Fair warning: This is going to be one of those self-absorbed, all-about-me posts that the blogging experts tell writers not to write. But seriously, sometimes there’s so much craziness going on, I just need to share (or overshare as the case may be).
First, I got a promotion. Yay me, right? Except I’m very stressed about it. Out of 7 eligible, intelligent, professional-type women on my team, I am the only one who applied…and I had to do some serious soul-searching before I raised my hand. My boss and my boss’s boss are very excited about it. They have been extraordinarily complimentary to the point where I am blushing and also secretly thinking OMG!! These people think far too highly of me. Someday they’re going to figure out I’m not all that and then what am I going to do?
Seriously, what is that about? Is it a woman thing?
Second, we are moving. Again. Our lease ends August 15 and we have to be out of this house because our crazy landlady wants back in. Both Mike and I thought our lease ended September 15 and we would be able to transition to a month-to-month lease until we found a new place. Not so. Our landlady is so anxious to move in, she’s scheduled movers for the 16th.
Reality is not our strong suit. Taking quick actions is not our strong suit. Packing is not our strong suit. DOH!
But never fear, we had an extraordinarily lucky house search this time. We are moving to a place we like much better. We like the location, the landlady and the actual home much, MUCH better. So all will be well…if we survive the move without doing violence to each other. I’ll write more about this later, but, for now, let’s just say there’s a rainbow and a pot of gold at the other end of this annoying and poorly-timed storm.
Third, I put my stupid hand up again (I have got to start sitting on my hands) and volunteered to organize a meal for the Ronald McDonald House near my office. It’s a team volunteer event, but I’m in charge. The meal is happening tonight. I’m near crazy deranged with worries….what if they hate the food? What if I didn’t buy enough? What if the meal isn’t ready on time? What if, what if, what if….
Fourth, I want to have Advanced Reader Copies of Not So Long Ago, Not So Far Away out before the end of the Summer. I’m on page 48 out of 180-ish pages. The re-write process if painful! But I had planned to definitely pay for a table and sell it at the Dahlonega Literary Festival in November. That has been a bright shining star on my horizon for months…but I just found out the Dahlonega Literary Festival is requiring authors who want to sell their books there to pre-submit a copy to the organizer by August 1st. UGH!!!!! How the hell am I going to make that happen?
As if that isn’t enough writerly stress, I went and signed up for the Atlanta Writer’s Conference. Why? Why did I do that? It’s like I have a sick and twisted desire to torture myself. And get this, I’m planning to submit and pitch my unfinished second novel that will need to be much closer to finished if not actually finished before the conference.
Right now my brain is a crazy train and it is definitely going off the rails and I would really like to jump off. But I can’t. It’s time to pack up all this food and get to work.
And now 20 minutes is up and I have to click the “publish” button even though this post is terrible and probably filled with typos. Sigh.
Slay the Writer 
Congratulations on your promotion….how is house hunting going?
Hi KK! We have found the most wonderfulest house but have not yet signed a lease. It’s a pretty sure thing though. The owner is related to a friend of Mike’s & also knows two of his closest friends so…I’m pretty sure we’ll be moving there Aug 11. We’ve hired movers. Keeping my fingers crossed nothing goes haywire. BTW – thanks for the leads you gave us but I had my heart of hearts set on D.
This post is not terrible it is terrific! As is all your stuff. I am so glad to see you went ahead and published your book! Please let me know how I can get a copy.
Hi Holly! Great to hear from you. I have not yet launched the book. I bought my publishing package, but am now in a wild, furious, painful rewrite…taking more than 1/2 of it out of epistolary & into 1st person present (per lots of feedback from professionals). I will then print a limited run of ARCs. I’ll be happy to mail a free ARC to you when it’s ready…hopefully in Aug. All I ask in return is a stellar review in Amazon. Of course, all this is assuming I don’t go stark raving Looney Tunes before then.
SO, how’s it goin’?? Having a relaxing summer??
Hi Jerry! Yeah…And don’t even get me started on the emotional eating aspect of all this insanity. I think I might have stress eaten the entire contents of my fridge AND both the pets last night.
no, no, no. This was not a horrid post. We love it when you share, or over-share, as the case may be. There can be no over-sharing as far as I’m concerned. I love to know all the details of your hectic life with the man, the cats, the snakes, the landladies…all of it is fun, when you write it.
I think you should pass on the book fair. Because you can’t rush find literature any more than you rush fine wine. “I will sell no books before their time,” is a motto all self-pubbed authors should tattoo on their foreheads.
I”m really looking forward to your book, though, so go ahead and rush if you must. You have my permission.
The dinner, of course, was a work of art, I’m sure. You’ll see this after it’s all done and you’ll be nodding your head in agreement, I’m sure.
Sally, I love, love, LOVE that motto. If I were going to get a tattoo I would consider it, but not on my forehead. Maybe on the inside of my wrists to remind myself as I’m gnashing my teeth & typing why I am making myself do this. I’m going to take the middle road on rushing. I’m rushing to create ARCs but will not offer the book for sale until I feel it is as perfectly perfect as possible. BTW – consider coming to the Dahlonega Literary Festival. It is fun. And free.
Love your blogs,,,,but geez over booking yourself, wonder where that gene came from,,,just sayin!!!!!!
Hi Ann! Oh no…I am NOT my mother. I’m NOT!