It may be Summer but I’ll be going dark soon…

Well, not completely dark, but dusk-like, at least.  The next few weeks my posts will be limited on content, not on schedule or completely absent all together.  With a 5-day book event coming up this week and other plans soon afterwards which will take up much of my free time, there will be little time to make room for blogging.

So I want to apologize beforehand for the fact that my schedule will be totally up in the air for a while. 

Even before I began the crazy schedule as a full-time working mother and writer, summer was always a pretty busy time of year for me.  I’ve only removed the hustle and bustle of a high school sports schedule from my agenda and added the never-ending task list involved with writing and marketing my books.  I can’t imagine how I could have begun writing at all if I was still planning my evenings and weekends around a football or basketball game schedule, booster club meetings or fundraiser events. 

Regardless, there are always seasons when we’re busier than others.  It just helps when you’re able to make concessions in order to avoid burnout. 

So, my concession to avoid that burnout is not to stress about my blog posts.  I’ll be updating my Facebook page when I can about how the Lakefair event is going this coming week.  I’ll also add photos here on my Blog if I’m able.  Either way, I’ll check in when I find the time but for those who are local, don’t forget to stop by to see me at my booth during Lakefair.  I’ll be selling signed copies of No Mother of Mine at Lakefair while promoting the second book in the series, Best Kept Secrets, due out later this summer.  If you’re looking for an excerpt of the second book in the series, hang tight.  I’m doing my best to make one available but it’s not likely to be ready for the Lakefair event.  If you don’t hold that against me, and even if you already have a copy of my first book, swing by to say hello.  I’d love the company.

Again, the upcoming event is Lakefair in downtown Olympia on Water Street from July 17th through July 21st.  Enjoy yourself as you wander about, snack on an elephant ear and discover the various arts and crafts on display.  The weather is going to be gorgeous so we’re looking forward to a good turnout. 

Wish me luck!

 

Busy week, forgetful mind

I’ve had one of those weeks again.  You know the kind; they tend to keep you so busy you can forget yourself when it comes to routine things.

I forgot yesterday was Wednesday...which is why I also forgot to update my Blog.  Or maybe I didn’t forget it was Wednesday, but updating my Blog was really the last thing on my mind. 

 

Not only has this been a busy week at work, as I try to prepare myself for the days I’ll be taking off for the Capital Lakefair event next week, it’s also been busy because I’ve been preparing for Lakefair.  On top of that, my week was cut short because I spent the day with my husband as he underwent surgery today.  So…last night my mind was no longer on work and no longer on writing but instead was entirely focused on what needed to be done to prepare for today. 

I’m now winding down from a long day spent in the waiting room, in the recovery room, and then running around town to pick up items needed for the next few days before I was finally able to get my husband home for some much needed rest.  As he sleeps off his exhaustion and lets his body begin to heal, I’m forcing myself to focus on writing so I don’t completely pass out and become useless when he wakes and might need me.   

Although, I’ll admit when I take even a fraction of a moment to think about what I want to say, I find myself drifting off into la-la land. 

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

Yes, I do feel as if I could fall asleep right on top of my keyboard.

I’ll be back again this weekend…I think it’s time to admit defeat and take that nap after all. 

 

If I can’t QUIT my job, I don’t want to LOVE it either

How’s that for an opening?  Do you wonder why I wouldn’t want to love my job?

Until recently, I hadn’t realized that liking my job vs. loving it would even be an issue.  There are many authors who work while they try to write…it’s just par for the course.  Until you can make a living doing what you love to do (or win the lottery, whichever comes first), you have to make a living doing what pays the bills (and covers your health insurance). 

But what happens when you forget about why you got that job in the first place? 

What happens when so many factors seem to pull you away from what you love to do?

Sometimes you become immune to the initial idea of the original plan, you become equally complacent in your role and you get comfortable with what you know. 

That, right there, is where the problem lies.

Many factors came into play when I had to make a career change and decide to work for someone else rather than myself.  It’s not a decision I especially wanted to make but it was necessary at the time.  It’s not a decision I can regret making but recently I’ve realized it’s also one I can’t become comfortable with.

When I get comfortable, I resist change.  When I get complacent, I ignore the fact that there are other fulfilling possibilities out there. 

I don’t want to get comfortable.  I don’t wish to become complacent.

Due to this, I’ve discovered I also don’t want to love my job.  I want to like it and the people I work with but I can’t become satisfied to the point that I forget I have dreams to realize, I have goals to reach and I have so much more to do in this life than plod away at an 8 to 5 job (whatever happened to the 9 to 5 job?).

As I said, initially the idea of liking my job vs. loving it wasn’t a factor.  It was just a job.  I liked my job, most days, and I enjoyed the people I work with, most of the time, but every long day kept me from what I truly wanted to do.  However, the past few months the job has provided me with more satisfaction and less frustration and when I thought about my future, it somehow involved more of the job than it did my writing.

That is not where my mind needs to be.

I have to remember not to forget myself…my plans, my goals, my dreams.

So now what? 

Well, I’m keeping the job, of course.  I’ll continue to enjoy my job when I’m at work but I’ll leave it behind once I walk out that door every day.  The rest of each day will be focused on those goals that will eventually help me move on from the regular day job to something I can truly enjoy and call my own. 

Until then, I’ll keep reminding myself that the day job can’t get in the way of the dream job.

Whatever the holiday, I’ll enjoy the day off

Another holiday will soon come and go and with it the fun we shall have.  It’s a reason to cut out of work early or come in late afterwards.  It’s a reason to take an extra day off so the weekend is that much longer.  And it’s an even better reason to spend with friends and family.

I didn’t make this a long weekend like most people probably did.  I should have but I’m already taking enough time off later this month so I’ll just take advantage of the fact that the holiday gives me a free day from work.  I did leave work early today though; my excuse is that the computers at work were down all day.  Really, when you’re not very productive, what’s the point in sticking around? 

Leaving work early means I got to enjoy time in the afternoon I don’t usually get to have to myself and once I finish updating my Blog with this post, I get to spend a nice evening with the love of my life.  I see a few winning games of cribbage in my future as we sit outside to enjoy the rest of the day.  A few wins under my belt with a nice cold drink sounds like the perfect kind of evening.      

I look forward to a day off from work, especially when the weather has been so perfect lately.  I expect to enjoy my day however I see fit before we move on to enjoy the celebration of the holiday. 

Whatever your plans are for the holiday (if in fact you are celebrating the U.S. holiday), I hope you enjoy yourself and the time you get to spend with family and friends.

Happy 4^th!

When Deadlines Loom and Procrastination Prevails

I’m a little stressed out.  Why?  Because I’ve had a deadline I’ve been working around and I’ve had to finally admit I’m just not going to make the deadline.

Procrastination isn’t the real culprit here; it’s the limited amount of time I’ve had to complete the tasks necessary to make the deadline.  That happens, of course, when there’s so much going on…but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

I have a book event scheduled for mid-July, which I haven’t even posted about yet because I hadn’t received word that all my paperwork was in order or that a spot had been reserved for me but I finally received confirmation the other day that I have a tent space available for use during the event.  I had hope that once I received confirmation, the question about whether or not I had my ducks in a row would not be an issue because I thought I had plenty of time to prepare for the event.

Turns out I was wrong.  (It happens to the best of us.)  What has stressed me out is the fact that I had wanted to have the second book in the series ready for sale during this event.  Unfortunately, due to the length of time the edits have taken to finalize and the fact that the cover art isn’t complete, that won’t be the case. 

I have to say, to at least make myself feel better, this isn’t a completely terrible thing.  I’ll work around it and the second book will be available soon.  Instead, this event will be focused on those who haven’t yet heard about me and if I can add more readers to my fan base before the second book comes out, that’s always a good thing.  In that regard, I’ll look at this delay as a positive factor with the acceptance that it’s just another great way to promote the upcoming release.

For those who have been waiting for the second book, bear with me.  One plan I have factored in is the possibility of having an excerpt of the second book available for those who want to get a preview.  If I can make it happen, I’ll have them with me at the event for those who are interested in getting a sneak peek.



Capital Lakefair
 

So what’s the upcoming event? 

I’ll be taking part in Lakefair, the local event held in downtown Olympia every July.  This year Lakefair will be held from July 17th through July 21st, Wednesday through Sunday. Even if you’ve already purchased my first book, if you’re in the neighborhood, I hope you’ll stop by to say hello and grab a copy of the excerpt I’ll hopefully have handy (I’ll let everyone know once I’m sure they are available). 

What’s the saying?  When life hands you lemons, make lemonade?  Well, that’s what I’m doing and besides…lemonade tastes much better than plain old lemons so rather than focus on what can’t be, I’ll focus on what can be and go from there.

 

 

Creating a Positive Outlet when Misery Knocks

I’ll warn you right now…my mood can be defined as ‘sad.’

I had planned to write about the success of a self-published author I read about recently but I received some news which both saddened me and then ultimately took over my thoughts.  What subject can completely take over my thoughts?  Sadden me to the point that I disregard what I had intended to write about?

I’ll give you one guess…

You only need one guess.  It’s Death.  A difficult word to write and even difficult to say without a shutter. It is, by far, the most depressing subject.

So why bring it up? 

Because I need to.  This Blog is a way to purge myself, mostly about the challenges of writing while working as I learn to better my craft, and sometimes about the everyday life involving work and family, but then sometimes, a wrench gets thrown in the mix and you do what you can to remove what hinders your thoughts so you can grease the wheels and look forward to a time when everything will run smoothly again. 

We know the unexpected can happen but it’s so much easier to live life with the expectation that everything will remain the same.  We hope the status quo won’t change but, of course, that’s not how real life operates. 

For me, as with many authors, I’m betting, writing is a great way to release the toxins from my brain.  From what you see on television, hear on the news, are exposed to at work, might be dealing with at home or when you receive news a friend or family member has passed away, you have to find a way to purge the negative thoughts, feelings and fears. 

That’s what writing does for me.

What’s amazing as a writer is when the result of what you purge on paper reveals itself as something others can actually relate to, appreciate and enjoy.  You don’t have to write about negativity to release negativity, you just have to find an outlet to free your mind from the negativity so that something positive can come through. 

Sometimes, as with murder mysteries, death is the underlying subject.  How depressing that would be if we didn’t also add lightness and laughter, characters and crime solving and plot with a purpose.  With books we find a way to immerse ourselves in a world where we can tag along with others as they tackle what hinders them.  It helps when you set aside your own troubles for a spell and depending on the book you’re reading at the time, you might be pleasantly surprised to find just how good it can make you feel.

 

Where have you been?

That’s what Jorja would ask me…if she could speak to me, of course.  Okay, she does speak to me, in a way, but she certainly hasn’t learned to berate me yet!

I’ve been here…just very busy with real-life stuff, leaving no real free time to spend with Jorja, Taylor and the other characters in my books.  I will admit I’m glad to be back on my computer and back to my writing.  This week has been lacking in the writing department and I miss it dearly.

Some weeks are just like that.  This week was full of planning, preparation and errands for the graduation party we held for my son and his girlfriend yesterday afternoon.  As college graduates, they deserve the celebration and a showing of support from family.  It’s also never a bad reason to have a party! 

Although we had a terrific time yesterday, I feel I can breathe easy today, as it is full of available hours I can use to my advantage to get organized.  And I do love being organized.  Some might call it a talent, others might see it as compulsive…me?  I say it’s the only way to be when you’re a multi-tasker. 

So today I’ve been able to enjoy some time in the fiction world and it has been a wonderful way to spend part of the day.  Now I’m catching up with my Blog, with Facebook and I’m trying my best to catch up on what some of the other authors I follow are up to.  Looks like everyone is pretty busy…either too busy to blog or very busy promoting their most recent published book.

*Sigh*

I hope to be fully promoting my second book soon but the editing phase takes awhile.  Sometimes it feels like forever but it is a necessary evil.  I can’t wait until the book is ready though…I am so excited to share the second book in the series with you and can’t wait to hear the feedback.  Even more exciting is what has developed with the third book – I’m very thrilled with where the story is going with my characters and I can only hope you’ll feel the same.  I know, I shouldn’t tease.  The most difficult thing about writing is not the writing itself but how long it can take to fully complete the book so that it can be shared with others!

One book a year.  Right now, that’s what I seem to be able to manage and I guess that’s pretty good, considering the fact that I’m also working full time.  A year between books is a long time to wait and I say this as a reader…but as a writer who also works, it’s the best timeframe to manage.  Someday, I’d like to publish a couple of books a year.  That way, I can write books in Jorja’s mystery series but also dabble with other works as well.  Right now, I have to choose between the mystery series or new fiction and that’s a difficult choice to make.  I have so many book ideas…too many to tackle if I can only write one book a year.  I look forward to the day when that will change.

Until then, I’ll manage to do what I can with the time available to me.  It’s all anyone can do, as long as they remember this:

“Stride forward with a firm, steady step knowing with a deep, certain inner knowing that you will reach every goal you set yourselves, that you will achieve every aim.” 

~Eillen Caddy~