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Writing
Looking forward
Here we are in the time for resolutions. I’m not making any. I might choose a word. Right now I’m thinking RELAX. Or CHILL. Or maybe GET A GRIP, YOU INSANE WORRYWART. These are things I tell myself often enough that it would always be near the top of the list of things to do.
Also there are no ham hocks, greens, or black-eyed peas on the menu. I don’t like those things. I’m willing to take my chances.
I have tried to make today the kind of day I’d like to have for 2013. If there’s anything to the superstition that what I do today influences the rest of the year, I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished.
1. I finished the first round of edits for All Shook Up. Since I enjoyed reading it all over again, possibly the sixth time around, I have high hopes. And I want to give editor Chelsey a hug for being so encouraging. It must be hard to work with newbies. Plus, something she questioned in this one gave me a great idea for the last book. I love it when I get an idea, you know?
2. I exercised. Not enough that it will make much difference and certainly not because I enjoyed it, but you know…good for me.
3. I actually ate lunch and have plans for a good dinner. This is rare enough, but it does make me feel better so I ought to really make that a pattern.
4. I laughed with a friend.
5. I wrote 2000+ words on the next story, Can’t Help Falling in Love. I feel good about that start. Tomorrow I’m going to work on the day job and begin revisions on another project but it’s hard to leave Randa, Tony and Misty the coonhound in the lobby of the Rock’n’Rolla so I may sneak back in. At least until it gets hard.
6. And I’ve managed to spend some time thinking about all the good that the past year brought and pushed back the worries for 2013. I’m in a unique spot this year. For the first time that I can really remember, I know something great is going to happen this year. I have three books and a novella coming out. That’s amazing. Last year was a good year, but I’m looking forward to this one!
Wallflowers, stage fright, and working with Avon Impulse blows my mind
So, I can sometimes be a little…wallflower? I’m not sure what the right word is. I don’t care for the spotlight but I have, a few times in my life, landed myself in some pretty sweet, wholly unexpected, and completely overwhelming spots. These are places where you just have to shut up and dance already. I find myself here because I’m an optimist. And stage fright nearly kills me every time. I had a moment this weekend where I looked around and freaked on a small scale.
I like to read. I also like to write. I had an idea for a novella and I sent it in. I mean, on the surface it seems mundane. This is my level. I’ve been submitting to publishers for two years but I was still surprised that this time was different. Editor Chelsey called to say Love Me Tender would be included in the Kiss Me anthology. Then she asked for some other, related ideas. I sent three. And that led to an actual, serious, OMG-inducing straight-up three-book contract for this place, the Rock’n’Rolla Hotel that I created WITH MY MIND.
As I always do, I sail into things with all the confidence in the world. And then I flounder. And flop. And flail. And different kinds of OMG escape. And as I always do, I pull through, overcome, rise above, lose sleep, put a permanent wrinkle in every muscle in my back, and devour every sweet thing in the house. I even had to break the foil wrapper on the emergency chocolate.
But I did it. I wrote the first one. It’s called All Shook Up. It’s the one I turned in last week.
It’s approximately 60,000 words. Look for it in April. Please. I mean it. Okay?
This weekend I decided maybe I should put on a businessperson’s hat. I followed up on some training/info that Avon provides through a slick system (and the email listed my name along with OTHER AVON AUTHORS, like the big timers. I MEAN SERIOUSLY on the website Author page I’m sitting right next to Christie Ridgway. Christina Dodd is on the next row of the yearbook and Cathy Maxwell is above. I died. DED.). And I had that realization that I’ve landed in the deep end. Professional publicity, strategies, questions from Eloisa James because she’s been invited to the SAME EVENT…I just…I can’t…I mean…you guys…
While I listened, I set up a profile and flipped through recipes on the blog. And then I searched my name. As you do.
I have a Google alert for my name. That’s how I knew when the Kiss Me cover went up on the Avon site. But now a placeholder for All Shook Up is there! So, seeing my name and delivery dates on a contract was big. Seeing my first cover was huge. But the idea that I’m going to get to do this again? (oomph…I fell off the stage in a fainting nosedive).
After I fanned myself for a minute and took deep, calming breaths to still my racing heart, I totally grabbed a screen shot.
Get
a load
OF THIS:
Cheryl Harper Books 