Whilst Running...

Sometimes, just sometimes, (like today) when I'm not even a mile in to my run, and know I have another three more miles to go, I'm wondering why the hell I do it. Why do I run? Especially now the weather is turning and getting colder...

It feels like an effort to put one foot in front of the other...

I'm thinking why don't I just not exercise and let myself get out of shape...

Then, once I've finished my four mile run, I realise I feel fantastic. I know that sacrificing forty minutes of my spare time, making time for me, was worth it.

My general outlook in life has improved, my mood has been lifted and I'm in a better frame of mind. I've even had forty minutes to brainstorm any writing I'm working on. And on the plus side, I can still fit in my clothes :)

Another Reason To Celebrate!

Today I received a belated birthday present. My agent sent over my contract for my third book, Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage, with HarperImpulse.

It's all very exciting, and still very surreal, but it does mean the third book that I've written will be published. Which means it gets shared with readers (who I hope will love and not hate).  That always feels good.

It has been just over 3 years now since my first book was published with HarperImpulse. I have always worried that the story ideas may run out. However, I have another two contemporary romance books brewing... plus a fantasy one... and maybe one day I'll get back to writing my vampire story... And then there are a list of silly plot bunnies in my OneNote file too, so I maybe okay for a while.

The Boss says I should start writing the online dating novel I have floating around in my head, as long as he doesn't feature in it. Ha ha!

I worry about the day I may have to return back to work full time. Will I get time to keep on writing? Will all these ideas get written, and published?

I've got a couple of years before I need to worry about it all yet, so maybe, tonight I should just open a bottle of bubbly and celebrate the beginnings of another book and that I am able to do something I thoroughly enjoy - writing.

Cheers!

Another Year Older...

Maybe still not any wiser... lol!

Yay! It's my birthday! I have been celebrating all week, but today I get to open presents!

Think I'll be having champagne for breakfast. As you do.

I'm not expecting too much today, however, if I were to have a party, my ideal party guests would include...








Henry Cavill, Tom Hiddleston and Bradley Cooper, to name a few very quickly off the top of my head...

(By the way, I keep telling Tom he needs to put come clothes on!)

And maybe Adam Levine could sing for me. :) 

Yeah, my list hasn't really changed much. 

And if anyone would like to buy me one of these for my birthday, I'd much appreciate it! 

Yes I would like it in this colour too. :) 

And Relax.... Sort Of.

Tuesday evening, I slogged away and managed to send my third manuscript/novel off to my agent - whoo hooo! (Although it's the first book I've sent to my agent). So the past couple of days, I've not been writing as I've taken a break. I am hoping to have a few days, maybe a week or two respite. So, what have I done the past couple of days?

I have caught up with housework. I have cleaned.

Not shopping, or catching up with friends for coffee, lunch... no, I've cleaned. (I did have a massage and my hair cut but they were already in the diary - after Tuesday evening being hunched over my keyboard, the massage was needed).

Today, I gave my lounge a good dust down, and then I cleaned the tops of my kitchen cupboards.... and washed everything that sits on there. I haven't done that in four years (January) I've lived in this house. :-O Today I've tackled some of the bigger jobs I've had to put off because I needed to write.

I wanted to get the book off my desk (so to speak) before next week as I knew I wouldn't get to work on it.

Because...

Next week is my birthday week, so I doubt very much I'll be doing anything, including housework. I have my mum visiting, too.

Maybe, next week, I should start every day with a glass of champagne...

Now there's a thought...

All Part of The Writing Process

Next month is my birthday month... but then, now we're in the sign of Libra, I wonder, is this the start of my birthday month? Should I include the middle of September? Should I start celebrating now?

I have a lot of friends who share their birthday in the 'Libra' month (or their children do) with me. We're all fabulous people. However, I'm trying to work out why there are so many of us. My calculations makes New Years Eve too early and February's Valentines' too late. Unless of course, as babies we either arrived late or early... depending on when we were conceived...

And as you can see, I have also been neglecting my blog. I even need to send something off for someone else's blog, but have failed to do that too. The email is in my inbox to remind me.

With birthday looming, basically, on my writing days, I've tried as hard as possible to concentrate on my writing. It's safe to say I've been neglecting the housework. Book three needs to be finished and over to my editor by November (we agreed). And now I have an agent, it means it needs to go through them first too.

I know I won't get much done around my birthday, and October half-term is then rapidly approaching, where I definitely won't get anything done. Therefore, I'm aiming for this week, next week at the latest to send over my manuscript to my agent.

The powers of modern day technology means I can upload it to my kindle, and read it through from there. This is what I'm doing this week, noting any nitpicks that need altering, or a blinding obvious spelling mistake or typo. I've found "mine" and it should be "mind" for example.

It felt weird putting my feet up today, reading my book on my kindle. But it is part of the writing process. Honest.