It’s been one of those years. Stuff happens, you know, you get behind.
So, I was stalled on getting content up for my web site. Not much was required, really, even just one page about my memoir coming out from RockWay Press would have sufficed. Each author on RockWay’s list is supposed to have a web site in his or her own name. Since there are many Laura Hollands in this world (I’ve met two others; I’m a Holland by marriage), I use the name McHale, too. So, I registered http://www.lauramchaleholland.com with Uplink Earth, the service recommended by my publisher, and signed up for a year of Uplink’s hosting, too.
Then I pondered what to say about myself every so often, even did a few drafts, which I promptly marked all up, but I never pulled the content together.
Comes time to renew with my web host, and I decide against it. During the year, I’d received several e-mail notices about attacks on Uplink Earth’s servers, downtime, remedies, more attacks, downtime, remedies. failures, remedies, etc. I thought this would really be a problem if my site were actually live. So, my host and I parted ways, or so I thought.
Yesterday, thinking I’ve recovered enough presence of mind (like I said it’s been one of those years, the kind you wish you could have skipped—until you learn the lessons the experiences have to teach you, which I haven’t done yet) to tackle this website project, I decided to renew my domain registration through Network Solutions. But, I learned that some entity has taken my now-former domain name and put up insipid content that has nothing to do with me. I saw I might be able to buy it back: minimum bid $100. I was thinking, Why? Why? I’m not a big-name author. It’s not like a gazillion people are going to lauramchaleholland.com each day. I mean, even I, the site’s owner, only visited the placeholder my host stuck up, maybe, three times.
Just now my sister and I went to Register.com, typed in my name, then typed in Who is?, and it listed me as the owner. There’s hope, we thought. We called Register.com to find out what’s going on, asked if I can renew. Nope. Turns out even though I’m still listed as the owner, the site now belongs to an outfit called enom, according to Register.com., which gave us enom’s contact information. The rep at enom said http://www.lauramchaleholland.com actually belongs to the reseller Lux Movera. Enom gave us an 800 number for Lux Movera. We called, and guess what? It’s Uplink Earth’s number! Nobody’s there on weekends; they’re only open 9 to 6 EST.
I will call Monday, see what Uplink Earth has to say. I’m thinking all sorts of dark thoughts, but really until I find out what they’re up to, it’s all speculation. Perhaps Uplink Earth will offer my name to me for a pittance. Or, perhaps I’ll have to sign up for another year of service in order to re-acquire it at a reasonable price. I can’t imagine doing that.
I know it’s my bad for letting it slide. But, this is a tough one. I mean, who knew?
April 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm
You’re a Rockway Press author! Maybe you can help me out. Their site seems to have vanished. I entered their 2007 Writing Contest and have been checking for the list of winner, but it’s April 17th and no info, no site. Then on other sites I read posts that worried me a little. What has your experience been with this publisher?
April 22, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Thanks for your comment; sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was out of town on business all last week, and upon my return Friday, needed to take a break from everything digital and just veg for a few days. Now it’s back to the grind for me.
About RockWay: RockWay was experiencing some difficulty with its web hosting service, but the company is very much alive and well, and if problems with the site haven’t been sorted out yet, they will be soon. I believe Alexandria, who is at the helm, has switched ISPs. I’m very happy with RockWay. The company is small, debt-free and in the process of moving to a larger office. Books are being published, and mine is in the queue. I feel RockWay is very much the right place for me. Authors have a private message board, which fosters a sense of community, and Alexandria is most supportive of our individual careers.
Best of luck with the contest. I don’t know when 2007 winners a set to be announced. I was a 2005 winner, and I think winners that year were notified and their names posted on the site some time in the spring of 2006. So, I expect results should be out shortly.
Thanks again for your comment. What sort of writing do you do?
April 22, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I’m glad to hear your experience has been positive. It’s reassuring.
As for writing, I have a novel in the works, a novella submitted to the 2007 Rockway Press contest, and I’m working on a script for Script Frenzy (www.scriptfrenzy.org).
I also write articles and personal essays, and I blog. I used to write poetry, but have gotten away from it in the last few years.
As for reading, I love memoirs. I’ll keep an eye out for when yours comes available. Are you working on anything else right now?
April 23, 2008 at 4:12 am
I’m working on a sequel to Reversible Skirt, which ends when I’m 13. It’s slow going right now though — stops and starts, wrong turns and all that. Plus I’m letting my day job as a managing editor for a trade publication occupy way too much of my mind and use up too much of my energy. It’s all about balance, isn’t it? And at some periods in my life I’m much better at it than other times.
Reversible Skirt is written in first person and in the voice of a young child. I’m writing the sequel in second person. It gives me a certain amount of distance I seem to need to delve into the events of my teenage and young adult years. We’ll see. You know how writing goes. I may finish this draft and realize the voice is all wrong.
Where’s your blog? I’ll pay you a visit there.