I'm Moving....Sort Of

One of my major projects for 2019 was moving all of my books under the same publishing umbrella. As in, the company would own the publishing accounts for the various retailers rather than have them under my personal e-mail addresses.

Why? Why the hell do all that work when I'm so behind in my writing?

Because my cancer diagnosis clashed with the common sense former probate attorney. The one who told her clients to be prepared before the worst can happen.

Now that GK is legally an adult, he could, in theory, take over the publishing aspect. In fact, we've had a couple of talks already about passive income and copyright.

GK: So let's say you live to eighty-four like Nana. The extra seventy years on a copyright doesn't kick in until then.

Me: Yep.

GK: I'd be over a hundred before it was done!

Me: Yep.

GK (with a gleam in his eye): How many books do you think you'll have published by the time you die?

Yeah, he's already doing the income calculations in his head. LOL

The point is I want to make the transition for DH and GK as seamless as possible should I die sooner rather than later. They know where my account list and passwords are. I just want to make it easier for them, and for me.

I'd planned on starting the process of consolidation during the fall dead time in publishing, but a badly behaving model forced me to start the process now.

That's not necessarily a bad time. I just need to pay close attention to my writing production and juggle the tasks as efficiently as I can.

Planning for Death

Death is the ultimate taboo subject in American culture even though no one evades her. In denying our own mortality, we, as a whole, rarely deal with the things that can make our loved ones lives easier. I saw this denial destroy families, financially and/or emotionally, time-and-time again when I practiced probate law.

Author Jay Lake is facing these very issues right now. He's been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. And, bless him, he's got a game plan in place to make things as easy as possible for himself, his parents, his daughter, his girlfriend, his ex-wife, and every other person who matters to him.

For each of the following main topics, Jay has a breakdown of what actions to take and who's responsible:

Now
Terminal Diagnosis
Leaving Work for Disability
Reaching the Point of Cognitive Incompetence
Hospice / Palliative Care
Death

You can read the rest at Lakeshore, Jay's blog.

Granted, I no longer practice. I offer this as common sense, not legal advice. Have a fucking will! If you've got underage kids, designate a guardian. Make sure someone knows where all your legal documents are.

I will now get off my soapbox.

[Note: On the evening of May 8, 2013, Jay announced he'd been officially diagnosed as terminal. Despite surgery in late January and chemotherapy since then, ten confirmed tumors have appeared on his liver, lungs, and omentum. Please keep Jay and his family in your thoughts during this difficult time.]