It’s a new day!

Morning, my lovelies!

Last night marked the end of the Troll Or Derby book launch.  I now consider the book heartily launched, well-sealed, and unlikely to spring leaks.  Watch ‘er sail, my friends, watch ‘er sail.

So what now?

Now, I mail Mr. Taylor his prize pack.  Now I finish sending out swag and signed books (Tracy and Red, your books arrived in the mail yesterday, so I’ll get them ready to mail today!)

Now, I cut a check to March 2 Recovery.  Quite a bit more modest a check than I would have liked, but I’ll throw in some of Mr. Tash’s “fancy tea” money, and I think they’ll appreciate the gesture, regardless.  <insert sad clown face here, as Tim foregoes his daily London Fog>

Now, I roll up my sleeves and finish the Christmas story I’m writing that takes place between Troll Or Derby and Troll Or Park.  I haven’t mentioned it here yet, but other folks have begun to mention it on their blogs or FB feeds, so I might as well spill!  

I am aggregating a collection of short stories that I pitched thusly to the contributors:

Write a holiday-themed story set in the existing world of one of your books. Have a favorite character? Have a favorite setting? Add snow + presents and let’s get down with this.

Notice I said “aggregating,” because it is not my intention to edit my friends.  I would like to remain friends with all these people.  ;)  To that end, I chose only seasoned writing professionals to contribute to the collection (with the exception of one darling man whose sacrifice of London Fog teas is representative of his unwavering support of my work—and whose work I will cheerfully edit as long as we both shall live, until he gets his own publisher, Amen).

A side note to my writing friends: if you didn’t get tapped to contribute to this collection, but you’d really really really really like to, please just message me and we’ll talk about the story editing requirements & deadline.  It wasn’t my intention to hurt any feelings, and if you have something holiday-themed to share, I’m open to hearing about it!

So, yeah, back to my writing stuff!   First I have to finish getting down with the story I’m presently calling A Laurents County Landfill Christmas.

Then, I will buckle down on That Crackling Silence.  I think it’s about 25% done right now, for the first-draft.  I want that first draft DONE done by September.  

At the same time, I am still working on Joan of the ARC with Axel.

I have *many* other projects, but these are my main writing focus right now.  

If you’re wondering what to read next, some completed projects (on my end) are in the hands of artists and should be available in coming months.  There’s also the Coffin Hop antho that will be out this fall around Halloween.  That’ll be a lot of fun.  And by all means, friend me on Goodreads, where I post book reviews, if you’re interested in my opinions.

So, yes, I’ll be really busy writing!!!  Honestly, there’s only so much promo a girl can do without going crazy, and I think I hit that level a week ago.  ;)  It was a marvelous binge, but I need to purge.

My intention is to give myself a social media break, so if it takes me a week to answer your tweet or respond to your Goodreads convo thread, or even to get to your email, believe me, it is not you.  It is all ME.  I know myself well enough to know it’s not likely that I’ll stop blogging, but I will probably not be chasing down new topics to blog about or new stuff to do, blogging-wise.  Just like this entry, whatever comes out comes out, and on with the show. 

But the show, for me, can’t be about FB.  I LOVE all my friends (otherwise I defriend them, as should you) and unfortunately, having all those people available at my fingertips to love is a big distraction.  So I’m going to be loving my characters and my stories again, intensely, until I need some air.  Consider it the writing version of a honeymoon.  I need this.

If you need me, please be patient.  I do love you, dear imaginary reader who hangs on my every word.  

If I don’t surface, please know all is well.  I am simply busy creating worlds of pleasure and misfortune, and challenging myself to do even better than the last time, for your enjoyment.

Off to breakfast, the art store, the post office, the toy store, and who knows what else?  Perhaps to chase fairies.  Hope your day is suitably fun for you.