Home Stretch
My husband is on a self-prescribed writing and motivation retreat in an AirBnB the next town over, which means I am in the middle of 4 days on my own at home.
It has not been terrible.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally miss him (though he’s literally 10 minutes away). But it’s also allowed me to enjoy my own writing retreat at home. And during this time I have used my husbandless time to accomplish a lot of things on my plate. Like finishing the editing for Masquerade Mistake, the first book in my Sunset Bay series.
I cannot tell you how ecstatic I feel writing those words. Last week, I finished writing the second book in this series (Naked Coffee Guy), and now to have finished the (self) editing of the first book, I am that much closer to pushing these books out into the world.
I swore this would be a two-book year, and it’s totally happening.
This will be a short letter this week just because I could go on and on about this book and my excitement over it. I wish you all a fantastic week!
What I purchased this week
You all. I have been so spendy this week. I am not rich enough for this. But c'est la vie, life is supposed to be enjoyed, right? And experiences are part of that enjoyment.
I have two concerts I’m buying tickets for this coming week (Sigur Ros and Hozier, FTW!). I bought tickets to an upcoming Giants and A’s pre-season game (I’m not a sportsing fan, but I do love going to baseball games, and my favorite Giants player, Romo, is taking the mound for the last time).
I am also in the middle of purchasing everything I need to set up my very own recording studio at home, which sounds expensive but I promise you it’s not. My plan is to start recording my own audiobooks, and I can’t wait to get started with my Sunset Bay series!
What I’m listening to
On the first night my husband was on his solo retreat, I came home from work to an empty house, a lot of quiet, and a feeling of restlessness as I wondered what to do. Then it hit me to create the mood. I turned on our SmartTV and clicked on YouTube, and then I created a coffee shop vibe in my living room with this:
These kinds of videos are all over the place on YouTube. You can sit in Harry Potter’s school library next to a crackling fire and the rustling sounds of page turning. You can enjoy a Paris cafe on a beautiful rainy night. You can enjoy a cozy tavern, a seaside coffee shop set to Bossa Nova, or a garden view with the sounds of rain, singing birds, and a purring cat. You can also check out one of my favorites, Lofi Girl, who has a bunch of Lo Fi playlists that are perfect background music so you can focus on your latest project.
These little YouTube escapes are so comforting and definitely mood setting. This tiny escape completely set the scene for a cozy night of editing.
What I’m reading
Right now, I’m limping through Lucy Score’s Things We Hide From the Light. At this point, I’m only reading because I got this far and might as well reach the end. But I have realized I am just not a Lucy Score fan, even though she seems to be one of romance’s darlings of the moment. Lots of people do love her books, though, so give her a go if you are looking for small town romance with some suspense woven in.
For my next book, I’m really excited to get into Liz Tomforde’s book, Mile High. Liz Tomforde is not only a steamy romance author, but she’s a Sonoma County local like me. I’d never heard of her, but a friend of mine introduced me to her books. Apparently, she wrote her debut novel during the pandemic and it became one of those overnight successes we all dream about. I’m fascinated and a little jealous. But mostly, I’m just excited to discover this new and local author.
What I’m watching
This little girl making cat chattering noises as she watches the birds making a nest in the roofline above my bedroom. It’s the cutest thing in the world.
What I’m celebrating
This week, I celebrated 10 years as a published author. I had many different ideas about where I would be 10 years into this journey, and much of it was pie in the sky. I am not living in a mansion. I am not batting away rabid fans. I am not enjoying month-long stretches on the Caribbean, writing my next novel.
But I am still writing. Even more, every book has taught me something about how to be a better writer, and I love seeing the progression. I still struggle with my feelings over what success is supposed to look like. But when it comes down to it, I have accomplished my lifelong dream of being a published author.
And that’s what I am celebrating today.
P.S. Here’s a peek at who I was as an author 10 years ago in comparison to the author I am today.
What I’m obsessed with
The fact that in a very short amount of time, I will get to start promoting my next book, Masquerade Mistake.
P.S. This is the glamorous look of a writer wearing the same clothes for days while she works on her book way past her bedtime.
P.P.S. Don’t you just love my Scottish Highland cows? I downloaded that photo from Shutterstock and had it applied to canvas, and it’s one of my favorite art pieces.
I don’t just write rambling blog posts, I also write novels. Find them all here.
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