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!

Life Happens & TWO Contests Coming!!

Have you missed me this week, lovely followers? I apologize for being absent, but I suppose it's better than being boring. LOL Not that life has been boring. Not. At. All. So here's the deal...

This week:

• Craziness in the day job. It's GOOD craziness, but it's meant lots of focus there and break-up in the routine.
• What little time left over has been used wrapping up Purpose edits so I can get ARCs ordered by next week, which means next step is formatting and finalizing the cover.
• Add on top of that - a call yesterday afternoon from son #2's football coach...from the ER...son broke his arm in practice. :( Everything drops to take care of him.
• And to really top it off - my grandmother has been in the hospital for a week and it's not looking good. She's being going through chemo and has complications. She's fought various forms of cancer for over a decade, but my heart and soul are sad because I fear that she's tiring of the battle.

I ask for your prayers, thoughts, good vibes, etc., for my son, my grandmother and my own sanity. Thank you in advance!!

Now onto the fun stuff... I had hoped to post this today, but focus has been fleeting with everything going on. So the official post will go up tomorrow.

TWO Major Contests!!!

What's up for grabs? Let's see...books...swag...maybe an iPod Shuffle...maybe even a Kindle 3 or a Nook. A K3?!? A Nook?!? Yep, that's right. So stay tuned, pay attention and come back tomorrow to get the deets on how you can be a winner. (Hint: For an eReader, you'll need to put a little thought and creativity into it, but I "Promise" it will be fun!)