Today I'm posting over at the IWSG site if you'd like to stop in and visit. This post will close out my blogging for the year but I'll be around on Twitter and Facebook now and then.
2016 was a rough year for a lot of people. Within our family, we had ups and downs but through it all, we stuck together and supported each other. I trust that we'll be of one heart going into 2017. We're rich in all the right ways.
"Contentment lodges oftener in cottages than palaces." Thomas Fuller
We had a bit of snow and ice at the end of last week but I'm trying to have a better outlook on winter this year. We'll see how long that lasts.
"Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart." Victor Hugo
I'll use my first post after Christmas to talk about this year's writing progress and my plans for the next year. Some good news and some not so much.
I do want to thank all my faithful readers of this blog and especially those who leave comments. You make me smile and sometimes laugh out loud. To all of you, I wish the very merriest of holidays with the warmth of family and friends around you. I pray for your good health and happiness. If I could gift it to the world, I would share with one and all, my contentment and joy as a mother, wife, sister and friend. Bless you all.
Monday, December 19, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
Seasonal Musings
I always complain like so many other people about how early retailers put out their Christmas goods. Yet, here I am again with Christmas less than two weeks away and I'm unprepared.
This past weekend I accomplished a few things. The house is finally decorated. The tree is up but not decorated. The children insist on all being present to participate in that and it's very difficult to get that scheduled. But it's worth the wait to have all the good-nature arguing and teamwork that does into that. They all have their favorite ornaments that they must put on. There have been years when we didn't decorate the tree under the 23rd.
Another obligation was an extended family gathering on my husband's side. It was calm and fun, lots of good food. A third thing was the start of plans for my daughter-in-law's baby shower. Male readers might not agree, but I love a baby shower. They're so hopeful and filled with joy.
The only shopping I've done so far is bring in packages from the front porch and the mailbox. The rest should arrive this week.
Book outline is not very far along but I'm going to work on it this week. Cold weather brought a bit of snow, a dusting, this weekend. I DON'T like it.
I read an interesting stat in Writer's Digest Yearbook. In 2015, 54% of ebook purchasers use their phone to read books at least some of the time. I do that sometimes when I'm waiting at the dentist's or doctor's. I would guess that lots of people read the news on their phones. My husband does this now after fighting about getting a smart phone.
Another mention in WD Yearbook was how adult coloring books actually accounted for the 3% increase in print book sales in 2015. Does that count? I'm sure you've heard the thoughts of how coloring is a good stress reliever for adults. Not my thing.
Are you ready for the holidays? Any gatherings you must attend? Do you read on your phone? Are you into the coloring book trend?
This past weekend I accomplished a few things. The house is finally decorated. The tree is up but not decorated. The children insist on all being present to participate in that and it's very difficult to get that scheduled. But it's worth the wait to have all the good-nature arguing and teamwork that does into that. They all have their favorite ornaments that they must put on. There have been years when we didn't decorate the tree under the 23rd.
Another obligation was an extended family gathering on my husband's side. It was calm and fun, lots of good food. A third thing was the start of plans for my daughter-in-law's baby shower. Male readers might not agree, but I love a baby shower. They're so hopeful and filled with joy.
The only shopping I've done so far is bring in packages from the front porch and the mailbox. The rest should arrive this week.
Book outline is not very far along but I'm going to work on it this week. Cold weather brought a bit of snow, a dusting, this weekend. I DON'T like it.
I read an interesting stat in Writer's Digest Yearbook. In 2015, 54% of ebook purchasers use their phone to read books at least some of the time. I do that sometimes when I'm waiting at the dentist's or doctor's. I would guess that lots of people read the news on their phones. My husband does this now after fighting about getting a smart phone.
Another mention in WD Yearbook was how adult coloring books actually accounted for the 3% increase in print book sales in 2015. Does that count? I'm sure you've heard the thoughts of how coloring is a good stress reliever for adults. Not my thing.
Are you ready for the holidays? Any gatherings you must attend? Do you read on your phone? Are you into the coloring book trend?
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
IWSG: December Edition
In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what's your plan to get there?
This is something I do think about. Like most writers, I want a big, big publishing contract that will allow me to hire a publicist, and to have movie people bidding on the rights to my novel. But on a more realistic level, I want to continue to write my romances for the small publishing house I work with, but I also want to finally have one of my fantasy series picked up by one of the big publishers like TOR or Orbit.
Writer's Digest put out their annual yearbook magazine. I always like reading their headline roundup. One item of great interest is the sales numbers for audiobooks. Digital audio accounted for the biggest growth area for traditional publishers in 2014. That trend continued in 2015 with a sales increase of audiobooks around 21% from the previous year. If you're looking to take advantage of that trend, there's a giveaway going on over at IWSG blog, where you can try to win a free book telling you how to make an audiobook. Michael Burnette's The Independent Author's Guide to AudioBook Production could be yours for free.
With the holiday season upon us, TV has lots of reruns on. What will I be rewatching to get through this dry spell? Probably a little Daredevil, Game of Thrones, The 100, and I don't know what else. New shows I've enjoyed this year are Pitch, This is Us, and Timeless. I also hope to get my next romance series outlined before January first. So lots to keep my busy beside Christmas happenings.
Have you thought about a 5 year plan? Or longer? Do you have experience with audiobooks as a writer or reader? What are you enjoying on TV these days?
Monday, December 5, 2016
QotM and Winter is Here
"What does retirement look like for you?"
As most of you know, I'm a full time writer and don't expect to ever completely retire from that. But I also taught high school for 34 years before this and have since retired from that career. Thank goodness or I would be starving without that pension. So I write almost every day now, take care of our huge house and property and sometimes help my husband with his painting business. The only thing I'd like to change about my current situation that would make if feel like retirement is to down-size. That would give me more writing time and the financial savings would allow more money to do some traveling.
Like many people today, we're pretty careful of our money. I know so many older people who can't afford to retire and are working well into their seventies. Likewise, I know many young people who are struggling from paycheck to paycheck and can't even dream of retirement and save toward it.
Speaking of questions, don't forget this Wednesday is IWSG posting day. The question this month;
In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what's your plan to get there?
Had a great writer's Christmas party on Saturday. It's such fun to spend time getting to know everyone a little better and the food was good too. I haven't really done much shopping but I do have some ideas of what I need to get for everyone.
On the other hand, winter is determined to arrive. We had flurries and some sleet a few weeks ago and last night, we had some more. The only comfort in that is that I get to quote Game of Thrones. I can't count how many times I watched the last episode of season 6.
I have two different ideas I'm working on for my next series. As soon as I finish the edits I'm currently working on, I'll have to make a decision about it.
"Indecision may or may not be my problem." Jimmy Buffet
Are you preparing for retirement yet? Have any holiday parties in the future? Aren't you glad our winters only last a few months and not for years like on Game of Thrones? And we don't have white walkers.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Temptation
It's always so tempting for me to be lazy with my writing at this time of year. There is so much going on from right before Thanksgiving until after the new year. Hosting Thanksgiving is so much work and also involves more than one shopping trip for me.
Now December will bring various social gatherings, more shopping and the time to decorate. Baking, cleaning, and other various chores can overtake my life and the writing business gets pushed aside. It's during this time of year that I most often have to remind myself that this is my job, not a hobby to be picked up when I have nothing else to do. I have to put writing first just like I was going out of the house for a day job.
So I'm doing my shopping online. I ordered something for my daughter from this list of gifts for writers. Not saying which one in case she stops into my blog today. I'm hitting up Amazon for another small gift for each of the kids. I marked a few things at AC Moore craft store for family gifts and already have Christmas cards though I send out a small fraction of what I used to. My daughter is home to help with the decorating so that speeds things up. I also have the Christmas menu planned for this year, a plan to make it less work for me.
What I'm trying to do, is remove all the reasons I give into the temptation to cheat my writing time.
"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." Benjamin Franklin
Next Wednesday is the first one of December so get your IWSG post ready. This month's suggested but not required question is:
In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what's your plan to get there?
There's what to get you thinking.
Don't know about your house, but there was SO MUCH football on at our house over the past holiday. Many of you know I'm from PA, so there was a lot of Penn State fan culture happening. Fun times.
Did you watch some football last weekend? What percentage of your Christmas shopping have you completed and how much did you do online? Does your writing time suffer at this time of year?
Now December will bring various social gatherings, more shopping and the time to decorate. Baking, cleaning, and other various chores can overtake my life and the writing business gets pushed aside. It's during this time of year that I most often have to remind myself that this is my job, not a hobby to be picked up when I have nothing else to do. I have to put writing first just like I was going out of the house for a day job.
So I'm doing my shopping online. I ordered something for my daughter from this list of gifts for writers. Not saying which one in case she stops into my blog today. I'm hitting up Amazon for another small gift for each of the kids. I marked a few things at AC Moore craft store for family gifts and already have Christmas cards though I send out a small fraction of what I used to. My daughter is home to help with the decorating so that speeds things up. I also have the Christmas menu planned for this year, a plan to make it less work for me.
What I'm trying to do, is remove all the reasons I give into the temptation to cheat my writing time.
"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." Benjamin Franklin
Next Wednesday is the first one of December so get your IWSG post ready. This month's suggested but not required question is:
In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what's your plan to get there?
There's what to get you thinking.
Don't know about your house, but there was SO MUCH football on at our house over the past holiday. Many of you know I'm from PA, so there was a lot of Penn State fan culture happening. Fun times.
Did you watch some football last weekend? What percentage of your Christmas shopping have you completed and how much did you do online? Does your writing time suffer at this time of year?
Monday, November 21, 2016
Give Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving a few days early. This is a very busy week when you're the one hosting Thursday's feast. It's also a week when a lot of people are traveling. At least this year, I don't have to pick someone up from college. I feel for all of you that have to fight traffic.
Holiday menu at our house. Lots and lots of turkey, baked corn, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, monkey bread, fresh fruit(so we feel like we're eating something healthy), pumpkin pie, apple pie and ... that's enough. Then rolls and sliced cheese for cold turkey sandwiches later in the day. Unlike many families, we have our Thanksgiving meal at 11:30 am. It was a tradition started years ago so my stepsons could have dinner at our house and their mother's house. We kept it up as they married so we could all be together.
Though I do a lot of work for that one meal, for the rest of that day and the entire next one, I do no cooking. It's leftovers for everyone. It gives me a break from the kitchen and all the cleaning I do before Thanksgiving. I deep clean so I can decorate for Christmas the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Yes, it's that time of year.
On Friday, I'm sure my daughter and I will watch The Gilmore Girls on Netflix together. I'm excited for that. I haven't done any Black Friday shopping since I can't remember. Never really had much success on that day anyway. There are a few places I might visit on Small Business Saturday, mostly because I want to support them more than I want to find special deals.
I'm getting some guests lined up for the new year. I'm making plans. Still working on my edits for the last Outlaw book. I hope to have it done in another week. Not sure what I'm working on next which is unusual for me.
Still doing the 50/50 writing challenge with my local writing group. My numbers are lower as I work mostly on edits, but I'm writing every day.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, be you American or not. I have so much to thank God for, I wish I could spread the joy to everyone.
What are your Thanksgiving plans? Are you going to dare the Black Friday crowds? Are you a Gilmore Girls fan? Do you have to do any traveling this week?
Holiday menu at our house. Lots and lots of turkey, baked corn, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, monkey bread, fresh fruit(so we feel like we're eating something healthy), pumpkin pie, apple pie and ... that's enough. Then rolls and sliced cheese for cold turkey sandwiches later in the day. Unlike many families, we have our Thanksgiving meal at 11:30 am. It was a tradition started years ago so my stepsons could have dinner at our house and their mother's house. We kept it up as they married so we could all be together.
Though I do a lot of work for that one meal, for the rest of that day and the entire next one, I do no cooking. It's leftovers for everyone. It gives me a break from the kitchen and all the cleaning I do before Thanksgiving. I deep clean so I can decorate for Christmas the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Yes, it's that time of year.
I'm getting some guests lined up for the new year. I'm making plans. Still working on my edits for the last Outlaw book. I hope to have it done in another week. Not sure what I'm working on next which is unusual for me.
Still doing the 50/50 writing challenge with my local writing group. My numbers are lower as I work mostly on edits, but I'm writing every day.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, be you American or not. I have so much to thank God for, I wish I could spread the joy to everyone.
What are your Thanksgiving plans? Are you going to dare the Black Friday crowds? Are you a Gilmore Girls fan? Do you have to do any traveling this week?
Monday, November 14, 2016
Super!
All kind of great things from the past week. This past Saturday was my birthday. Five of six children filled the house for a little celebration. Food and then more food. Thoughtful gifts and joyful company. The missing son and his wife visited on Sunday with more of the same. I'm so lucky. My youngest son took me to the movies as a gift. We saw Dr. Strange, which was great. But how could anyone watch that in 3D? Wow. I got a little dizzy on a regular screen.
"The best smell is bread; the best savor is salt; the best love, that of children." George Herbert
I hope you have a chance to see the Supermoon. The Full Beaver moon is going to be bright and close by. If you don't know what a supermoon is, read about it here
This is the closest and brightest a full moon will be since 1948 and it won't occur again until 2034.
As part of my birthday celebration, my husband and I are going out of town for a few days. Both of us can't wait to spend time doing nothing but whatever we want.
Another book signing next Sunday, the last of 2016. So far this year, I've had pretty good success at signings but it's like writing itself. Don't count on a great hourly rate.
Though the election is finally over, the country seems more divided than ever. I think we need to think of people as individuals. Treat people with kindness and stop judging people with such broad strokes. If you voted for Trump, it doesn't mean you're a bigot, racist or sexist idiot. If you voted for Clinton, it doesn't mean you're a liar or person looking for freebie government handouts. Because the government and media say we are a country divided, it doesn't mean we have to agree or act in such a way. Reach out and bring America together again.
"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult." Seneca
Next week, it will be all about thinking about Thanksgiving. Can't believe it's almost that time. Now I have to go pack.
What do you think you're hourly rate is as a writer? Are you going to check out that Supermoon? Does 3-D movies mess with your head?
"The best smell is bread; the best savor is salt; the best love, that of children." George Herbert
I hope you have a chance to see the Supermoon. The Full Beaver moon is going to be bright and close by. If you don't know what a supermoon is, read about it here
This is the closest and brightest a full moon will be since 1948 and it won't occur again until 2034.
As part of my birthday celebration, my husband and I are going out of town for a few days. Both of us can't wait to spend time doing nothing but whatever we want.
Another book signing next Sunday, the last of 2016. So far this year, I've had pretty good success at signings but it's like writing itself. Don't count on a great hourly rate.
Though the election is finally over, the country seems more divided than ever. I think we need to think of people as individuals. Treat people with kindness and stop judging people with such broad strokes. If you voted for Trump, it doesn't mean you're a bigot, racist or sexist idiot. If you voted for Clinton, it doesn't mean you're a liar or person looking for freebie government handouts. Because the government and media say we are a country divided, it doesn't mean we have to agree or act in such a way. Reach out and bring America together again.
"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult." Seneca
Next week, it will be all about thinking about Thanksgiving. Can't believe it's almost that time. Now I have to go pack.
What do you think you're hourly rate is as a writer? Are you going to check out that Supermoon? Does 3-D movies mess with your head?
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