So I finished Book 2 at 7:00 am this morning (which as of this week will apparently be titled Sweet Little Lies). Anyway, because I'm super anal (no judging) I printed it out and decided to read it from cover to cover double (quadruple) checking for grammar, spelling, thoughts that didn't translate from brain to keyboard. Because I'm operating on a grand total of twenty hours of sleep for the last six days, it took me all day long to read and edit a document I would normally knock out in three or four uninterrupted hours. Long story short, I sent the final draft in at about 1:00 a.m. this morning.
Almost immediately I received an email back saying that because I did not get it in technically on March 31st, it would not be considered an accepted manuscript. That is publisher-speak for "we're not paying you."
I was just about to slit my wrists hyperventilate and pass out when the next email came saying "Just joking... April Fool's... everything's fine." Color me unamused:
For the record... I have always hated April Fool's Day. I don't know why but I'm going to go out on a limb and blame BougieSiblings. I assume one of them did something in my youth to make me hate it. Though I generally have quite the sense of humor, I cannot stand over the top practical jokesters (one of the reasons why I hated the show Punk'd) and April Fool's just brings them all out of the woodwork. Riddle me this, why do we need a holiday for lame jokes anyway?
For that matter, I really don't like clowns either. (I know I'm being random) The only pranskter who gets a pass is the Joker from Batman. I really like that character. (Jack Nicholson Joker not Heath Ledger Joker <- that one scared the crap out of me).
Yep BougieLand - these are the 3:00 am musings of a sleep deprived author. Got thoughts or feelings on April Fools?
24 comments:
I've never like April Fool's Day and I don't have a particular reason why. And shoot. No joking about getting paid for the manuscript. That is just cruel. I hope you are getting lots of sleep now that it is done.
We're >here< on this.
I hate the show Punk'd, too...
I think the main reason is because, while I'm all about a random practical joke (I was actually amused when my door was "penny'd" -- that is, a stack of pennies was forced in the gap created between a door and the door frame making it impossible to open), I feel like people go above and beyond anything necessary on April Fools' Day. There's no need for oneupmanship... thanks.
I've already seen some outlandish facebook statuses, and I hope no one ever actually gets in trouble on April 1, cause I won't believe them...
we are >here<. i have always hated april fools day. i never understood the concept. whats the freaking point? my friends and family know to leave me out of their antics. foxy don't play dat!
Oooh that was just cruel of the publisher. Please when it comes to money issues, ain't no jokes up in here.
Not a fan either. It just seems like another excuse for people to take their dumb-assness to dumb-ass levels.
I cosign - hate April Fools...even worse having to preface everything you say today with "no joke"
This is wonderful news, Chele! Congrats!
I may have had to throw the computer through the window or send her back a not so nice email. Thank goodness she was smart enough to send you a message back immediately.
Tiffany
http://liferequiresmorechocolate.blogspot.com
My mom died from cancer on 3/7/05. My little brother called me on April Fool's Day that year telling me about a life insurance policy no one knew my mom had. At the time, I was a newlywed grad student, working part-time and stressed out over losing my mother and struggling to pay for her funeral. I was NOT amused when I found out he was joking. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew I would have to pay for his funeral too, he would have been in the ground next to her .
I would like to opt on being responsible for not liking April Fools Day. Because, like you, I just don't do it. The foolishness does not compute.
Big ups on the completion of book - we know you are going to get a z or two in now!
Just woke up from one. Naps rule.
Let just say no to nasty insect pranks too - what are we? 12? LOL!
Thank you! I am all for keeping the inner child alive, totally support people of all ages dressing to the nines for Halloween, but April Fool's rubs me the wrong way. Who decided it should really be a "thing?" If your age has two digits, YOU'RE TOO OLD FOR THIS.
I wholeheartedly co-sign with this. I have a great sense of humor and I can laugh at my own silliness more than anyone else. But April Fool's Day has always carried a deep undertone of sarcasm to me, and I dislike sarcasm and sarcastic people with a passion bordering on hate. There is nothing funny about fooling people for someone else's amusement.
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HELL. NO. I can't even say what I would have done.
dumb-assness! my new favorite word. consider it stolen!
Sleep?!?!? Who needs sleep? Sleep is for wimps. Now, I'm going to take a nap. :-)
Point blank, folks overstep. Here in the office, someone thought it was cute to put plastic roaches in everybody's desk drawer. Not amused. "Diamond, get a sense of humor" No, you need to GTFOH with that nonsense
Folks are going to have to learn not to joke about $$$$, nobody's laughing.
People play too much. Few years ago my girlfriend called up talking about she was pregnant. I spent the whole day sweating. She shows up talking about April Fool. <<< cut pile. Something's ain't funny
High five
April Fools Day: It's a day for the fools....hehe. :) I have no problems with it.{Shrugs shoulders} If I get prank, then I think about a "sweet revenge". {wink} Anyway, it really depends on the person. You cannot prank anyone, well you can try but the person might hate you after..Some take it too far and like I said some really do not want to "play". It's life. Also, I like the show Punk'd and the Joker in the Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger (RIP) Batman films. :)
Hey OneChele, FYI, "Sweet Little Lies" is also the name of Lauren Conrad's (of The Hills fame) second book ... not that you care or that your publisher didn't do research... but it rang a bell for me. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. I'm 24, African-American and of the late-MTV generation, so both books appeal to me. :)
wow,This is wonderful news.
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