Where have you been?

1. Playing hooky
2. Meeting filmmakers
3. Writing, rewriting, writing
4. Marketing, designing, marketing
5. Editing, editing, editing

If you guessed all of the above, you’d be right (yes, it was a trick question). I had to officially change my job title to “author” because it was driving me bonkers to be called the “writer” then…well, you see the list of writing distractions on the multiple choice list. So, I’ve been “authoring” it up around here, but I hope to blog with a little more frequency now that … well, just see below.

The Good: Besides some little details (like choosing the book genre for different buyers and SETTING A RELEASE DATE), everything for Escape from Differe is done. Holla! The back and front cover – done. The maps – done. The last round of edits – DONE!

How many computers did it take to review the last round of edits?

1. Two Macs and One PC
2. Two PCs
3. Three Macs

“A” is the correct answer. Yes, the Macs outnumbered the borrowed PC, and as much as I hate to admit it, the PC ended up being the most helpful due to a particular software.

How many editors has the manuscript been to?

1. Two
2. Seven
3. Five

The Not So Good: Five editors equals five different opinions being thrown your way. People ask me if it’s painful to get the reviews back. Not at this point. So far everyone’s been extremely kind. They love the story and have graciously provided input to make it even more fantastic; however, they do not all agree at times.  In a nutshell, I’ve had a challenging couple of weeks making thirty pages worth of corrections in this last round of editing (it was as fun as it sounds). I made my decision to change some grammatical elements based on the readers – YOU. I want this book and the writing to be a powerful experience for you. In fact, I don’t just want you to read the book – I want you to find yourself in the story. So, the not so good is that this decision may delay the release of the book. It was a tough decision  (I’m SO ready for you to see it!), but the editors’ overall advice caused me to rethink some areas. Then I had a dream regarding the changes, so figured that must be a sign. 🙂

Thank you for your continued support, kind words, love, and, of course, patience. I am waiting in anticipation with you!

Much Love,

m

P.S. Happy Football!

Well, so far today I’ve been to Kohl’s, Ross For Less, Target, and Michaels in person and a host of other places online. We moved a bookshelf from our bedroom to my office, forcing us to move my desk, which means all the clutter I had neatly piled in the corner is now exposed.

As I sifted through notes from under the pile yesterday, I was elated yet aggravated to find information that I needed about a hundred pages back for the writing of Book Two. Awesome. Sigh. Not really.

The “need to organize” syndrome set in swiftly.

Aha! I’m starting to see the surface of my desk again. The printer that I have a love/hate relationship with (I’m assuming someone knows what I mean here) has been moved from my desk to create more space. I intend for the space to be well-used aka not for clutter.

Now, I showed you what cup I drink from two weeks ago, but here’s a mug that I showcase on my desk:

One of the coolest people in my life made this for me. I quit my job the week before Christmas and battled the voices of worry: “You’re quitting your job at the most expensive time of the year!” “What if the book doesn’t work out?” “You don’t know what you’re doing!” My sister is a ridiculously creative gift giver, and this Christmas gift was no exception. The gift and its message came at a timely moment in my life. The “happy writer mug”, as I call it, sits on my desk as a reminder of who I am and of the people who love me. It also silences those stupid voices.

Here’s another staple item that sits on my desk:

This is a note from a dear friend of mine. With this note came two bags of “share size” M&M’s. I’m only a tad embarrassed to say that I consumed them by myself in less than 24 hours (had it been two boxes of Junior Mints they’d have been gone in less time). M&M’s are a big deal at my house. I married a guy with an “m” name also so there’s M&M stuff galore around here. I received this gift just prior to heading into one of my toughest weeks of editing. In a nutshell her card brilliantly communicated the “you can do it” message. The card is a mainstay to remind me that, “Yes, I can do it.”

To take it a little deeper, this amazing friend and I have fought harder to preserve our friendship more than any other relationship I’ve been involved in. So, her card also reminds me that some things are indeed worth fighting for.

So now I’m completely curious…what’s on your desk?

Much Love! m

P.S. Thanks for continuing to connect with me on the blog! I love your comments!!! Please know that I don’t post all of them, but read every single one. Some are so personal and encouraging that I keep them just for myself. 🙂

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