Category: Blogs & Blogging

Internet Explorer 8 Argh!!!

Last night I downloaded Internet Explorer 8 as part of my automatic updates package. Then I visited my blog. Argh, there’s a vertical line to the right of my header. Does anyone else see it?

Also, sometimes when the blog loads, I not only get the vertical line, but graphic elements in the left of the header and around the rollovers are affected, as well. Strangely, when I pass my mouse over the menu rollovers, the graphics correct themselves, and then I only have the aggravating vertical line to the right of my header.

I see IE8 comes with a “Compatability View” button at the top of the browser to the left of the Reload button. If I click this button, I don’t have the issues with the out-of-place graphic elements, I only get the aggravating vertical line. But then what does that mean to other browsers out there? That my blog will look all messed up unless they have clicked that Compatability View button as well.

I’m really not impressed. I’ve updated and checked all my other browsers (Opera, Firefox, SeaMonkey, and Safari) and of course Internet Explorer 8 is the only one that creates this problem. Unfortunately, it’s the predominant browser of use, so I need to ensure my site displays correctly in the dratted IE. Ergh, argh, triple-Bill-the-Cat gack!

I’ve contacted the web designer who did my blog coding for me when I could not manage it myself. Hopefully she can get me out of this mess.

Castle, Yes or No?

Anyone watching Castle? I started watching it and liked it. But I don’t usually watch cop shows (okay, Castle’s a writer, but he works with a cop in this series), so the format—opening with the murder, then they solve it—grew a bit tiresome. Although, I must say, I love the characters, Castle and his mom in particular. Kate Beckett, the detective with whom he verbally spars, I’m not as sold on.

Two weeks ago, the DVR glitched and the episode didn’t record. I realized I didn’t miss it. Last week, the episode recorded, but I grew bored watching it and deleted halfway through. Then I discovered that Lee Lofland, a member of one of my writing lists and author of Police Procedure and Investigation (great reference book), is reviewing Castle each week on his blog, The Graveyard Shift. Okay, now I have a great reason to start watching again.

I’ve been meaning to plug Lee’s blog for some time now. If you write mysteries or romance mysteries or romantic suspense, check it out.

Lee watches Castle each week, then corrects the procedure mistakes in his blog. Here’s the entry for last night’s episode, and here’s the link for the Archived reviews of the previous episodes. (The review for last night’s episode is at the top of the Archive listing, last week’s is next, and then you’ll have to hit the Older Entries link to get reviews to earlier episodes).

If you read the reviews, you’ll quickly realize that Lee spots tons of errors in the writing of this show. An excellent resource and opportunity for learning.

Okay, how about Southland? Anyone watching that? I’ve watched the first two episodes and am intrigued enough to keep checking in. Yes, the episodes follow a pattern so far, just like Castle does. In the case of Southland, the first two episodes opened with a scene from the ending, then started from the beginning and worked their way back to the ending. I don’t mind this technique, but if done every time, again, it will grow tiresome for me. I have no idea if Southland portrays the police accurately or not. Wish that I could find a review of Southland each week on Lee’s blog (hint, hint, Lee). (P.S. If you’re already doing the reviews, let me know where to find them; my time is short these days).

Anyone remember Annie from Men in Trees? She’s in Southland. Totally different character. She’s great to watch.

MetaWhat?

In case you missed the Amazon brouhaha over the long weekend, you can read about it here. The Twitter nation got involved, and Dear Author also raised a commotion. A little entity called The New York Times chimed in, too.

Penny’s books were affected, although they’re appearing again now, sales ranking intact. (Hint, the first link leads to Penny’s first book, the second link to the second). If you’d like to increase Penny’s sales ranking in protest against the “glitch,” be my guest! (Hint, purchasing the volumes increases the rankings).

Frankly, the entire episode ranked. However, for many book buyers (like those who live in the boonies), Amazon and entities like it are the only option. Yeah, there’s Barnes and Noble…if you’re American. In Canada, we have Chapters and Amazon.ca. I order from Chapters when I can, but they don’t have as big a selection as Amazon.ca. Chapters doesn’t carry Penny’s books. Neither Chapters nor Amazon.ca carries my books. If you want the paperbacks, Amazon State-side is the only game in town.

What do you think about the brouhaha? Did you buy the “glitch”?

Blog Hoppy

No, that shouldn’t be happy. In honor of the guy in the big, furry bunny suit, it’s hoppy. Pass it on.

Because I’m still laboring at my desk, here are some great places to visit if you’re so inspired. First, the Blaze authors have a new group blog. And Kensington author, HelenKay Dimon, has a snazzy new website. Love the new colors, HelenKay. Last, there’s an interesting new blog out there called Romance in the Backseat. Whose back seat, you ask? I’m not sure. But the blog features interviews with authors in the back seat of a car. It’s a cool concept, so go check it out.

Hop, hop, hopping into the long weekend…. Have a good one, everyone!

Jamie, Jamie, Where Art Thou?

My buddy and former critique partner Jamie Sobrato of Harlequin Blaze and now Superromance fame has been absent from the blogosphere for a velly long time, but she’s back! Jamie has moved her website and blog to WordPress. Hop on over and say hello. Tell her I sent you.

Welcome back to the world of blogging, Jamie.

Guest Blogger March Madness

When I first began hosting guest bloggers, I thought it might be a cool idea to host up to one guest per week. And I always have a good time with my guests, but four guests per month is a lot of work. I realized this when I hosted three guests in February. If three guests is a lot of work, then four is even more so, right?

Right.

Because I not only have to coordinate, format and schedule the blogs, I also feel duty-bound to promote the heck out of them and to stick around the office the date of the blog in the event the guest needs me (like when my spam filter went gonzo a couple of guests back).

So Guest Blogger Madness continues, and it’s March, so I’m dubbing the month Guest Blogger March Madness. I have four guest bloggers in March. Two have already visited. The next two are visiting on the next two Mondays (the 16th and 23rd). After that, well, I’m taking most of April off. Only one guest scheduled to appear that month. Then three in May. June and thereafter, I plan to narrow the schedule to no more than two guest bloggers per month. That’s a schedule I feel I can maintain without feeling too restricted by, well, a schedule.

However, next year, depending how I’m feeling, I might go all out for March. If I’m going to host Guest Blogger March Madness, why stop at four guests for the month? Why not host two per week? Eight for the month? I’ll truly be mad by the end of it.

Good idea, bad, indifferent?

How do you feel about guest bloggers? I enjoy interacting with the new commenters who visit during my guest blog dates, and I enjoy getting to know the guests in the weeks preceding their dates. But there are sooooooo many opportunities to guest blog out there… Do you feel inundated with opportunities to visit guest blogs and possibly win free books? Would you rather I keep to my vow to restrict myself to no more than two guests per month come June? Or do you like the guest bloggers, even if you don’t always comment or have a chance to visit?

Now’s your chance to help mold my actions for the remainder of the year and next March.