It's my birthday week!

I admit that while growing up my birthday, or that of any of my brothers, wasn't a special deal in my family. Because of that attitude I worry that perhaps I didn't give my children the attention their birthday deserved. I do know, however, they each appreciated the fact that the one aspect of their birthday that I observed is that their siblings had to take on their assigned  chores for the day :)

Yesterday, I and The Craftsman enjoyed a lovely day with our children and grandchildren, celebrating in advance my birthday. I love my children, and am immensely proud of the adults they have grown to be. I love the fact that, despite their differences, they are close and are willing to spend a valuable off day not only but to spend the day spending time with me.

This time last year I admit I saw little to celebrate my birthday. I had reached the end of the road, as far as I was concerned, in my writing career.  Now, I'm facing the approaching release of my first publication.!

Today I had to do the final edits of my manuscript...when I read over the acknowledgements and got to the part where I mention my children I had tears in my eyes. 

I hope they'll be pleased with the book - and with the words that don't even come close to thanking them for their love and support.

I know, no matter what, that I love them, and their father, beyond words.

Maybe it's not so hard to face a birthday after all!

August has always been a busy month in this household. 

In our immediate family we have 4 birthdays and The Craftsman and I celebrate our anniversary.  Add in all the back to school busy-ness and there's little time to slack off.  This year we've also had one wedding shower, a baby shower, and good friends coming to visit for a couple of days. And all of that is on top of housecleaning, cooking and summer yard work.

I've had the added pleasure of celebrating good news, in the guise of several friends learning they are a Maggie finalist.

In the meantime, I've come down -- sort of -- from the high of having sold my first book and have faced the dark tunnel of producing another book.

This should not be a problem.  After all, I didn't sell the first book I wrote. I've written many others so this should be a simple matter of coming up with new characters and ways to make their lives conflicted and difficult before they enjoy that happily-ever-after moment.

However it feels different this time.

I admit the fear kept me paralyzed for a few days. But like most fears, if voiced aloud, it loses much of the power it held over you. I won't go so far as to say I've conquered the fear. I can even rationalize and say I believe the fear will help me stay on task. In my opinion, the fear rarely, if ever, goes away in the life of a writer.

I have also, this month at least, given myself permission to enjoy the blessings of my life and family.  I work on the new manuscript, or try to, every day. Granted some of that work is not putting actual words on the screen but could be little more than mulling. Eventually that mulling will pay off.

For now, however, the laundry awaits.