Monday, August 27, 2012

Monday Mishmash 8/27/12

Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:

  1. First day of kindergarten  The dreaded day has arrived. My daughter starts kindergarten today. I need a lot of tissues.
  2. Touch of Death in print  Last Friday, I got a huge surprise in the mail. My bound proof of Touch of Death! I held my book for the first time. There were tears. Lots of tears, and I have video evidence.
  3. First round edits for Stalked by Death  Also arriving on Friday, were my editorial letter and first round edits for the sequel to Touch of Death. I'm diving into Stalked by Death as we speak.
  4. New writing schedule  With my daughter in school for 6 hours a day, I have 6 hours to write and/or edit.
  5. WIP on hold  I was planning to write two more books this year, and I still hope to, but I have to put my new WIP on hold to work on edits for contracted books.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?

60 comments:

  1. The first day of kindergarten can be so hard. Sometimes I think it is harder on mom than it is on the little ones. This year is my son's first year of middle school and I'm so nervous. It's a BIG school, the first year he has to change classes each hour and I worry about bullying (he's very short for his age). Not only does he start middle school, my babies graduate to first grade and my oldest to college...there will be a few tears here, as well. :)

    Congratulations on holding your book for the first time. That must have been awesome!

    Good news for me: Another book contract with the amazing Spencer Hill Press. I absolutely love working with them and couldn't be happier.

    Michelle :)

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    1. I saw your book deal, Michelle. Congrats! I agree that they are amazing to work with. :D

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  2. I hope you daughter has an awesome first day of school. Ya for getting to hold your book! Did you take pictures with your book?

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    1. Yes, I made a video too. It's on my FB page. Very embarrassing, but it was a true to the moment video.

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  3. A big day for you both! An end of an era, but the start of another! Look forward to sharing stories, friendships, lovely drawings and seeing your little one blossom as she has new experiences and makes new friends. x

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    1. She was so terrified. I waited until the drive home to cry though. :(

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  4. Congrats on receiving your proofs! How very exciting =D

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  5. Awwww! I watched the video and that's so encouraging! I am having a bad Monday already, so I was happy to see your joy ;0) about your book, your baby being birthed!

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  6. I cried my eyes out on my son's first day - which made him weepy, too. (bad mom!) But, we got through it, and he LOVED school and all the friends he made there.

    Congratulations on all the wonderful things you have going on in your writing career!

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    1. Thank you, Beverly.

      I didn't cry in front of her. I held it together, which took all my strength. I just hope she's doing okay. I can't stop thinking about her.

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  7. Congrats on your book again!! I can't help but be excited for you. Someday I hope to be a sniffling mess right along side of you. How many books have your written before this one got picked up?

    Also I hope you make it through your emotional day of school. If she cries it won't last more then a few days. Once they find a friend or two or the teacher is wonderful she will start to forget about mom, most days :-)

    Congrats again!!!

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    1. Touch of Death was the 6th book I wrote. You never know which one will get you that contract, so I just keep writing. :)

      My daughter didn't cry—at least not in front of me. I hope she's okay.

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    2. Oh good 6 books, that's all :-) You're right, just keep writing and someday one will be the lucky book.

      If she didn't cry you are probably good. My little girl cried A LOT at first which made everything so much harder. She is younger though and not in kindergarten...maybe that is a difference.

      Most likely we, as moms, just make everything worse in our own heads. They are having more fun at school then they ever did with us. Plus now you can look forward to pickup. The part of the day where they see you and light up because you're mom and they missed you.

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    3. Yeah, I'm hoping this day is a lot harder on me than it is on her.

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  8. ((Hugs)) Kelly. Congratulations on not crying in front of her. Soon, it will all become just part of the routine. Good luck with your new schedule. :)

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  9. How sweet to see the You Tube video. The fact that you're crying shows how very much this means to you! I think we all get it as writers--I know I do! So, congrats, and enjoy the process as it unfolds.

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  10. Sarah Negovetich has left a new comment on your post "Monday Mishmash 8/27/12":

    Aw, Kelly! You made me cry watching your video. Congratulations on making your dreams come true!

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    1. Sarah, for whatever reason, your comment posted to my email. Oh well.

      I'm sorry I made you cry. It was a very emotional moment for me.

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  11. Congrats on holding your book for the first time. I know that felt amazing. Your video was so inspiring.

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  12. Whoa! So many exciting things going on. My little guy turns 1 tomorrow! I can't believe how quickly the time passes when you have kids.

    Yay for getting your hands on Touch of Death!

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    1. Aw, happy birthday to him. Enjoy the time with him. I can't believe my little girl is in school already.

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  13. Kelly, I think I'll be replaying your YouTube clip over and over just because it is so wonderful to see you crying like this... ;=)
    No ordinary mishmash, that.

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  14. That's a lot happening for a Monday. Kg, wow. I remember I cried when dropped my son off at preschool. This year I'll have 2 daughters in Middle school. Yikes! I don't know if I'm ready for all that. Oh, the drama! I guess I will soon have a lot of material for my books!

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    1. That's true! Life provides great inspiration for writing. :)

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  15. Congratulations with all the wonderfully happy tears!!!!

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  16. So jealous, Kelly! I'm lucky if I get 15 minutes these days. Bogged down in two projects. I wish they were writing projects, but they're not. :(

    On a lighter note, I wish you the best still. I'm not that kind of jealous person! :D

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    1. Thanks, Diane. :) Sorry you are bogged down with projects. I hope it eases up soon.

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  17. I've been trying to catch up on email from my Internet server being down for 5 days. Impossible.
    Also waiting for line edits for my pirate story.
    Working on my WIP in the meantime.
    Congratulations on your new book. Such an exciting time.

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    1. Thanks, Beverly.

      Uh, catching up on email is always daunting. 5 days? Eek. I'm glad you have it back though. Good luck with those edits and your WIP.

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  18. Back at home after a couple weeks away. I'm hoping to catch up with my life (not likely, but I can pretend). I lost a full week of writing on my second WIP because the traveling and moving in of daughter to school left me undone. I expected it, but that doesn't make it any easier to accept my humanness. Congrats again on both milestones.

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    1. Thanks, Brenda. Sometimes breaks are good. You needed that time with your daughter. You and your WIP will be better for it. :)

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  19. I loved the video of you and Touch of Death! I can imagine how emotional it was for you to hold the book in your hands for the first time. I am so happy for you!!! Awesome! The book looks beautiful!

    Hope the first day of kindergarten was fun for your daughter and I know you will love your new writing schedule!

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    1. Thanks for watching it, Stephanie. :)

      She did well. I cried, but that was to be expected.

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  20. Teacher in-service sent me back to work last week, but today was the first day with students. I tried very hard to focus on the day job -- otherwise known as "my 24 year career" and the profession that pays the mortgage and puts food on the table.

    I tried to forget about books on sub, WIPs out with beta readers, a short story I'm under contract for, and everything that comes with being a writer.

    But now that I'm home for the evening, I'm shifting gears ...

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    1. I hope your first day back went well. Good luck getting back into the schedule of teaching and writing.

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  21. Oh, you just completely broke me down with that video! You should definitely be happy and proud of yourself.

    On my mind today:

    1) Going to see "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" at the movies tonight.

    2) A looming deadline for an article that is kicking my booty. Not quite sure on what approach I should be taking.

    3) Winning Camp NaNoWriMo. I'm so close! Plus my brother won yesterday, so there's no way I'm letting him have all the bragging rights.

    4) De-cluttering my house. Got a good jump on it yesterday but there is still much to do.

    5) Going to the gym. I've been working out at home but I miss the equipment and my water fitness class.

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    1. Thanks for watching the video, Adrianne.

      Sounds like you have a lot on your plate but most of it is good stuff. De-cluttering the house is the only not fun item. Good luck!

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  22. You'll have to let us know how your new writing schedule works for you.
    Nice surprise to get in the mail.

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    1. Well, day one got me through half my edits on the sequel to Touch of Death. Wow, the time I have now.

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  23. These are some emotional items, but quite positive and I'm happy for you. :)

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  24. I'm sure she'll love her first day at kindergarten and woohoo for 6 hours to write (although don't forget to stop for lunch).

    It must be wonderful to receive your book in the post. Good luck with editing your next novel.

    This week, I'm putting the pressure on myself to finish the first draft of my novel so I can start on the second draft next week when my children go back to school.

    Have a great week.

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    1. Good luck with your draft, Fi!

      Yes, the 6 hours of writing are nice, but I miss my baby girl.

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  25. Woohoo! Congrats on the print you can clutch in your hand, and yay for more free time to write and revise. It's sounds like a great day to me!

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  26. The video was touching. Touch of Death touching. Ok, super lame thing to say. Thanks for sharing it with the world. Congrats! Treasure your book! hehe

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    1. Thanks for watching, Julia. It was so emotional for me. I'm still not over it.

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  27. I'm sure you'll daughter will do great in the kindergarten, once she gets used to it. :)

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    1. Yeah, I know she needs to get used to it. I'm hoping by the end of next week, things will be better.

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  28. I'm sure with time she'll get used to it.

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  29. Best of luck to your daughter at Kindergarten Kelly. Six hours per day-that's a lot of writing and editing time!

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    1. Thanks, Anita. I'm kind of in disbelief over the amount of work I've gotten done this week. I miss my daughter terribly though. She's having a tough time adjusting to kindergarten. :(

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