Now I Can Resume Housework

It's strange the memories your mind will remember - and how one situation can mentally call up another.

Because, you see, a publisher's promise in 2007 was the "reason" why I stopped doing most housework for the last few weeks.

Here's how my mind made that connection.

In September 2007, our family was still delivering thousands of newspapers each night in the middle of the night, every night.

And at the end of September that year, newspaper distribution was moved from the Chicago Sun-Times to the Chicago Tribune.

That's actually how I met Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara. But that's it's own special story.

Now, when one transfers a large distribution system to another large distribution, a few hiccups should be expected.

So our publisher at the time went on record - in the newspaper - that he would not shave until the distribution hiccups were resolved.

Each day the newspaper published a photo of his face with his beard getting longer.

Eventually the hiccups went away, a smoother system of delivering newspapers was established, and our publisher shaved off his beard.

Funny how that came to mind as I worked through edits of "House on Top of the Hill" (the third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) and ran out of time each week to tackle anything other than the most basic of housework/laundry/food necessities over these last few weeks.

For I was determined to finish the edits and publish the book at the end of 2024 since I'd missed my 2023 deadline, all understandable, as we've had a couple of heartbreaking years.

But by September of this year, I was so very close to getting it done.

And sometime this past month, I swore off any additional housework until I completed the task.

Mostly this resolution was to keep me from getting distracted by the need to, oh, say clean the bathroom mirrors (I'm pretty sure my face is among the water spots somewhere) until I finished the job.

Well, I am happy to report I finished editing "House on Top of the Hill" on Saturday night.

Rebekah started formatting the book around ten o'clock on Saturday (her choice, since she's had insomnia anyway) and worked far into the night.

The proof copy for "House on Top of the Hill" is expected to arrive on Wednesday (HURRAY), so this week I'm working my way down a very long list of neglected tasks.

As you can see, decluttering my desk isn't one of them (yet). And I still can't find my face in the bathroom mirror (not necessarily a bad thing).

But housework is a major goal for this week. In fact, it's the main priority in my life after work.

For next week, I'm taking my fourth and final at-home writing retreat of 2024 - at which time I'll be reading through the proof of "House on Top of the Hill" and working my way through the edits of the third book in Ed Calkins Steward of Tara's "Ruthless" series.

And then I have the second round of another client's manuscript, too.

Yet, I feel pretty good about my decision, too.

We can't do all things at all times.

But we can do some things some times.

The trick is deciding what's immediate, what can wait a little while, and what can be avoided forever.

I'm sure those choices are as individualized as the person making them, right?

Happy Monday!

Blur

The first chapter of my high school psychology textbook from my senior year at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox has a list of ten characteristics of a mentally healthy person.

I remember sitting in my parents' basement in the early summer of 1980, re-reading them and making all ten my goal.

Now I only remember one of the ten - and that's because I could scarcely envision what that particular precept meant, for I had never experienced it. And that was the ability to lose oneself so completely in an activity that you lose track of all time. Here I was, not quite nineteen years old and had no idea what that meant.

I'm not sure when, how, or why that changed. It could be that, once I grew physically healthier (I was chronically sick for all of my childhood and into my young adult years), I could finally concentrate on a task without the distraction of feeling unwell.

Or perhaps my focus switched in early adulthood because I loved homemaking, raising children, and home-schooling so much. 

That sense of losing track of time happens to me quite often at work - and even more so on the weekends I work on fiction.

At work, of course, I'm often responding to emails, texts, calls and am very cognizant of deadlines. But when deadlines are met, and I can pour myself into a project, time just rushes past - until the next ding, buzz, or ring.

Yesterday morning I awakened early and posted my Bible verse, coffee greeting, and blog on social media. And then I leaped right into editing "House on Top of the Hill," promising myself I would get outside for a walk in the sunshine.

I made it outside at 6:10 p.m., just as the sun was going down, and the wind was picking up. It was an exhilarating walk, so no complaints. And then I jumped back into a chapter. When I looked up, it was almost 9 p.m. and I was now way behind on life "stuff" I still needed to get done that day.

But how did the hours blur past that fast?

How did an entire day last for just an hour? Because Sunday felt as if only one hour had passed.

Seriously.

Happy Monday!

Well, This Makes Me Want to Read it

I currently have no lack of books I want to read (the immediate ones are stacked by my bed) and writing projects I'm tackling.

In addition to my own projects, I have the second edits for a client ready for my attention. And Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has sent me more than a dozen chapters to edit for his third book in his Ruthless trilogy.

Ed's first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

Well, on Wednesday, Ed sent me this telegram:

Dear Goddess,

Please delete chapter 13, or banish it into the lowest levels of literary Hell. 

Of course, this made me want to read it right away. Who wouldn't, right?

But I couldn't. Because I was at work.

I was finally able to open it on Thursday night, while riding as a passenger enroute to a meeting.

It was a brilliant chapter in so many ways, really.

The chapter included an exchange of letters from two characters I created that were so remarkably in character that I felt as if I were reading someone's private mail.

Can't wait to talk with Ed and find out why he wants this chapter banished.

Because there's no way this chapter should get deleted.

Edited, modified, rearranged, cut up into other chapters, maybe.

But not deleted.

It's that good.

Ed Calkins is seen in a kilt on the stage of the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet during a rehearsal for WriteOn Joliet's "Fragments of Time" radio-style performance of original works.

I Now Own a Gzrlyf

My particular Gzrlyf was an Old Calendar Christmas present from Jasmine.

It's like a hope chest in a bag. I'll explain that in a minute.

Now what's especially fun about this particular Gzrlyf is that it plays nicely with my muse, Warren Peace because it's so "charming."

My Gzrlyf comes with a coffee mug, pens for notes, and scisscors for edits.

It comes with a typewriter for getting the words on the page.

It comes with a warning to anyone who dares interfere with the creative process.

And it comes with the goal of all that effort.

So that's my Gzrlyf. 

However, I don't have any photos of Warren Peace. He's rather shy, but I can often coax him out with plain, dark roast coffee. 

Can Ya Help a Writer Out?

WriteOn Joliet is starting its ninth year supporting writers over eighteen in their writing journey. 

I don't know if the founder emeritus of this group had longevity in mind when she persuaded me into this venture with her, but I, for one, am amazed at our growth and the wonderful writers I've had the honor to meet along the way while we grow in our craft.

Now ever since the inception of WriteOn Joliet in February 2012, members have expressed a desire to attend the annual Printer's Row Lit Fest in Chicago.

The cost for a double, covered table for all of our books is expensive, and we, as a group, would like to cover all of the costs through sponsorships and fundraising.

So last year, I had an idea for a permanent fundraiser for our group, which we finally put together this month.

Yes, I'm selling a book.

The book is called Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers and it's exactly as its says. 

Except for some definitions of terms, each page has one editing prompt. The rest is blank, so the writer can make notes about things to check and revise.

All proceeds (meaning everything except the actual cost of the physical book, taxes, and shipping) stay within WriteOn Joliet for WriteOn members.

If you write fiction or know someone who writes fiction, this book is perfect for you.

Below is a formal description. And below that is the link for ordering, along with a link for WriteOn Joliet, so you can learn more about the group, too.

Many writers are familiar with writing prompts, a few lines to spark their inspiration to get the words flowing. It’s hard to find revision prompts. Writers know they need to revise their stories. But sometimes writers need a few editing prompts to help them look critically and objectively at their work. 

That’s the reason for this workbook. 

Each page highlights one area of the story to check. The rest of the page is blank, so writers can jot some notes on trouble spots and possible ways to revise.

Buy Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers here.

For more information about WriteOn Joliet, visit writeonjoliet.com.

See What Rebekah Made For Me in 2020 (and how that might help you)

Today is my family's Christmas celebration. And today is Rebekah's twenty-seventh birthday, too.

So since we're celebrating the spirit of giving and two gifts from God (His Son and my daughter), I'd like to share what Rebekah did for me - and what she can do for you, too.

Since I spent most of my time at home in 2020, I decided not to waste my time. Because once I can be out and about again, out and about is where I'll want to be. So I used my time at home productively.

Among my various projects, I decided to accept some additional editing projects from other writers, not too many, just six. Plus I completed two projects I began from the previous year.

Some writers also reached out asking for help with book formatting (print and eBook), the self-publishing process, and website design, which are more of Rebekah's skills.

So Rebekah made this website for me/us: dmbaranunland.com.

Browse through its pages and reach out if we can be of any help to you, too.

On a completely separate note, the BryonySeries Holiday Book Sale (with free coupons to The Book Market in Crest Hill as a "thank you" for your purchase) ends today - but I'll actually honor orders through Jan. 8 since I'll not be checking email too much today.

For details, visit bryonyseries.com/promotions.

One side note about ordering: Timothy is building an actual BryonySeries store behind the scenes, and some of it is publishing but not actually live.

So when you go to the BryonySeries store to order, use that for viewing product descriptions only and then send me an email at bryonyseries @gmail.com with the order.

Otherwise some of the books will click through to Amazon. But some of the books don't go to Amazon anymore. They go to the "ghost store."

And of course, if you have any questions, just email me. Most of this confusion will go away when the entire store is live.

Rebekah (right) and I are pictured at the White Oak Library Author Fair in 2018 - you know, back when we could do stuff out in the world. Still, whether we are at home or not at home, I think we make a good team.

I have ideas. She helps make them reality.

Even the Immortals Aren't Safe

This past weekend was one of my more dismal working weekends - although the work had nothing to do with it.

A series of family emergencies, starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday - along with a migraine Friday and Saturday and an annual physical during COVID with a migraine when I already have a phobia of medical stuff added to the challenge of the past few days.

As I was signing off at eight o'clock for a shower and a Korean drama with Rebekah, I received the following "telegram" from Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, i.e. the world's first Irish vampire.

So I picked up the phone, and we talked for more than an hour, the first conversation since July. 

Well, wouldn't you?

The "telegram" is below my rambling, the second most serious piece of correspondence I've received from him in a decade. But it's not all gloom and doom - if you read to the end (Please do. I laughed out loud).

The "chapters" to which Ed's referring are his final drafts to Ruthless.

The Thanksgiving deadline is when he plans to send them all - because I plan to spend Thanksgiving weekend doing the final heavy edits.

An interesting point came up during the conversation. I'll share that tomorrow.

Dear Goddess,

I have been very sick the past week, and unable to get tested because of the surge and have been "sequestering" so I don't spread whatever I have. 

Nonetheless, I've committed to retiring from the news papers on...drum roll, please: Feb 13, 2021. Calkins Day will be my last day. Please do not lick the plastic bag your newspaper comes in. 

  

Anyway, the rereading of these chapters has encouraged me. My wife read the versions sent and thought the book was OK. This might not sound encouraging, but she's been warning me that she thought she would hate it. 

A brother is also reading the book...to hate it, of course, and he loves it. Even I am warming up to it! 

But, still, the self-sabotage that marks my long attempts is in full play. I can not find a complete version of the chapter "Kiss, Kill, or Marry." If you have a copy of what I sent you, could you please send it back? I do have the entire novel, unedited by me, in hard copy, so its not the end of the world, although in my sickened state, I feel like it is.

I will make that deadline of Thanksgiving, but if I don't, I'm hoping you could edit without my trying first. My wife was sick for a few days, without a fever. Now she's mostly healthy and has been working on the interior art which is all mirror-based (much to my delight).

We may not be able to have a signing on Calkins Day because of COVID-19. If it happens that way, I am positive that it will prove advantageous in ways only our Maker understands, but I'd like it to be His decision and not the decision of my fears.

                                                              

Ruthlessly yours,

Ed Covid Calkins

Ed Calkins Updates His Progress on "Ruthless"

Over the past few weeks, Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has sent two updated versions of his upcoming BryonySeries novel Ruthless.

Then we had a phone chat to set up an editing timeline (the book is scheduled for release mid-January so he'll have copies before Calkins Day 2021) and deadlines for cover and interior art, which I sent via telegram (i.e. email) after we hung up

Ed has since sent more chapters and the following correspondence. You will note he addresses me by his first nickname for me ("goddess") as opposed to the BryonySeries one (MOMI - Mistress of My Immortality).

So as I had into my second writing retreat of 2021 with three goals, I have just added a fourth: edit one chapter a day of Ruthless. As the steward himself said in Staked!, "? I’m so dyslexic and scatterbrained, even spell-check doesn’t recognize my words.”

And these are very true words, spoken to me by Ed one morning at the dock of the distribution center, as I was heading out.

So editing his prose is an adventure. But so is reading it. Ed is a good writer, full of imagination and unpredictable humor.

The challenge will be staying on task with my own work and not getting lost is his.

 Dear Goddess,

Sorry about the half month delay. I finished very late at night. It took two days to recover sleep wise and after that, every time I went to send it to you, I got to editing instead. 

I consider this a first draft, but I expect to have the final draft before Thanksgiving. There's been some plot changes. The chap called Forward is of course the Forward....the Chap called Backward is now the first chapter. There is one chapter I didn't write yet ...Counsel of Scantily Clothed Merrows..which I hoping to use to include anything I forgot to write as I read my novel for the first time.

I don't know what to do about the changes. I've rewritten the Forward, Backward, and Pigs Don't Plow....that went quickly. Now I'm rewriting the first chapter I jotted down when I was trying to get a sense of what a back story would look like. 

So much has changed, but...

I promise not to change the stuff I send you now.       

Ruthlessly yours,

Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara

A Real Rest

In college, I had a poster that highlighted the benefits of contrasting activities.

For instance, it said that going out at night with friends ceases to be fun if it's not balanced by having some nights at home alone with a book and hot chocolate.

And that having the flu means you get to stay in bed and lose weight, whereas having a cold means you get to stay in bed and eat.

You get the idea.

I love immersing myself in interesting projects, which many times center around great stories, whether reading them or writing them.

And while I did have a long list of projects I wanted to accomplish over these last four days, I did nearly complete the two at the top of my list.

I finished the memoir and updated the family on its progress.

I almost finished the first round edits on a novel for a client. And I'm fairly certain I can finish those edits over the next couple of weekends.

As far as the memoir, I'm giving the whole a fresh read on Saturday and doing some tightening. Then Rebekah and I are meeting with Phyllis on Sunday to discuss photo placement and finish the formatting and cover design.

The goal is for Phyllis to see the proof before Christmas. Then I can do the final copy editing.

I had some other miscellaneous tasks I'd hoped to accomplish (like unpacking, pruning email) but those can wait.

Instead, I rested a lot, spent time with family, watched two episodes of I Can Hear Your Voice with Rebekah and the first few episodes of Disenchanted with Daniel, and attended a funeral Mass and luncheon.

Life is not all about projects.

But it's also not about the lack of them.

All-consuming projects and developing our talents take the attention off ourselves and onto the work: a good way to pass time.

Using those talents for others is also a good way.

People to love make the passing of time worthwhile.

Giving thanks for all.

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Writing Work, Writing Surprises

I accomplished a little bit of all my writing goals this weekend, so it's an interesting Monday.

At the very end of the weekend, two writing surprises showed up in my email.

First the goals.

1) I spent a few hours working on the werewolf story, not as much as I liked, but more than I'd hoped.

2) I had two side projects this weekend. I did no actual work on either of them, but I did spend part of Sunday afternoon with Phyllis reading through the draft of the memoir I'm writing for her. We're only about halfway, so I have time to finish the last two chapters.

3) Nevertheless, the second project (a novel I'm editing for a client), should have its first round done by early December.

4) I met all work deadlines this weekend. But since this week is extremely busy (I'm participating in a career fair, a podcast, co-leading WriteOn, and have a benefits meeting this week), I was hoping to get ahead, too. I'll let God figure this one out!

5) I did catch up with some family members and watched the next episode of an Asian drama I'm enjoying with Rebekah.

6) We spent Sunday morning at the nursing home celebrating Ron's birthday. Since he's progressively declined over the last couple months, we were pleasantly surprised to find him almost "all there" most of the time. We did, however, bring some familiar items, so maybe that helped.

7) I'm glad I didn't stick to the goals. It's been nonstop since returning from Raleigh in August, and I really needed some down time.

Now the surprises.

1) Tom Hernandez, my WriteOn Joliet co-leader, sent me his next WIP, which I read in a tired haze before signing off, so I need to re-read itwith a clear, caffeinated mind. Still, so far, so good!~ One spoiler: one of the characters is a girl heading out to college, and her name is Melissa! So I'm already sold. ;)

2) Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara, a real person I legally fictionalized for the BryonySeries, has, as you might know, been working on his pretend backstory at the request of a couple BryonySeries fans.

Ed's been quiet for awhile, but he sent an apology email along with a table of contents (with an explanation of progress) and about ten chapters or so. Needless to say, I was thrilled!

I read part of first chapter before I fell asleep, which is no slam against Ed's writing as I always fall asleep reading (is there any better way?)

I'll share Ed's table of contents and commentary on Saturday and my thoughts about what I've read so far tomorrow.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at artworkbytopher.com.

You Still Have To Do The Work

Many people have an image of writers (and I've seen some sellers of various products use thia image in their marketing pitches) that looks something like this:

You lazily wake up without an alarm, mosey to the kitchen to prepare a cup of coffee, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and then spend the day blissfully transferring the stories living in your imagination to the computer, where (if you only had this marketing product), they sell millions of copies to adoring fans.

The End

Hahahahhahaha!

My mornings look more like this: wake before dawn (after hitting snooze a few times), stumble out of bed (to the delights of the cats because I'm FINALLY going to feed them), make coffee, stumble back upstairs, and sign onto the computer.

After posting a Bible verse, some good mornings on my social media pages, and birthday greetings, I then spend the next couple hours answering email and scheduling posts.

I then spend a couple hours working on my story budget while working out, as well as making phone calls (personal and work-related, and keeping up with email and social media.

The rest of the day is spent keeping up correspondence, keeping an eye on pages, writing and editing stories and news releases, editing pages, designing pages, and conducting interviews.

I am never finished and almost always push today's work into tomorrow...and into the weekend. I do not, as a strict rule, work on personal writing and editing projects during the week (no time), so all of that writing is kept for the weekend (or a vacation day).

The only day that MAY look like the aforementioned fantasy scene is Saturday, a truly magical time. For a few short hours, deadlines vanish. I've even had a few Saturdays where I've had NO "work" work to complete (rare), and I've spent an entire day working on a novel.

Here's what this past weekend looked like:

On Saturday, I actually did spend a few productive hours on the werewolf story before heading to New Lenox for a dentist appointment.

Afterwards, Timothy treated me to a cup of Gloria Jean's, which I enjoyed while addressing some BryonySeries related, non-writing chores with Rebekah, who was now home from work.

I scanned some photos for Monday's "An Extraordinary Life" photo list, took a break at sunset to get into the pool with Rebekah (the first time all year that happened), and then spent another couple hours scanning and processing photos.

On Sunday, I skipped church because I had to finish the "An Extraordinary Life" and design the page. Yes, I could have done it on Saturday, (or stayed up extremely late on Friday), but I felt this story needed a few hours of unbroken time and a fresh mind - so that's what I gave it.

I also ducked out to take a photo and, because I was in the area, to run over to Menards to look at fake fireplaces with Timothy and Rebekah (because they're considering buying one).

I then spent twenty minutes cleaning the house, and then two hours with Phyllis, a Joliet woman in her 90s. For the past year and a half, I've been working on her memoir. We are coming into the home stretch, and she actually cried when I read portions back to her.

After picking up my medicine at Walgreens, Timothy and I headed for Morris, where we spent a couple hours with Ron in the nursing home, a bittersweet experience.

Bitter because he's lost more weight, has pneumonia, and the dementia has firmly set in. "Sweet" because he was thrilled to see me. Enough that one nurse said she hadn't seen him look this happy in days.

Although he was extremely surprised I wasn't going to smoke with him and even more surprised that I had never smoked. Which left me wondering if he hadn't mistaken me for a former girlfriend in his younger years, which actually made ME grin. No matter, it made him happy for awhile.

Then it was back home for a quick dinner, a workout, and that was the weekend.

The point of this post is that a writer's life looks like anyone else's life: work and the rest of life.

Yes, there's those glorious moments of bliss in the craft, but many of those are planned, and the rest are elusive. Mostly, it's work, and you have to show up to do the work.

A writer writes, then rewrites, then cuts, edits, and (sometimes) goes online the next day to correct any typos that were missed in the process.

This is not counting the amount of time spent posting finding ways to connect readers with the stories, because many people don't read newspapers as keenly as they once did. This process is even more difficult with fiction.

Now, I'm glad I put that time into yesterday's An Extraordinary Life. I received some great feedback on it yesterday and not just from the man's loved ones.

But this, ultimately, is not where writers find most of their satisfaction. Because praise is fleeting.

Rather, the satisfaction comes from the hours spent in thinking about the structure and then hammering it out letter by letter, and then dismantling all that effort like a kid knocking down a stack of wooden blocks because it's not the castle he pictured, until finally you read something that makes feel good you wrote.

Or, at the very least, makes you relieved you made deadline and are able to go to the next project.

Instead...

...of the usual routine, I let some habits go this weekend to get whittle down a to-do list that was overtaking my time faster than Bryony grew on the Simons estate.

And while I do have some catching up to do on social media, I feel I made good of this past long weekend.

Some of it was work, but I feel, if not ahead, then at least not too far behind this morning.

Friday night I moderated a monthly fiction workshop a week early to help out the coordinator, who could not make next week.

I met with Colleen Robbins, my editor for the BryonySeries prequel Before the Blood for a couple of hours on Saturday morning and reviewed her notes and edits for the third installment.

Later that day, I incorporated many of her suggestions and did some rewriting to eliminate an overabundance (on some pages) of "was," were" and "had." This was not as easy as it sounded. The wording had to remain young and childish, as well as not change the meaning of the sentences (there is a grammatical reason for past participle as opposed to past tense).

I also began some of the formatting. This will take at least another weekend to finish since this book, and the two that will follow it, are significantly longer then the first two.

I also met with another member of WriteOn Joliet for my first calligraphy lesson.

I did some housework.

I caught up on personal phone calls.

I did some filing.

I did a little marketing.

I whittled down my AOL account "new mail" by nearly half. Three hundred more to go!

I saw a movie (Brave) that a friend had wanted me to watch with her for about six months.

The trade-off is I let some social media (limerick slam recap has been moved to this Saturday) and about half of my workout routine slide. 

But I'm resuming all of that today with a renewed sense of accomplishment.

Here's to a successful week - for you and for me! (raising coffee mug).

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

You Really Can't Go Home Again

Well, yeah, physically, you can.

But when we've moved past, and grown from, certain experiences, we can't return to the old perspective and enjoy them the same way.

The other night, I picked up a novel I had enjoyed in childhood, one I had wanted to re-read for a long time, and settled into bed with it. The title is unimportant, but it's a favorite novel, one that inspired me to write the type of fiction I write, and one that inspired me to write, period.

This book goes so far back into my childhood enjoyment that I remember my sister and I playing Miss America with our babysitter. When the babysitter asked me who I most wanted to meet in the entire world, I gave this author's name.

And yet the other night, I closed the book at page three and put it away.

Had I stuck with it, I'm fairly certain the story, and the way this author told it, would have wrapped me in its magic. That wasn't the problem.

The problem was, right there on page one, in this beautifully hard-bound traditionally published book with stunning pen and ink illustrations, was a typo.

Yes, a typo, On page one.

I took a breath, kept reading, and turned to page two.

And there was another.

And another.

I was done.

Now I'm not being judgmental. It's not the typos that bothered me, or rather, it's not the fact the book had typos that bothered me.

As a self-published author, I can't tell you the number of times I've read about the advantages of traditional publishing, with pristine editing being one of them.

As a self-published author. I struggle (and fail) to produce copy completely error-free. In fact, I told my editor for Before the Blood," I can live with a few typos (because, you know, I'm self-published)."

But the reason why I hired this particular editor was less about the catching typos (although she does) and more about catching plot holes, inconsistencies in characterizations, etc. The major types of stuff that ruin a story.

Since I'm not a huge publishing house with an elaborate staff of talented editors, I have to pick and choose my priorities.

I'll take a flawless story and characters that leap off the page over a few typos.

So why did I put the book away?

Not because the book has changed. But because I have changed.

I am no longer a child reaching for that book to get wrapped up in its wonder.

I am now an adult that creates some of that wonder for others.

But I am now also a self-published author who can move past the hand-wringing worry about publishing a perfect book.

Such a book doesn't exist. It didn't exist in the 1960s. And it doesn't exist today.

Yes, of course, I will write and edit as clean a story as possible and ruthlessly seek and weed out every mistake, every lesser word.

Too many word weeds will overtake a great story and choke it.

But a few? Depends on the reader and his or her tolerance for typos.

Apparently mine is a bit higher than most (I was good at grammar as a child).

Maybe in a month or so, I'll reach for the book again. I'm guessing I'll enjoy it on several levels.

With better understanding of how good books come to be.

With a probable chance I'll be analyzing its sentence structures...and marveling.

With gratitude to the author who has long since past on...

And with a bit of my nine-year-old self reading along with me and simply enjoying the journey.

Unusual Motivation

Most of us need an inner cattle prod from time to time, and I'm certainly no exception.

I love my job and work a lot of hours at it. I have a large family, and I love spending time for them.
Which leaves not huge amounts of time for working on my own version of War and Peace.

Here's my "inner cattle prod," summed up in a word you've probably never heard: pheochromocytoma. 

This pesky thing nearly took me out back in 2002. Fortunately, I prevailed, and it did not. Mayo Clinic even sent me a surprise photo of the post-surgical enemy before it was chopped to bits, and I got the satisfaction of shaking my fist at it and exclaiming, "You lost, sucker!"

However, it can bite back. Meaning, it can return.

If it bites back, it bites harder because that generally means malignancy. The only way to keep pace with it is yearly screenings for life, and, trust me, I am compliant. And the screenings have always been normal.

Until this past spring, when the values came back slightly abnormal.

It was a sobering, sobering moment. 

But not a horrible moment. My endocrinologist decided to redo the test in six months as opposed to 12, unless I had symptoms (which I have not). And I decided to delay panic until I had a solid reason for it.

However, knowing circumstances could be get interesting this fall, I decided to use vacation time this year to churn out the rest of Before the Blood, just in case, well, you know. In case life got busier dealing with "it."

And scheduled my annual physical to match that schedule. 

I am happy to report this second screening was completely normal. However, I am officially prediabetic again (I was out of those woods for two years). 

My yearly appointment with my endocrinologist is the day before Halloween (how appropriate). I have a list for her because I'm ferociously attacking the prediabtes.

But unlike many of the characters in my BryonySeries, I'll be hanging around on the life side of the grave for awhile. Or so it appears.

And the prequel is written and in editing. YAY!

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff

It is Finished (Almost)

My editor Colleen Robbins had nearly read the first four books of the BryonySeries prequel Before the Blood when I visited her table (Robbins is an author, too) at the 2nd Annual White Oak Author Fest on Saturday.

Meaning she very well could be done by now.

On Saturday night, I completed the self-editing for the last book. On Saturday night, Sue Midlock finished the covers.

On Sunday night, I sent the final manuscript to Fast Printing in Joliet. When it's printed, Colleen will pick it up.

For those curious about word counts, the entire thing (all five books) is, at the present time, 474,008.

Of course, that number will go up or down in editing.

The sense of accomplishment I'm feeling right now is indescribable.

Have a great Monday readers, writers, and vampire fans! :)

The Case for Multiple Views

I opened up chapter 23 of the fifth book of Before the Blood on my phone last night, and within the first few lines I realized the chapter is not quite edited.

I'm not talking about typos (although I did fine one) because I don't get too concerned about them early in the editing game.

I'm talking about flow, scene structure, beats, all which had flaws and made for a rocky reading.

It's too easy to think a piece is "finished" when it really is not.

The most dangerous time for such faulty thinking is shortly after it's written or edited.

Melissa brought her report to her bedroom, three-hole punched it, and threaded it into the purple folder her mother bought to display it. She leafed through it with satisfaction, admiring its layout. It really looked professional. 

“It will be the Pulitzer Prize next,” Steve teased her.

Read your work again. And again.

Open it on another screen. Your phone. Your desktop if you wrote it on a laptop or your laptop if you wrote it on your desktop.

Wait a few hours. And then a few days.

Read it from the bottom up.

It's done when you enjoy the reading for reading's sake, when you can forget you've written it.

At that point, it's ready for your editor.

And when he/she's done with it, you can repeat the process.

This morning, I'm soooooo tempted to open up chapter 23.

But I have an especially busy work Monday. 

And the chapter and some space.

(Grumble).

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff

Nothing Irish

How this for neat and compact?

This morning: worked on editing Before the Blood.

Noon: A very long lunch (and way to short of a visit) with one of my best friends from eighth grade. We had such a great time, we forgot to commemorate the occasion with a selfie.

Afternoon: Finished up some of last week's "real" work and tackled some of Monday's work since I have a big project to do that day.

Early evening: Household chores with two of the kids.

Somehow, I still managed to log in nearly 12,000 steps. Not the 23,000 I try to hit most days, but I'll take it.

Tonight: Rebekah brought home a medium Gloria Jean's. It's just me, the coffee, and the manuscript until my energy tanks.

I really, really, really would like to complete the editing by Oct. 7.

But Oct. 7 is a busy day. So I need one very good night tonight as it's impossible to get much done fiction-wise during the week.

Hope your weekend is/has been full of many blessings.

Interested in the BryonySeries Newsletter?

Last year over Thanksgiving weekend, I wrote out a four-page, comprehensive, well-researched marketing plan for the BryonySeries, of which I've expanded this past year.

One part of the plan was a weekly BryonySeries newsletter. I'm starting one in early 2018.

The newsletter will contain updates about the series and quite a bit of curated content as I'm an avid cross-promoter. These will include related articles on topics pertaining to the series; useful information on writing, editing, and publishing for authors; themed recipes; vintage poetry and short stories; ways to connect with other WriteOn Joliet authors; and even products in related themes, most of which are available on Etsy.

How to sign up: message me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Or stop y my table at one of the upcoming author fairs. Information on those fairs are HERE.

As a courtesy for signing up, I'll send you the first chapter in the fifth and final novel in my work-in-progress BryonySeries prequel, Before the Blood.

Of course, opting out of the newsletter is always an option.

Either way, thank you for your support. Writing a satisfying story for you, the reader, is the entire point of the series.

Laboring on Labor Day

Grabbed a quick bite to eat after the plane landed Wednesday, went straight into work to get a jump on Thursday, and pretty much didn't stop until Sunday night. And I'm glad of it.

Because while this week might be rather tight (coming off vacation and a holiday), I'm not behind and right on track. I was the weekend editor anyway, so totally, totally worth it.

Yesterday I wrote far less fiction than I intended. However, I did reread through those first chapters in the final book of Before the Blood and did some light editing. After running a few errands and calling my mother on her 82nd birthday, I did some light editing and formatting of WriteOn Joliet's first anthology. And I'm right on track with the schedule I've set for that, too.

I'm also getting caught back up on my regular exercise routine, a little at a time for this old bird, but getting there, too. 

Believe it or not and for various reasons, the entire household had a similar work schedule. But we are blessed with jobs we love. For this reason, using our various for the good of others was really a fantastic way to spend Labor Day.

Even though Rebekah and I still need to unpack and stepping over suitcases is getting old.

However, all this means little housework was done since Daniel cleaned on Wednesday, which probably means I'll be rolling a little late this morning as I catch up on some much-needed cleaning. Happy Tuesday!

No Loss Without Great Gain: A New Opportunity

By now, I'm sure everyone is familiar with the new salary/overtime law.

Like many others, especially those of us close, but not close enough, to the threshold, we've waited to see how we've been impacted.

Yesterday I learned that, on Monday, I will become an hourly employee instead of a salary employee.

Never a minimalist who tracks hours and watches clocks (except for noting looming deadlines). I now must do both, for I must not go over my allotted thirty-seven and one-half hours per week. As a writer who routinely (always? consistently?) goes far beyond that paltry amount, this was sobering news indeed.

I love all components of my job, but these components will obviously be modified. So far, I have the freedom to adjust the hours and the duties, as long as hours are tracked and the work I choose to execute fits the hours.

So what will I do with this extra twenty hours a week?

For one, I plan to spend more time on Before the Blood, to shorten the time between draft to finished product. With my present work schedule, that time is two years out.

I also plan to start editing manuscripts for other authors.

Over the years, various writers have asked this service of me. Often I have refused. In previous years, delivering newspapers, freelance writing, homeschooling, and my own fiction projects left no time for accepting editing projects. In recent years, my work schedule, along with scrambling to find time for my own fiction projects, left no time for "extras."

"Coincidentally," I recently refused three such projects.

That's now about to change.

I spent some time yesterday, a Monday on an insanely short work week, fiddling with creating a new work schedule for me, and I anticipate playing around with it over the long weekend. After the holidays, most likely January 2017, I'll accept my first editing projects.

I am excited for this new chapter in my life.

For more information, message me at bryonyseries.com.