Spring cleaning (no, not that kind)

I've been updating a new Itouch calendar app, transferring info from my Palm to it. What a pain -- no easy way to do it, so I'm doing it manually. This is a Good Thing, though (as Martha Stewart would say), because I'm weeding out as I do so.

But boy, does it bring back some memories! A concert here and there, a death, a funeral, a wedding ... all are noted in my auxiliary brain, my PDA. I've used a PDA for almost 10 years now, since before they were really small, and I have a ton of info on it. I've waded through old appointments and am now on "Milestones".

One thing this has done is make me appreciate a publisher who releases ebooks and print books on the same day. The amount of 'double promo' I had to do for books is amazing -- every month I'd have a book 'release' because I have 3 publishers. No wonder it felt like all I do was promo-promo-promo! My schedule has gotten so much less hectic since then.

So I highly recommend spring cleaning -- it can give you a new perspective on things you're taking for granted. Of course, CLOSET spring cleaning .... now that can give you an unpleasant perspective as you realize some of those summer clothes don't fit.

Off to the gym!

And so ends my second year ...

I'm finishing up my second year as a published author, and am taking a moment to look back and reflect. I did a similar thing last year (right here: http://ladiesoftheclub.blogspot.com/2007/11/learning-curves.html)

Things I have learned:

1. There is no secret handshake. Publication is a matter of talent, hard work, and luck, just like everybody said. You need talent to write the book, hard work to finish it, and luck to find the right publisher.


2. Promotion is a never-ending story. Because I am published electronically, I can always promote a book. My back list never dies. This is a good thing and a bad thing. Good because it never dies. Bad because I can always do promotion.


3. Some people will love your work and some will go 'hunh? How did you get published?' or words to that effect. It's largely irrelevant. You are published, you are talented, and you are good at what you do. Some people just don't get it.


4. To some publishers, you are expendable. It is not a concern of theirs if you are happy, have good sales, or like your editor. On the other hand, some publishers truly care about you, your happiness as an author, your sales, and your relationship with your editors. Nurture those publishers.


5. Make sure to have fun along the way. Don't take this so seriously. Enjoy the writing, enjoy the process, enjoy the whole schmiel. Be serious about your writing, but also enjoy it. When it becomes like work, take a break. You're in this to make money, yes, but you should also enjoy doing it.

Enough deep thoughts. I need to gird my loins (metaphorically speaking) to head out into the snow and meet friends for lunch. Then I plan to come back, get the fireplace going, and write with a mug of cocoa near at hand. I have stories to tell!

The In-Between Place ....

I finished the second book in my paranormal series for Wild Rose -- finished it on Thursday. So I'm at that in-between place again: not quite done with the last book, not ready to start the next one.

I did decide what I'll start next: Book 3 in this series. The characters are firmly in my head, so I want to continue on. The In-Between Place (IBP) is somewhat relaxing, but I find that I always have a lot of catching up to do. I tend to put a lot of things on hold when I'm deep into writing, and now I have to deal with those things: promotion, scheduling, balancing the checkbook .... just daily Stuff.

I'm pleased with how the last book turned out and I'm anxious to start the next one, but I'm trying to restrain myself a bit ... I think the book is better (and the writing goes faster) if I take some time to think about it because I launch into it.

So I'm in Think Mode now ...