Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Roller Coaster Weekend

This weekend was a real roller coaster ride, featuring lots of ups and downs.  It began with good news.  My editor likes Book 2 in my Immortal Guardians series!  Woohoo!  I was very pleased to hear it.  And her response came quickly, so there was no long, nail-biting wait. 

Then . . . catastrophe struck.  I tried to install a new operating system on my computer and my hard drive crashed.  The computer shut down and would not start up again no matter what I tried.  It would just give me a blue screen for fifteen seconds or so, then shut down again.  Needless to say, I was very upset because I couldn’t remember what I had and hadn’t backed up recently.  (It’s been a very busy few months.)  I thought I had backed up my writing folder, but couldn’t remember if I had backed up the filmmaking and other recent files. 

Well, the computer tech guy told me I needed a new hard drive.  I was incredibly relieved when he said they could back up everything on the hard drive for me before sending it out.  But that was crushed the next day when he retracted that and said they couldn’t.  Well, I wasn’t ready to abandon and, thus, lose those files that may not have been backed up and returned home with my crashed computer.  Over the next few hours, a borrowed laptop and several Google searches yielded instructions on how to start up the computer in single-user mode, then enter a series of commands that ultimately restored my hard drive to the former operating system.  The good news:  Now it appears to be working fine.  (I immediately backed up everything, of course.)  The bad news:  I can’t install the new operating system without first purchasing either a new hard drive or a new computer.  And I really need that new operating system so I can update my film editing software.  *sigh*

There were other ups and downs, but they were minimal in comparison.  So, how was your weekend?  Comprised of more ups than downs I hope.

As always, leave a comment and email me your snail mail address if you’d like me to send you a signed Darkness Dawns cover flat.  (You can find my email in my profile or on my website.)

5 comments:

  1. Computer scares when it is your life's work on the line is scary as all get out. I have a remote drobo drive that backs up my system constantly. Sometimes I think it is more of a pain than a help. My husband wiped out about a year of graphics work once. C'est La Vie.
    I am your 12th follower come on byFangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
    email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
    twitter: @fangswandsfairy

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  2. I ended up buying an external hard drive I'll use solely to back up my hard drive with software that allows me to schedule automatic back ups so I won't have to worry about losing info in the future or remembering to back everything up manually. I can't imagine losing a whole year's work. I was worried about losing a couple of months' worth!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Wow! What a great start to your Immortal series. I just couldn't put it down. I love your writing it just flowed so nice.Can't wait for the next one.
    I would also love a signed cover flat of Darkness Dawns.
    Sincerely,
    Debra Hetland
    2600 Arlington Ave.
    Racine,WI 53403

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  4. I loved your book. Thought it was well written and a beautiful love story. Im so excited for the next book. I recently bought a kindle and found you through the kindle store. Im so lucky i did! I would love a signed book of Darkness Dawns!
    Thank you so much,
    Maegan

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  5. Thanks, Debra and Maegan! I'm so glad you enjoyed Darkness Dawns! I hope you like Night Reigns when it's released in December!

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