Here I Am

I haven’t written anything on this blog in almost two months. Since I wanted to update you on what writing I have – or more like – have not been doing, I thought it was about time I posted something here.

First, not quite two weeks ago, I had a sale of my books and the bags I sew at the WSMA conference – the Wisconsin Society of Medical Assistants I used to belong to. The sale went okay. Unless you count my hotel room for the night and my mileage, I came out a little ahead. But it was good to see all the other medical assistants I've known for years from around the state. 

I have another sale this Saturday, and I think I’ve decided it will be my last one. I love doing them, meeting new people, and seeing old friends who show up to support me, if only by just saying “hi.”

But it is a lot of work, and since I haven’t published any new books, it’s hard to keep sales going. Believe it or not, a handful of people have all of my books and are waiting for the next one.

Unfortunately, the characters from my last novel aren’t sharing their story with me. Ellen, Kimberly, Michael, and Sam are all just looking at me, arms folded over their chests, clearly telling me to finish writing the book about how they became a team. But it’s their story to tell, not mine. I can’t do it without them.

But even if they have given up on me, I hope my faithful followers don’t. I am working on another memoir. It will be about the family travels I went on as a kid. I blogged about those adventures in the past, but I want to put them in a book. Maybe just for my family or people who are truly close to me.

Forty years ago, I imagined that I would someday make money writing. That will never happen, but it doesn’t mean I have to quit writing. It just means I have to do it for myself, enjoy my time doing it, and not spend any money on it or make myself crazy looking at figures on Amazon or my spreadsheets.

So, there you have it. In the next few weeks, I’ll start sharing those travel stories again. You can read about Mom, Dad, my sister Pat, our dog Mac, and me traveling the country in that old pickup camper. And you won’t need to buy the book when I publish it on Amazon. I will be okay with that.

standing up for ourselves

 I used to post on this blog twice a week. Over time, that goal fell way off the charts. On the first of this year, I committed to posting once a month, but I still struggle with that. Writer’s block continues to plague me like acne on a seventh grader.

But that doesn’t mean the thoughts aren’t still roaming around in my head.

This morning, I posted a political rant on my other blog. I may regret it, but sometimes we have to speak our minds. This reminded me of the protagonists in my last novel, “Prior to Now.” 

Three ordinary women, Emma, Ellen, and Sarah, stand up for what they believe in and fight an uphill battle against forces of evil – and realize that sometimes those forces are their own United States government.

“I don’t think Kimberly’s coming. I think this has her so freaked out that she has left RASA for good, probably left the country already.”

“Sam, we just left her at the office ten minutes ago.”

“We can’t –” Ellen began, but Michael cut her off.

“Here she comes.”

The shortest member of the team entered the tunnel and marched to where they stood. “Not doin’ it.”

“I think we’ve all agreed on that already.”

“What about the other agents? Anybody get a feel for what they think?” Ellen asked.

“I think most of them will get on board,” Michael answered. “I’m not sure if they’re all 100% in agreement with this mission, maybe a few teams will bail, but I think most have at least one member who will push the rest of them into it.”

“So, what do we do?” Ellen hadn’t usually taken the lead in decisions the team made, but on this, she was passionate. She would not work on this assignment. 

Sam took a deep breath. “Well, I propose we act like we are jumping in full force, and instead, when we get to each location, we do the exact opposite of what the Feds want.”

He presented his closed fist to the center of the group. Each of them did likewise until their fists were touching in the middle.

“One for all,” he began.

They finished the chorus, “And all for one.” 

If you haven’t read “Prior to Now” yet, now might be the time. Now might also be the time to see how little it can take to stand up for your rights, but how vital it can be.

what is wrong with me?

How is it possible that I haven’t posted here in six months! What have I been doing, and what is wrong with me? And why haven’t I written a word on my latest novel in eighteen months?

First, I have had total writer’s block regarding that novel. My heroes are all sitting in their rooms staring at the walls, not doing a thing, so I have nothing to write about them. I nudge them, and they just look at me blankly, like, “You put us here, you get us out.” Oh, well, I’ll have to do more than nudge, I guess.

As you probably know, the other big thing is that I finally took my dream trip to Cambodia. I am still writing about it on my other blog. It was such a wonderful trip; I saw so much and did so much. Oh, how I would love to go back!

Instead, however, my friend and I booked our next trip – this time to the Czech Republic. So, the planner in me has been looking up all kinds of stuff about that area of the world, and I anticipate spending much more time over the next eight months researching even more. And, of course, organizing all those facts.

Other than that, not much new. I hope you had a good holiday season and that you, too, are looking forward to a new year full of adventure and happy news.