way serves his purpose.

The Walmart CEO’s hocus-pocus with the facts has led many Republican lawmakers who have never set foot in the grocery store to announce that grocery prices have plummeted since Trump took office on January 20, 2025. They really do think American citizens are stupid and will believe the politicians instead of their own wallets.

Until my next blog post

I will be caring for my sister as she recovers from surgery over the coming weeks, so I might not blog as often as I have in the recent past. We expect everything to go smoothly, but I will have added responsibilities vying for my time and attention.

The time you take to read my rants and blog posts is appreciated more than you know. Your “likes” and comments are what keep me going.

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

I’m grateful that I still have the freedom of speech guaranteed to me by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I am very aware that some of the people reading my blog in other countries cannot imagine having the freedoms we have in America. Even though our form of government is under attack from within, I believe there are enough of us who love democracy to save our country and put things right someday.

Janet

38 thoughts on “It’s been one of those weeks”

  2. I am encouraged by the results across the nation on Tuesday. Thank for your good wishes for the coming weeks. My sister and I already share a home. We’re both very independent, so everything falling on me will be a bit of a change from our normal. She won’t be able to drive or get around without a walker for six weeks, and she’s used to jumping in the car and going when and where she wants to go. Will be interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I’m glad to hear that you are resolving the book publication issue, Janet. Hopefully, everything gets resolved soon so your book reaches the audience you want.

    The shutdown, my goodness. The genius leading Congress sent everyone home, and now everyone is struggling to get back. That move will further delay the reopening of the government, but of course they are getting paid, so there’s no rush on their part.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Hi Edward. I apologize for being this long to respond. While my sister was in the hospital for surgery, my desktop computer crashed. Don’t know when I’ll have time to call someone about that. Meanwhile, IngramSpark never responded to my email and I haven’t had time to try to schedule a phone call from them to find out why my book wasn’t released on Nov 4… or any time since. It seems when it rains, it pours. Govt-wise, Border Patrol descended on Charlotte yesterday. The operation’s name is Charlotte Web. I guess they think it’s cute to take the name of a children’s book. Today’s my first time to access my blog on my cell phone, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to post a blog again. One day at a time.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Hi Carol, sorry I’m slow to respond. My sister is doing as well as can be expected after major surgery. Putting ice packs on her knee 30 minutes every hour and helping with exercises is a full-time job. My computer crashed while she was in the hospital and I don’t know when I’llhave time or energy to see about it. Today is my first time dealing with my blog on my cell phone… so one more challenge. Yes, the tide appears to be turning against the orange one ever so slightly. We can only hope. Every day he tells more lies. He thought we were so stupid that we’d believe him when he said food prices had decreased even though we’re the ones going to the supermarket. He’s never been in a grocery store in his privileged life! He’s having to go back on some of the tariffs but he’ll never admit they were a mistake. Thank you for your good wishes for my sister. It’s just a long process, but we’ll get through it.

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  17. Thank you. She’s coming along. Will just take several months. Spending all my time putting ice packs on her knee 30 minutes every hour from early morning until late at night! Lol! My computer crashed on Tuesday, so I’ll trying to navigate my blog on my cell phone. It’s a wee bit challenging for this technologically-challenged old lady! Great time for me to lose access to all my computer stuff. IngramSpark did not release my book in paperback as scheduled on Nov 4, and I haven’t been able to find out why. Life is interesting!

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  19. Hi Liz, I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth, but the idea is sounding better by the day. My sister is doing as well as can be expected after major surgery. Applying ice packs too her knee 30 minutes every hour keeps me busy along with everything else. I still can’t find out why IngramSparks didn’t release my books as scheduled on Nov 4 or since! This is the most frustrating thing I’ve encountered yet in self-publishing. I wish I’d never heard of them! The icing on the cake is our computer crashed on Tuesday while I was at the hospital two extra days. Don’t know when I can deal with that. Finally figured out how to access my blog on my cell phone today. Have no idea when I will blog again.. much less post all those memes I created to put on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. And yes, Border Patrol arrived in Charlotte today: Operation Charlotte Web. How very clever of them to almost use the title of a children’s book! I hope your book is going splendidly. I’ll be in touch when I can grab a minute.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Hey Pat, As I told Liz Gauffreau, I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth but the idea is sounding better by the day. Sister is recovering okay from major surgery after two extra days in hospital. Putting ice packs on her knee 30 minutes every hour from early morning until late night is full-time job. LOL! Can’t find out why IngramSpark had not released my book, so I’ve probably lost all my credibility with the nine independent bookstores I sent letters and info sheets to in October telling them they could order by Nov 4. Great PR! Icing on the cake was my computer crashed on Tuesday. Don’t know when I can even look into that. Figured out how to access my blog on my cellphone today. This is not fun!! Don’t k ow when I’ll be able to advertise my book on social media or post a blog again. Did you hear that Border Patrol arrived in Charlotte today? “Operation Charlotte Web.” Isn’t that a cute name for such vile work? I’ll be back in touch… sometime.

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  21. Between taking care of my sister post-surgery and my computer crashing on Tuesday, I’m basically out of commission as far as posting anything on my blog for a while, I didn’t figure out how to access my blog on my phone until today. I’m reading your blog on my tablet as I’m able. Don’t know when I’l be able to blog again. I haven’t been able to find out why IngramSpark didn’t release my book on Nov 4. It’s been an interesting month. Thank you for your good wishes for my sister.

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  23. Glad to hear she’s doing well! Haha, yes, technology is great when it works, but I’m sure you’ll get it sorted once things have settled down a bit for you both.

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  24. No worries looking after your sister takes priority…I hope by now there is some improvement in your sisters ongoing recovery…You take care everything will come right in its own time…xxx

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  26. Hi Beverley. Thank you so very much! Ingram spark released the paperback Saturday night. I never got any explanation of why it was not released on Nov 4. At least I don’t have to continue that fight. My sister’s surgery went well, but putting ice on it every 20 minutes from morning until bedtime is exhausting along with cooking, cleaning, etc. My computer crashed on Nov 11, and I haven’t had time to arrange for someone to come look at it. I’m really handicapped without my computer. I hope you enjoy my book! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Thank you, Carol. She’s coming along as well as can be expected. We’re both tired, but this will pass. She’s improving, but physical therapy is painful, of course.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Thank you. Yes, computers are great when they’re working. No time yet to get it sorted. I wrote several blog posts on paper while sitting in my sister’s hospital room. That did me a lot of good. Now I have no computer. I really don’t want to try to write them on my tablet. Oh well. Border Patrol Agents descended on us here in metro Charlotte over the weekend. I wish I could post one of my rants!! They’re masked, heavily armed, and generally scaring the Spanish speaking immigrants (and US citizens who speak with an accent) to death. Detaining people at random, breaking out car windows if someone hesitates to get out of their car! This is America until we get rid of President Marie Antoinette.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Hi Liz, I’m run ragged but hanging in there. My sister is coming along as well as can be expected for an almost-80-year-old with Addison’s Disease, etc. It’s exciting to know your book is being done in audio! Are you recording it yourself? Glad your launch is going well!

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Thank you. I’m really lost not being able to blog. I just don’t think I can do it typing with one finger on my tablet. LOL! It’s just weird and frightening to have Border Patrol agents roaming all over NC, since we’re 3,000 kilometers from the Mexican border. Nothing about this is right, and nothing about this is about our safety. And then the Orange One has the audacity to entertain the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office and throw him a State Dinner after 15 of the September 11th pilots were Saudis. The descendants of those killed of 9/11 are furious and so are the rest of us. Thirty-eight more months of this insanity? I can only pray that the Democrats will win a majority in Congress next November.

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  35. I’ve been finding the whole Marjorie Taylor Greene saga entertaining, though – trouble in paradise? The mood music over here is that between that and the Epstein vote, Trump might be heading for lame duck status earlier than expected… 🤞

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  36. That’s the indication here, too. It couldn’t come soon enough for me! It’s frightening when Marjorie Taylor Greene comes off as the voice of reason! No one saw that coming! Trump has obviously sold his soul to Putin, leaving Zelinskyy with the impossible choice. The options Trump is dishing out to him make me sick to my stomach. Ukraine loses whether it signs the agreement or not. Trump has sold it to Russia. Poland is next. As in the 1930s and 1940s, we are witnessing what just one or two evil men in power can do to destroy the world order. Too many people in America are too ignorant of history to grasp what is happening. At least we can rejoice that there are finally cracks in Trump’s armor. You will notice, though, it is primarily women who are standing up to him. We have way too many old white men without spines in the U.S. Congress and U.S. Supreme Court.

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  38. Thank you, Beverley, I was able to get my computer fixed on Saturday. I’ll be playing catch-up for a while after missing out of publicizing my new book for two weeks. The paperback’s release was unexpectedly delayed by a couple of weeks, and I never got an explanation of why. It’s all good now, though. I am blessed. My sister has been sick this week — not surgery related. Perhaps a virus. We aren’t sure, but it has limited her physical therapy and exercise. The wound itself is good, though, so we just need to get her strong enough to resume therapy.

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