Friday Afternoon

It’s a slow Friday at work and I’m counting down the hours. I will work tomorrow, but Friday’s still feel like the end to the normal work week.

So many things are happening in my life right now, it feels wonderful and chaotic all at once. I’ve never been very good with change. Change is usually accompanied by nightmares, sweaty palms and upset stomachs. This time around, however, I’m actually enjoying it because I know only good things are coming around the bend.

I’m not a control freak, per say, but I like to get my hands dirty. I think that’s why all this book stuff has me more excited than petrified. I’m making something and that feels very satisfying. I am placing part of my heart and soul into a tangible object.

A few years ago, that would have scared me to no end, but now I am so committed to it – I can’t help being overwhelmed with wonder and joy.

I first got the idea and starting writing this story when I was ten years old. That baffles me. I recently found the opening to the story that I received a critique on, before I went to a writing conference in New York. I was shocked at the writing (yuck) and how different the story felt. It was from January 2008. I can’t believe how much can change in a couple of years.

I’ve gone through many lessons as I wrote this book. I’m a much better writer and I hope to keep getting better with every word. I learned how to edit myself and others through a wonderful critique group/friendship. I learned that first drafts are really awful and there is deep fulfilment in revision.

I have less fiery hoops to jump through with my current novel and hopefully the next one will be even easier. But I learned how to own my own creative voice with this book and that makes all this change worthwhile.

Moving Right Along

So many exciting things to share. Well, I think there exciting, but I’m a self-publishing nerd at the moment!

The copy-edits are happening as we speak and I am super jazzed to get going on the final edit sometime next week.

I got a PO Box and filed my “Doing Business As” Trade name with the secretary of state. My book launch is scheduled for October 11, 2009 at an amazing venue called The Mercury Cafe.

I should be able to start making the binding press with my dad next week!

Copy Edit

My personal edits are finally done and this morning I printed the entire manuscript. I will send it off to the copy-editor on Monday. It’s so cool to hold it. A lot of work went into those pages!

I’m excited to get her feedback and work on the final touch-ups before printing it. I’m glad that it will be out of my hands for a couple of weeks so I can focus on some technical stuff.

This week I will have a P.O. Box and I’ll be registering my “Doing Business As” name with the secretary of state. I will also we opening my new business bank account! All so exciting, to me at least.

I wrote a list today of all the stuff that needs to be done for this project. It feels a bit overwhelming, but I’m enjoying the process so much.

I’ll check in soon with more self-publishing info.

I Love Books!

I love the beauty of serendipity! I have been fretting for weeks about how I was going to be able to stick to my deadline and get TCC published and out into the world by October. I focused my intention on finding the answer. On Monday, the answer fell in my lap.

I’m very excited and I will blog about it as soon as I have some more info. I know it’s right because my energy is renewed and I can’t wait to get started.

Great things to come… I promise!

New Developments aka God is Forgiven

Lots of stuff happening lately. Two of my favorite people in the world got some great news and that always makes me happy. I also just found out about a new opportunity that could really have the power to change things in my life in such a positive way. I would like the take the time now in blog-mode to officially thank God for not being offended by the cussing when we spoke a couple of weeks ago and for spiritually bailing me out (so to speak) in the last week.

These new development’s will not drastically change my circumstances, but they will offer me a leg-up and the time/flexibility to pursue other things I have been putting aside. That feels good. It is a relief to finally have a break. It gives me a new sense of resolve and motivation as well.

I have been approached a lot lately about what I have learned about self-publishing. I am going to be putting together a group of posts on this very subject – coming soon!

I’m still writing away at The Lost. It is hard to believe I am over half-way done with the novel. I am giving myself a realistic goal of having the first draft in the bag by October. This feels doable and I will likely finish early, but that will be one year. After finishing TCC, I wasn’t sure I could ever do it again, but this novel has been wonderful. I am so in love with this story and I am excited to tell it.

I am expanding my research for the next book and I’m outlining for a new YA series.

Lot’s to do…