Another Baby Leaves the Nest

I don't feel as if I have done much this week. Instead I must give credit to my publisher. The e-book version of "The Christmas Story in 40 Days" has been released today!! How exciting is that!!! Now I just hope that I receive my first paper draft yet this week. 

As exciting as this is, however, sometimes it was more fun to just hole up in my office, surrounded by the Snoopy collection that I have filled the room with, and write whatever and whenever I wanted. Believe it or not, I spent one semester in college as a marketing major. What was I thinking? It sounded fun at the time, and maybe it still would be fun if it wasn't one or the other of my babies that I was constantly pushing on people. 

Sigh. It will all come together, I know that. The fun in writing will return and it will stop being like work. And at least I still have the day job! 

Looks like I actually did something.

Another week for the log books. I'm finding this list of goals to be very helpful. At the end of the week, when I am feeling sorry for myself and berating myself as lazy, I can go over the list and say, "Hmm? Looks like I actually did something."

I. READING –

A. Daily goal

1. Read two other blog posts a day. Yes.       

2. Read in at least one of the many books I am reading. Yes.     

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have finished reading five books. Ok, I have finished reading two, and am half-way through “The Glass Castle”.  

II. WRITING

A. Daily goal

1. Work on something for two hours a day. Close.

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. I worked on it for a couple hours yesterday and the day before.                 

a. Write on my novel. I still think I may jump on this for NaNoWriMo starting on Friday. I don’t think I will do it officially though. I just have too much going on to make that sort of commitment.

b. Write my blog posts. I missed Thursday’s blog post again this week. What is wrong with me? No excuses this week.  

B. Goals for the Round.

1. Have published “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. The final draft has been sent to the printer and I should have it in my hot little hands by the end of the week. Once I review it and give the OK to my publisher, this goal will be on record as achieved.

2. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”.

3. Have finished my novel.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal.

1. Have promoted either one of my books on one other site. I don’t even know what I mean by this goal anymore. I am so tired of eating, sleeping and walking around saying, “promote the book, promote the book.” I know I have to do something to keep selling them both, but I am so burned out.  

2. Comment on two other blog posts. Yes.  

3. Research markets for an hour.  Yes. I looked at the Chicken Soup for the Soul website. I have a great story for them, I just have to find the time to write it.  

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  Yes.  

5. Have contacted one organization about a speaking engagement. No, another thing I am just burned out on.  

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings.

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise

1. Continue to run outside as weather permits or on the treadmill at least three times a week. I ran twice on the treadmill. Already, it is dark out when I get home, so even if the weather was decent (which it is not), I am not running when I can’t see where I am going. My boss manages to run in the dark, he wears a head light and all sorts of reflectors. He admits he probably looks like a dork. I could only nod my head and smile.   

2. Continue exercising three times a week. I think I exercised three times, twice for sure.  

B. Nonprofit

1. Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc. I am trying to post to our Facebook page at least a couple times a week, so that is about all I did this week. Oh, and print off the 1023 application for tax-exempt status. What a bear that is! Holy cow. I told my daughter we really need to get help with it.

                C. Sewing

1. Finish three projects by the end of the year. Does it count that I patched a co-worker’s shirt and my husband’s jacket?  

A Quick Little Update

Just a quick update.

I finished reading another book, “Confessions of a Prayer Wimp” by Mary Pierce. Great book, and I would say that even if Mary was not already a writer friend. I’ve been blogging, reading blogs, commenting on a few blogs.

I also got back the final file of my newest book, “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. I read that over, for hopefully the very last time and sent it back to my publisher last night. He said my actual paper copy should be in my hands in less than two weeks, which means two weeks or so after that, it should be available to the masses. Yippy! Out well before Christmas, in time to be bought up in bulk for everyone to give as Christmas presents.

I can’t think of much else that has been going on since my last post. I think this was news enough. 

Oh, and also someone had asked if I would post pictures of what I sew. These are a few of my past projects. I haven't been doing much sewing for the last three years - way too busy with other stuff - but I hope to get back at it yet this year.

Pillow with pockets

Table runner 

Kindle Keeper

Plowing Ahead

I. READING –

A. Daily goal

1. Read two other blog posts a day. Yes.       

2. Read in at least one of the many books I am reading. Yes.     

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have finished reading five books. Ok, I have finished reading two, “A Beggars Purse” by Toni Nelson and “The Secret Holocaust Diaries” by Nonna Bannister. I have also started reading another book, so as usual I have four of them going at one time.

II. WRITING

A. Daily goal

1. Work on something for two hours a day. No, not every day. 

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. I worked on it for a couple hours yesterday. It is about half written.                          

a. Write on my novel. I am trying to decide if I want to tackle this during NaNoWriMo in November. I probably could finish it then if I just made the commitment.  

b. Write my blog posts. Buggers, I didn’t do my Thursday blog this week. I had a lot of late nights and early mornings at work this week and it seemed like I didn’t do much at home but crawl in bed each night .

B. Goals for the Round. We have a long ways to go yet.

            1. Have published “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”.

2. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”.

3. Have finished my novel.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal.

1. Have promoted either one of my books on one other site. Since my book trailer came out for “A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven”, I have been posting that wherever I can, so that should surely count for something.

2. Comment on two other blog posts. I think I did this.

3. Research markets for an hour.  Umm, no.

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  I think so.

5. Have contacted one organization about a speaking engagement. I know I did not.

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings.

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise

1. Continue to run outside as weather permits or on the treadmill at least three times a week. Since my back went out last week, I haven’t done anything physical that I didn’t have to absolutely do.

2. Continue exercising three times a week. Not this week. 

B. Nonprofit

1. Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc. Friday afternoon, my daughter and I met with her best friend from high school. I teared up seeing them together; it was just like old times. When did they both grow up? Anyway, Katie has been working for a huge nonprofit, so had lots of thoughts and insights to share with us. She feels we are on the right track. She is moving out of town next week, but we hope to stay in touch by internet.  

                C. Sewing

1. Finish three projects by the end of the year. I just added this one this week, right after I finished sewing a work top for myself, so I am counting that as one of the three projects. 

This has got me excited.

I don't know where I am at with my goals for the week. I think I've gotten a good start on things. The most exciting event that happened is that my publisher finished the book trailer for my first book. I really kind of like it.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TEuaoViua8&feature=youtu.be

The final edits for the second book have been submitted and as I type this, they are working on typesetting the pages to see how the book is going to come together. I think we are way ahead of schedule so that the book will be out well before Christmas. Which means I can spend most of December beating the pavement to get it sold everywhere as Christmas presents.

I also need to add to my personal goals that I hope to get some sewing done this round. As I write this, a scrub top for work is just waiting to be hemmed. I'd like to make some tops out of the material I have from Africa too. And lastly I have enough quilt squares cut out to make a quilt big enough to cover my house. So, look for those goals when I post the whole list on Sunday.

For now? I have to be to work at seven am both tomorrow and the next day. I better get that top hemmed if I plan on wearing it tomorrow and than get to bed.

First CheckIn of the Round

Is it really time to post an update already? I just don’t know where the days go.

I. READING –

A. Daily goal

1. Read two other blog posts a day. Close.      

2. Read in at least one of the many books I am reading. Yes.     

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have finished reading five books. Ok, I already finished reading one, “A Beggars Purse” by Toni Nelson. Great book, and short too, an easy read.

II. WRITING

A. Daily goal

1. Work on something for two hours a day.

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. No.                         

a. Write on my novel. No.

b. Write my blog posts. Yes.

B. Goals for the Round. We have a long ways to go yet.

                1. Have published “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”.

2. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”.

3. Have finished my novel.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal. Ok, I think all of these were epic failures. I know, I will get it together soon.

1. Have promoted either one of my books on one other site.

2. Comment on two other blog posts.

3. Research markets for an hour.  

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  

5. Have contacted one organization about a speaking engagement.

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings.

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise

1. Continue to run outside as weather permits or on the treadmill at least three times a week. Honestly, I think it was only twice in the last week.

2. Continue exercising three times a week. Yes.

B. Nonprofit

1. Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc. We had another meeting yesterday. We elected our Board of Directors. Yeah. Our next step is to finalize the Bylaws and the Budget, and open a bank account. 

One of the many reasons we are working so hard on the nonprofit. 

End of Vacation and On To Round 4

 And away we go, into Round 4 

I. READING –

A. Daily goal

1. Read two other blog posts a day.       

2. Read in at least one of the many books I am reading.     

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have finished reading five books.

II. WRITING

A. Daily goal

1. Work on something for two hours a day.

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series.

a. Write on my novel.    

b. Write my blog posts.

B. Goals for the Round

                1. Have published “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”.

2. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”.

3. Have finished my novel.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal

1. Have promoted either one of my books on one other site.

2. Comment on two other blog posts.

3. Research markets for an hour.  

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  

5. Have contacted one organization about a speaking engagement.

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings.

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise

1. I don’t know what I am doing here. I will continue to run outside as weather permits or on the treadmill at least three times a week.  

2. I will continue exercising three times a week. For at least the last 30 years, I have done a regime of situps, pushups, crunches, etc., at least a few mornings a week, so I don’t know how much of a goal this is. But I am going to try to push myself a bit – doing more repetitions of each exercise whenever I do them.

B. Nonprofit

1. Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc. I hope that soon we have a Board of Directors, so that someone other than my daughter or me is doing some of the work.

 My last list of goals included making vacation plans for September. The last time I posted here, I shared that vacation plans were made and I was really going to take a whole week off. Well, for starters, I did not take the whole week off, maybe from the day job, but I was still on-line every night and looking at my latest manuscript every day.

But the Hubby and I did take off to an exotic desert location. No, not really, just went to the Domes.