Lessons from a weekend

As I mentioned I attended my first ever Reader's Luncheon this past weekend.

It was preceded by a day and a half visiting my critique partner, Christine Glover. As always, Christine's warmth, friendship and boundless energy have fueled me to plunge back into the new manuscript I've started. Her generosity also extended to an advanced birthday gift in the form of her college kid designing the graphics for my newsletter. The CK did an amazing job!  I can't wait to have some news - like the reveal of my cover! - and let you all see how sleek and polished it looks. Provided, I took good enough notes and can remember how to utilize all the neat little tabs and inserts that the CK showed me. She has promised to include a link on this page so if you're interested you can sign up for my newsletter -- after she returns from visiting Mickey Mouse!

The CK also started on a new banner for the street team that Christine and I have joined forces on. Christine is more social media savvy than I so she has graciously included me in this venture. It should be a positive force for both of us.

The Reader's Luncheon was lovely. The ladies of the Heart of Dixie chapter of RWA were warm and welcoming. I had the pleasure of sitting at the table of authors Carla Swafford and Susan Carlisle, who treated us with multiple goodies! I met readers and authors alike, made some new friends, connected with old ones. I listened, learned and was entertained by Eloise James' insightful, empowering and humorous speech. I had a lovely dinner with author Kelsey Browning and so enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her better...she is a wealth of information and support.

I came home tired but had a lovely day with family to celebrate Dad's, including my wonderful husband The Craftsman, who indeed is a fabulous father.

Now, it's Monday and back to the reality of juggling this writing journey with a day job.

How was your weekend?

Time is on my side.
Not.

Last week while my critique partner, Christine Glover, was here we discussed our current work in progress, critiquing and brainstorming as needed. We also spent time shopping for items to include in our Debut Author Raffle Basket that we're assembling for the Heart of Dixie Reader's Luncheon in June. We did some other social media activities and rounded out the days by attending an intensive one day workshop given by Margie Lawson.

We talked about future activities we'd like to attend. We went over prospective dates for more writing-get-togethers, we discussed strategies about social media and other business related matters. I even managed to squeeze in a doctors appointment. Throughout all of our talks, we both mentioned how life had gotten more complicated and crowded.

After Christine left on Sunday I wanted to take the time to regroup, maybe take a nap. However, everything that I'd let slide during her visit had to be handled. Laundry needed to be washed, clothes ironed. Yard work needed attention. Shopping had to be done so there were groceries for this week. I have a quilt to finish. Another on the way. And,  not just because he'd cooked for us the past four days, I wanted to spend time with The Craftsman. No, I do not loan him out.

Then it was time to venture back into the real world via the Day Job, where everything that had piled up while I was away had to be handled. I want to get a hair cut. I need to scrub bathrooms and vacuum floors.

Did I mention that I've received my first revisions letter?

The hours have become more precious.

For the most part the revisions are minor, with only a couple of difficult decisions to be made. My editor has invited me to call or email her with any questions or simply to discuss options. That is such a wonderful source of support. That doesn't mean, however, that I take this task lightly. It does mean that some tasks will be delayed, some social events missed.

I just have to find the best way to balance all the time.

How do you manage everything that life throws at us?

Like most everyone else in the country, I am so ready to be done with winter and am looking forward to spring. Especially after a Saturday such as we just had. On this Saturday, during a family gathering, the weather was perfect enough for us to sit outside on the deck, enjoying company, celebrating milestones and warm weather along with laughter and good conversation.

Sunday, however, brought cooler temperatures and rain. I'll be honest, on Sunday I was glad for the excuse to stay inside. The Craftsman and I worked on a home improvement project that I came up with back in October.  Up until this point we've either had other obligations or, for two weekends, the weather was nice enough to concentrate on outside tasks.

I'm so blessed with a wonderful house and, rare in this area, a bit of land. That means yard work. A lot of yard work.

That means balancing life, with all of its obligations and indulgences, with the writing life.

This is an exciting time for me. After all the years of work and angst over whether or not to continue on this path, I'm approaching the release date for my first book. But with that excitement comes obligation and committment. There's the edits for this first book, another book to plan and write, exercise, social media postings and promotional tasks. A quilt to complete. Throw in all the domestic chores that go hand in hand with maintaining a home and the hours fill up quickly.

How do you manage to handle obligations with relaxation?

It's almost been a year since I began this blog site and I admit I've been slack about posting the way I hoped to do.  Well, maybe not. The Craftsman will tell you he isn't much of a talker, and then add that he doesn't have to do so because I talk enough for both of us. Some days I actually let him get away with that nonsense.

If asked, I would describe myself as basically shy. If I'm around people that I'm comfortable with I can hold my own in conversations although I still tend to stand along the perimeter and observe rather than jump in and call attention to myself. Which is why this social media/promotional area is one of my weaker links.

Maybe the roots are in my childhood. Raised n the south, as an Army brat, I was constantly warned against making a pest of myself. I can recall going to a friend's house and as she announced that she was going into the kitchen to get a drink and did I want one, all I could think of was to tell her no. It never occurred to me to say yes, I would love something to drink. I didn't want to be a nuisance.

I'm approaching the publication of my first book -- in July of this year!

While it is something I dreamt of, hoped for, worked toward, now that it is approaching I'm nervous.
I want to be an adult, a professional, and handle the promotion as such. In today's world, I understand the publishing industry requires me to have a hand, at times a solo hand, in promoting my own book.  

Yes, I love this book. I'm thrilled and beyond proud that someone else thought it was good enough to publish. Of course I want people to buy it. I hope they will enjoy it. I'm terrified they will not. I want them to buy any other books I may be fortunate enough to publish. But I'm also scared to stand up, call attention to myself and say yes, please, please, please buy my book.

I've studied how some of the authors that I admire to see how they handle promotion. I've collected pens, note pads, magnets and bookmarks. If you ever go to a conference, there is an abundance of items. Some of these have enticed me to buy a book or read a new author. Other times, well, to be honest I just wanted the item because I thought it would be useful.

I'm more than happy to promote my fellow authors, either by way of Twitter, Facebook, word of mouth or attending book signings. Will I ask them to do the same for me? I know I should. What's more I know if I ask they will do so gladly and without reservation. Still, it's going to be hard for me to take that step.

What kind of promotional items appeal to you?

Oh...and please, please, pretty please buy my book when it come out :)