Monday, October 16, 2006

October 16, 2006 Somewhat Daily Readings

Readings: I Samuel 27-28; Psalm 131; Romans 14
Romans 14: Romans 14:1-2 Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith s weak, eats only vegetables. Wow, that says a lot. Although I always knew that the intense legalism that gets so many people angry with Christians was actually a sign of a lack of faith, I did not realize that my judgment of Christian legalists was wrong, too. Looks like I need an attitude adjustment.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Thank God for Oranges

I was walking to the community mailbox today, which I rarely do nowadays because mail is evil if I’m not waiting for a publisher’s reply to a manuscript, and I passed my favorite orange tree. I love this particular orange tree because it hangs over the street, and it smells amazing in the spring when the orange blossoms bloom—makes me want to get the mail. Anyway, I was frustrated because I’m waiting until December—probably late December—for my novel’s publication date, waiting for our house to sell so we can actually have money and my stomach acid can stop boring a hold in my intestines, waiting to make any appointments with radio/TV/newspapers/schools, etc. because my novel is not yet published, wishing my novel would be published in time for the conference I’m speaking at in November—which it won’t be, waiting for Greg and his boss to figure out their future business plans so I’ll know whether we’ll have health insurance for a while or whether we need to scout it out come December when Greg starts his own business, and being mad at God because I’m trying to finish my sequel and I can’t ever give it enough time because I have to work, etc., etc., etc. (Going to bed at 4:00 am twice in a row is not good for my psyche.)

So I stared at my favorite orange tree, and I noticed its green oranges that had yet to ripen. One had fallen to the ground and turned yellowish-orange, but I knew it wouldn’t taste good. It hadn’t hung on the tree long enough. I started thinking. The oranges wouldn’t be ready until winter, and if I took them off the tree too soon, they wouldn’t taste as good as they would if I waited until they were ripe. Then I realized that the oranges on that tree had actually been incubating since spring when the orange blossoms appeared. Everything the oranges needed to be oranges was right there in the blossom during the spring, but the oranges still needed time to become ripe, succulent, and sweet. Mess with the timing, and the orange wouldn’t be as sweet. As I looked at those oranges, I realized that God is letting my novel (and the rest of my life) ripen, not because He wants to be mean, but because He wants my novel and my life to be as sweet as possible.

For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com

Monday, October 09, 2006

In the Zone

October 9, 2006

I'm finally in the zone. You writer's know what I'm talking about. I'm in my writing zone, a happy little place where I can feel what my characters feel and anticipate their movements--when they act in front of me and take over the scenes. I can see areas to add more conflict and tension, and I am finally beginning to see how everything is going to work together. It's as though I'm looking through a foggy window and the defroster has finally turned on. I’ve been out of the zone for the past four weeks, my words wandering as aimlessly as my mind. I’m back now, and completion of my novel is possible. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go write some more before I find myself locked out of my zone.

For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com

There's Always Next Year

October 7, 2006

Once again, my dear Yankees have taken my writing schedule into consideration and have sacrificed their season for my benefit. Knowing that I would stay up late throughout playoff season, wringing my hands instead of typing, they willingly lost the first round of the playoffs. They know how important it is to get my second novel done by the end of October. What great—sniff—guys. (Now if they can just sign some great pitchers...)

For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com

Thursday, October 05, 2006

The Non-Writing Part of Being an Author

October 5, 2006

Being an author requires more than just writing. I have to actually sell my book because if it doesn’t sell, no publisher will want to print my second book. Selling books means making phone calls to bookstores, radio stations, book reviewers, libraries—the list is infinite. It means planning book signings, attending trade shows, and giving author talks. Unfortunately no master list of these things exists, which forces us authors to spend our writing time tracking down media resources and book fairs. It’s all part of getting published, and we authors should be glad to do it.

But I’m exhausted. I don’t just write. I’m also a wife. I cook. I’m supposed to clean, but that’s kind of slipped away recently. I wash the clothes, and every time that stupid dryer bell rings, whatever dialogue or prose that’s in my head disappears into nothingness, and I have to recreate it after I fold all the shirts and pants. I’m a friend, which means I meet my friends for coffee on occasion, because that’s what friends do, and I want to do it. I’m a daughter and an aunt, and my family lives in town, which means I spend time with them because that’s what families who love each other do, and I want to do it. I’m actively involved with youth, which I love doing. I also have two part time jobs that help make ends meet.

So not only am I developing a website, gathering names of all the outlets that will help me sell my book, planning future author events that will help me sell my book, trying to keep my friends and family close, and doing accounting work, I’m also trying to finish the second draft to the sequel of my novel by the end of this month. How do other writers do it?

Anyway, I’ve been stressing out about everything that I have to do before A Prophecy Forgotten comes out in December. Today, I sat down with my calendar and planned everything out from now to December. Now, instead of worrying about all 32,000 things that I’ll have to do, I just have to worry about finishing the Elysian mythology section of this website, gathering information on local events across Florida that I can attend to sell my book, and gathering the names of local schools and universities that might want an author to speak. I can do that in a week, and I won’t be flipping out about anything. And I can watch the playoffs while I do accounting.

For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

October 3, 2005

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the Yankees all swinging, their pitchers strikes bringing, October is here! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

What can I say? October baseball is here and the Yankees are in the mix. It’s a glorious time to be a baseball fan.

Oh, I’m out of seclusion now, although seclusion didn’t help at all. I’ve still got tons to do. I found my one page with all of the notes. Phew! I was scared for a moment, but now, “Dragons crawled across the distant mountains, reminding Davian of lizards on a small rock.” Sound much better than, the dragons were far away, doesn’t it?

Anyway, it’s on to more editing and tuning into baseball on ESPN and Fox.

For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com