Living in the Real World

I know I've owed you a post about self-publishing for a couple of weeks. I kinda disappeared since then. Sorry!!! But real life called. I didn't want to tack this on to that important post, so here's what's been going on:

It's already been nearly two weeks since my oldest son graduated high school. Wow! So the week before we cleaned, cleaned, cleaned (because you know how a writer's house can get!). Then we partied, partied, partied. Family from the Midwest came into town and we had a blast with them. Then they had problems getting their flights home because of the tornadoes and storms from Dallas to Chicago. Then I came down with the flu. Then the other two sons got out of school.

Then it was Memorial Day weekend and I got a call from my aunt that hospice was on their way for my grandmother. So I dropped everything immediately so we could spend time with her while she's still coherent. We don't know how long she has. She's survived skin cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer in the last 20+ years. She's definitely a fighter. But then it showed up in her liver and has spread. Now it's in her spinal fluid and brain. Part of her still fights but part of her has accepted, too. I'm trying to accept, but it hurts.

On top of all of that, day-job business has been crazy. Lots of exciting things going on there that leaves me exhausted by the end of the day.

All of that means little time for writing and revising and even less time for blogging. But I've tried to pop in and read blogs when I get a chance. And I'm trying now to get caught up on my own blogging. I'll get that next article up soon. I have some others planned as well because May was also a month of really rockin' sales. Can't wait to share!

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Did you do anything fun? Are your kids out of school yet? How do you get anything done??? If you have any secrets for balance, please do share!

Spank Me

I know, mama blog, I've been a bad blogger. I haven't posted here in a while and I really don't know why. Except that I'm writing a novella for MarNo. And editing book 3. And trying new marketing ideas for Promise and Purpose. And running two businesses. And cooking and cleaning (well, one of those is a lie). And planning a high school graduation...and sports...and prom. And somewhere in there, I basically collapsed from exhaustion.

Wait, before you get all excited and mama-worried, I didn't actually collapse, as in fall down, faint, etc. But my body and brain pretty much told me, ENOUGH! I mean, it absolutely refused to function more than absolutely necessary for nearly a week. I wrote a few words, took care of clients and cooked a meal or two, but that's it. The rest of the time I slept and read. I had no energy to do anything more.

I've never had that happen before and I'm still trying to recover. I almost wonder if it's more than exhaustion, but I have this thing about doctors. I should probably go, but...well, maybe soon. ish. If things don't drastically improve.

I can say the afternoon at the spa certainly helped things. I've never done that before - go to the spa - and OMGoodness - ALL goodness - do I recommend it. I just wish I could do it again. Like right now. Much rather that than the doctor. And it probably costs less than the doctor, too.

Anyway...so sorry I've been a bad blogger, mama-blog. If you think I deserve a spanking, go for it. Maybe it'll wake me up.

Stuff...and Ramblings...and Some Official, um, Stuff

As I mentioned last week, this week is absolutely crazy. But all good crazy. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Orlando, here until Friday morning for day-job stuff. Then I move to another hotel on the other side of Orlando for the Florida Writers Association conference and Royal Palm Literary Awards banquet this weekend. Promise is a finalist for an award. I try not to think about it too much, because when I do, my stomach gets that feeling like when you're going over that first hill of a roller coaster.

I also announced last week that Purpose has a release date. In case you missed it, because I know you really want to be sure you mark your calendar ;-), it's December 15. It's officially off to the printers for a proof and ARCs. It's also officially on Goodreads! Woohoo!! So, you know, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if you go mark it "to-read" or, better yet, "can't-think-about-anything-else-dying-to-read". Haha! Sheesh. Just kidding, guys.

And now it has an official "blurb" (it doesn't have a jacket, not even a sweater, so how can I call it "jacket copy"?...it's a blurb, not to be confused with blob). Which you can find on its official website, www.IHavePurpose.com. It's still under construction, but I'm working on it. Cuz that's also my job.

Finally, in case you missed it (because there aren't many entries and if I don't get some people to sign up and enter, I may be forced to call it off)...I'm having a contest. I mean, contestS. Yes, TWO contests. Purpose ARCs, other books, swag and possibly a Kindle are all up for grabs. Please at least enter the Birthday Bash, where all you have to do is fill out a form. And if you're still working on your Halloween Hop entry, please at least sign up by typing your blog or website URL into the little linky thingy. I just need to know that people are actually planning to play along. Kthnxluvu

In other news...I'm still planning to separate this blog. This one is supposed to be my official author's website, which is why it's used to promote my books. But it was originally more related to writing stuff - you know the voices in our heads, first-draft-brain-dump-pukes, the horrors of editing and revising, blogfests and other craziness only other writers understand.

It used to be called A Mused Writer. Well, that blog is back up, right here. If you're a writer, please go follow it. It's not being used right now, but I'll soon be moving all my writing-related posts over there. And then this one will be used for communicating about my books, other books and authors I know and adore, and...whatever else pops up. As well as contests...and giveaways...and maybe guy-candy shots for your viewing pleasure. :-)

That's all for now. What? Isn't that enough? Thought so. Have a Happy Hump Day!!

Things Making Me Go Hmm...

There's some interesting conversation going on for and about YA writers at Carol's Prints and Invincible Summer. If you write YA, I suggest you check them out because they bring up some very valid points about writing YA. I don't write YA, but one of the issues brought up has made me go "Hmm..."

It's the point about who we blog for. Do we blog for other writers? For readers? For agents or editors we hope might be checking us out? Personal friends and family? After all, as I've said in this Marketing Monday post and will come back to in future marketing-related posts, we need to know who our target audience is and write for them.

Which brings me to my own blog. I originally started this blog, called A Mused Writer, mostly to ramble and make sense of my writing, whine about the challenges of getting published and, I hoped, to mix and mingle with other writers. I planned to share what I've learned and my experiences in exchange for all the great knowledge writers share on their own blogs.

When I switched over my URL, www.KristieCook.com, to the blog, though, it also became my communication tool to reach out to readers. I'd read somewhere about how our blogs' audiences change over time, depending where we are in the publishing spectrum - from newbie and unagented to agented but unpublished to published to bestseller. It made sense and I knew my messages would have to evolve with my audience.

After reading the two blogs above, though, and giving it some serious consideration, my publishing team and I agreed that www.KristieCook.com should be for the author communicating with readers - about my books, my characters, the series, special events and appearances, etc., as well as a way for readers to get to know me on a more personal level. The book sites are all about the books, creating questions. The author site should be about answering questions and making a connection with the reader.

But what about my writer friends? I love you all. I've learned so much from you and I'd still like to share the little bit that I know, too. One of my goals in going indie is to be able to help other new writers achieve their goals. So I'm not about to give you up.

So, a bunch of words to basically say that I'll be doing some renovations here. I don't know the logistics yet, but I'm pretty sure that the end result will be either a new author's site or a new writer's blog. I don't want to lose archives relevant to either side, though, so I still have to figure it all out. Wish me luck!

What do you think? Have you thought about what you'll do with your blog as your career evolves? Anyone interested in doing a writing blog with me? :-) And any thoughts about those other two posts for YA writers?

A Bit of a Break

I have been a bad blogger. Bad. Very bad. Okay, I just looked at the last couple of weeks...not too bad. But not great, either. I apologize to my faithful friends. All three of you. Unfortunately, it will be worse this week and next.

Next week because I have tons going on. It's all good stuff, but will keep me tied up most of the days and evenings. And I'm glad it's next week and not in July, which will be crazy-busy. A different crazy-busy because that's when Promise releases. (WOOT! WOOT! Ahem, sorry. Just couldn't control myself.) That means lots of blogs, here and other places, and you will be so sick of me that you'll wish to return to these days of my bad bloggership.

This week because I really, really need to work on Purpose so it can, indeed, come out in the fall. It still needs about 25,000 words and I have a really great idea to tie into the current story. But it's not just writing new stuff, which is relatively easy because it's so exciting. The first couple drafts are so much fun to me, they don't feel like work. (Of course, they're such garbage, I then have to put lots of work into them...but I digress.) It's also making it work with what's already there. So it needs focus and time.

Which means I will be quiet here until I can get through the difficult parts. Once I get back into revisions, I'll feel like being creative somewhere and what better place than here? I'm sorry to all two of you who will miss me dearly (I see I just lost someone already). But I promise I'll be back. And I'll be much more lively than I have been.

In the meantime, I might have some cool updates regarding Promise and I will keep you updated about them. Otherwise, I hope you're all enjoying summer, family and vacations. Talk to you soon!