Progress!

Since I announced this through a Kickstarter update, it's safe to say it here. The first audiobook has been completed and delivered to me by the narrator for the Soccer Moms of the Apocalypse campaign. I need to finish reviewing it.

I've made some good strides in writing Death in Double Mocha since the beginning of the year. I've settled into a comfortable drafting rhythm for the first time in over a year.

This is part of the reason I'm not publishing much in the first six months of 2023. I want to get caught up on everything that slid out of control in 2022. And I don't need the stress of a full calendar while getting caught up on last year's releases.

Managing stress when you have one or more chronic conditions is the key to being truly productive. On one hand, I hate having to micromanage my sleep, my food, and my exercise as well as my stress levels. On the other hand, I want to continue giving you the stories you enjoy.

Because I enjoy writing them as much as you love reading them.

When Pain Comes A-Calling

Too much social activity over the weekend left me in bed for the entire morning. Introversion or chronic illness doesn't begin to cover what socialization does to me these days.

If I described what I did this weekend to most people, they'd be like, "What are you talking about? That's a normal weekend for me."

Once upon a time, it would have been a normal weekend for me as well. On Friday, DH and I went for our walk (trying to get back in the rhythm after recovering from the cold we both contracted), bought groceries for our empty cupboards, and picked up some dinner.

Saturday was date night, the first one we've had since December. We went out for Mexican before attending the high school's production of "Mamma Mia!" (which was totally awesome).

Then on Sunday, one of DH's uncles on his dad's side organized a family reunion/birthday party for FIL who turns 87 today. FIL had seven siblings, so when the surviving sibs, all the kids, grandkids, etc. gather, it's huge event. It's not like DH's family are crazy party animals though. We had a low-key potluck and cake.

Not really a lot right? But I woke up this morning with such muscle pain that I rolled over and tried to sleep off the discomfort. Or I did until DH woke me a little after one p.m.

I hate having to blow a good chunk of my day. My fingers ache as I type this. And I need to wait a half-hour before I can take my next dose of naproxen.

Tonight, DH and his sibs, spouses, etc. are taking FIL out to dinner to his favorite restaurant for his birthday. Which means, I'll be pretty much physically useless tomorrow and possibly Wednesday.

This type of stuff makes me so thankful for my writing. It's something I can do while sitting on my recliner on the bad days. And I can still live through my characters.

The Last Days of Camp NaNoWriMo

I'm still working on Ravaged for Camp NaNoWriMo, but with ten days left and 35K to go, I don't know if I'll hit my 60K word goal for the novel.

Stuff like Camp NaNo is one of the reasons I don't do a lot of group activities with other writers. I'm not saying competition and spurring each other on isn't good. It works for a lot of people.

Unfortunately, my super-competitive AAA+ oldest-child Scorpio personality kicks in in those types of situations. Years ago, the worst result was me destroying friendships.

These days, setting off the "win at all costs" mentality literally leads to adrenal overdrive. For someone whose entire endocrine system is FUBAR'd, it can result in pan at a minimum and death at the maximum. (Wish I was joking about the last part, but I'm not.)

For the most part, I can keep my competitive streak leashed. But if I'm not diligent, I pay for the inattention later.

So I don't know if I'll do Camp NaNo next year, much less NaNo itself in November. I want to. It's actually a terrific program for jump-starting a project that's been on the back-burner due to LIFE.

On the other hand, NaNo would mean I'd get the Bloodlines series done by the end of the year.

Decisions, decisions...

Work Hard, Play Hard

I have a personal goal of getting the first draft of Ravaged done in July. That's in addition to editing Zombie Goddess.

And yesterday, I did pretty damn good. Went to the café and wrote a hair over 2,200 words. Edited the first three chapter of Zombie Goddess. And started the read-thru of the paper copy of A Question of Balance.

So DH wants to celebrate by going to a movie. Which we did. (Review on Monday!)

Then I wake up around dawn not feeling so good. URGH!

So I stayed in bed an extra hour and half after my alarm went off. Still in some pain and not a whole lot of energy here.

As Jay Lake used to say, I guess I need do better about managing my spoons.