Michelle Zink's Blog, page 18

The Sunday Experiment

Many of you know from my New Year’s Resolution post (or from Facebook) that one of my goals in 2013 is to take Sunday’s off. Like, completely off. No emails, no social networking, no editing, no writing.

Basically, nothing work related.

I’ve been surprised by the comments and emails I’ve gotten on the subject. Ranging from, “I need to do this!” to “How will you live without the internet for a whole day?!” it seems everybody is curious about this experiment. Which is telling in and of itself. When did we get to a place where having ONE day off a week is an anomaly? When did we become so OVER-connected that it’s strange to take a day for family, reading, watching movies, taking walks, and napping?

And I’m not judging! Because I’m just as guilty as anyone else. In fact, one of the reasons I decided to take Sundays off is because I literally could not remember the last day I hadn’t worked in some capacity. If I wasn’t writing, I was answering emails. If I wasn’t answering emails, I was posting on Facebook and/or Twitter, and not always because I wanted to. A lot of the time, it was this feeling that I would lose marketing ground, that people would forget about me and my work, that in the fast paced, all-information-all-the-time world we live in, I would fade into the woodwork without constant reminder of my presence. My work and my career were a constant itch at the back of my mind, an ever-present voice in my head.

And that is no way to live. It kept me from being in the moment, from fully enjoying time with my family. Ironically, it reminded me a lot of the life I left behind in California. The one where I couldn’t even go out to lunch with one of my kids without a running diatribe that went something like this; “I have exactly twenty minutes before I have to pick up so and so. Then, if I hurry, I can get to such and such’s appointment and still get home in time to start dinner at six. If we’re done by seven, I can get two loads of laundry in before bed. Oh! And I have to meet Vicki at six tomorrow morning instead of seven. I should write that down. And also, I should prepare for that meeting with XYZ company. I can do that before bed.”

Doesn’t it stress you out just reading it?! It stresses me out all over again. One of the weirdest things about leaving that life behind was the idea that I had TIME. I would be sitting with the kids or taking a walk or playing a game with them, and I would start to feel anxious and rushed, even though I had nowhere to go and nothing pressing to do for the first time in years. I had to teach myself to be in the moment.

I’ve let myself get there again. And while I actually enjoy my work now, it’s still unhealthy to live with that voice all the time. It’s still unhealthy not to have real downtime. I don’t think we’re built for this constant connectedness. The human soul needs time to center itself now and again.

This last Sunday was my first day “off” this year. It was a little different than I’d planned, mostly because Rebekah was moving back into her dorm after the holiday and I spent the day helping her get settled. Even so, there were a few lessons that I’ll carry forward to next Sunday and beyond;

1. Even checking my email took me out of the “day off” mentality. I didn’t answer them, but as soon as I saw them sitting there in my Inbox, I’d feel myself tense up and the voice would be back, planning how I’d respond on Monday. Next week, I’m going to try not even opening my email. I’ll set an away message so people know I won’t respond until Monday. Hopefully, that will remove some of my anxiety that people will think I’m a slacker for not responding right away.

2. This was somewhat true for Facebook as well. I logged in a couple of times from my phone while I was waiting for Rebekah to put everything away, and even that little thing made a difference. All of a sudden, I had everyone’s “noise” in my head and I was back in it.

3. being mindful made a difference. I didn’t fully appreciate my time when I was just moving from one activity to another. I enjoyed it more when I paused to really think about  what I was doing, to really acknowledge to myself that this was precious time doing something I loved (like going to lunch with Rebekah after we’d unpacked her room). With this in mind, I’m going to plan a couple of things to do next Sunday. Instead of taking the fun out of it, it will give me something to look forward to during the craziness of the week and I think I’ll appreciate it more when it comes, even if it’s just a plan to take myself out for a cappuccino and read or to sit on the couch with a cup of tea and a chocolate croissant while I read. Who knows? This may backfire, making me feel TOO planned. But I’m going to give it a try!

And I’m going to continue this experiment throughout the year. If you’re feeling stressed out or too busy, if the voice in your head had become ever-present, if the noise of the world has become your own, maybe you’d like to join me?

Sneak Peek Saturday – Temptation’s Fire

So here’s the deal; every Saturday, I’m going to give you guys a sneak peek of something I’m working on. This week, I’m sharing an excerpt from Temptation’s Fire, the third book in the Shadowguard series, slated for release in February.

And to kick it off, I’m sharing the cover, featuring Ivan Montgomery, the third book’s all-too-hot hero.

And if you haven’t checked out the series yet, what are you waiting for?! Temptation’s Heat and Temptation’s Kiss are already out!

Maggie O’ Reilly sat back in her chair, the images on her computer screen blurring as she rubbed her tired eyes. She’d been paging through the digital archives of the Clifton Record for hours.

And that was just today.

Really, she hadn’t stopped looking since Kane Dawson and Ivan Montgomery had given her the photograph last week.

She picked it up from her desk, looking at it for the hundredth time. The man could have been anyone. He was just an average guy, his dark hair a little long and curling around the hood of a sweatshirt that hung out the back of his leather jacket. His eyes were watchful, ironic since he’d obviously missed whoever had been aiming a camera his way as he headed into the old welding shop at the edge of town.

Except Maggie had a feeling he wasn’t just guy. Had a feeling this wasn’t just a story.

She reached up and released her hair from its messy bun. It cascaded around her shoulders in a tangle of copper waves, and she sighed as she put her bare feet up on the desk. This time of night, the office was blissfully quiet, the phones silent, nobody tapping on a keyboard except her.

Plus, she could put her feet up without worrying about that leach, Truman, looking up her skirt.

She looked at the picture again, wondering why the guy looked familiar. Shadowguard Security had run the guy through the criminal databases to no avail. Kane and Ivan had given her the photograph hoping she could tie him to previous story or an undercover source, but so far, she’d turned up nothing.

And the guy in the photograph wasn’t the only thing bothering her. The whole thing felt off, starting with Shadowguard Security itself.

She’d been trying to get into the private firm for almost a year, hoping to crack one of its employees, get a source on the inside. She knew their party line; that they were a security firm specializing in physical and digital security, counter-measures, and surveillance.

But she had a feeling there was more to Shadowguard than met the eye. Whatever they did, it was important enough to keep quiet and lucrative enough to insure Shadowguard headquarters was understatedly posh. Plus, they must be compensating their employees well, because Maggie hadn’t gotten a single one to crack in all the time she’d been trying to get in.

That kind of loyalty was bred only through mutual respect. Or family.

She turned her thoughts to Ivan Montgomery, son of Ambrose Montgomery, head of Shadowguard. She had no explanation for the flutter than started in her stomach at the thought of Ivan. They’d met twice since Maggie began working on the identity of the man in the photograph. The first time, Ivan had dropped off some more pictures. None of them had been very different from the one she had, and she’d found herself wondering if she was imagining the warmth in his eyes, the way he’d looked at her a little longer than necessary.

She’d been surprised a couple of days later when Ashley, the receptionist, told her she had a visitor. She was even more surprised to realize it was Ivan. Maggie had given him a brief update on her progress — very brief, since she hadn’t made any — and he’d asked her out to lunch.

She’d told herself it was business. Ivan was just the ticket she needed into Shadowguard Security. And she needed a ticket. Needed a big story and the promotion and raise that would come with it.

But a funny thing had happened over lunch. She found that she liked Ivan. More than that, she felt something deeper than an attraction to his piercing green eyes, the dirty-blond hair that was long enough to fall over his collar. More even than the muscular chest filling out his t-shirt, the broad shoulders straining the leather jacket.

There was something vulnerable behind his swagger, something gentle in the way he pulled her chair out for her, the careful way he moved around her, like she was a skittish animal that might make a run for it if he made any sudden moves.

They’d talked about work — his and hers, although he was careful not to say anything too revealing — and by the time he’d walked her back to the office, she’d found herself wondering if he would ask her out.

He hadn’t, and she’d had to stifle a pang of disappointment.

She put the photograph on the desk and refocused on the computer. Visiting hours at Clifton Meadows ended at nine. She could work for another two hours and still make it in time.

Make-Up Quandary

As a woman of a certain age, I can never decide if I like a chic red lip or a natural nude one. So I thought I’d do a little research and get your opinion.

Exhibit A? Charlize Theron;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up is Diane Lane;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, let’s look at Gwyneth Paltrow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what’s the verdict? Tres chic? Or au natural?

Come on over…

Better Late Than Never

You guys! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Okay, so I’m a little late. I was busy blowing horns and wearing party hats. And then I was busy with the flu, which wasn’t nearly as much fun.

I always give some thought to resolutions as I close out one year and begin another. And while I understand people who don’t bother with them (the argument usually being that if you want to change, you should do it then and there, not wait for a new year), I’ve made a lot of positive changes through resolutions in the past. Among them; becoming vegetarian, starting a garden, composting, quitting soda, quitting TV, making yoga a part of my daily life, and going to meditation practice at my local Buddhist center.

All of those are things I did as a result of resolutions. Even more amazing, they are things I’ve stuck with. So I thought I’d share a few of mine for 2013.

Long yoga at least three days a week – Making yoga a part of my daily life was a big deal, but I’m finally at the point where it is a habit. It is fairly rare for me not to do at least a basic flow. The problem is, I rely on my tried and true sequence of poses a little too much. Now that I’ve made it part of my routine, I’d like to expand my flow from an average of 20 minutes to about 40.

Meditate at least once every day for any length of time – As with yoga, just making meditation a part of my life has been a huge accomplishment. I now have a meditation cushion in my office, and that is a good reminder to meditate. Unfortunately, I still tend to forgo meditation when I’m very busy or tired, probably the very times I need it most. So this year, I’m aiming for daily meditation, even if that sitting period is only five minutes. I’m banking on the fact that forming the habit is the most important part, not the length of the sit.

No animal products Monday through Thursday – Shortly after becoming vegetarian, we all realized how much better we felt on the days when we didn’t eat any animal products at all. For awhile, I was able to be vegan Monday through Thursday, but then I got lazy. I’m aiming to go back to that schedule in 2013 because I just FEEL better.

Take one full day off a week – I realized while having the flu that I can’t remember the last time I had a real day off. And by that I mean no Facebook, no Twitter, no answering emails, no writing, no editing (for myself or my freelance clients), no revising. That has to change because I am FRIED. So I am aiming for one full day off a week this year, a day in which I don’t have to do anything at all.

Take one weekend off a month – Okay, this is crazy talk! But I’m going to try.

Finish two projects – I have two projects that are at the 35,000 word mark. This year, I will finish them bot in addition to the other projects I have under contract.

What about you guys? What’s on tap for you in 2013? Do tell!

Congrats, Vivien and Len!

You are the winners of the Shadowguard Series Launch Giveaway!

Vivien, you won four e-books from Swoon Romance plus a $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice. Len can also claim four e-books from Swoon along with a $25 gift card to the bookstore of your choice.

Please email swoonromance@gmail.com with “Shadowguard Series Launch Winner” in the Subject header to claim your prizes.

Thanks to everyone who helped spread the word about the series. If you enjoy the novella, please continue to spread the word and review the books on Amazon. Especially with e-books, reviews make a huge difference, moving books up in searches and generally making readers feel more confident about giving an author a try.

And stay tuned for the soon-to-be released cover of Temptation’s Fire, the third book in the Shadowguard novella trilogy!

Porcelain

This week’s song is an oldie but goodie.

Winners of the Shadowguard Cover Giveaway

Ahem. Time to announce the winners of Shadowguard Cover Giveaway. To enter, all you had to do was comment on the covers of TEMPTATION’S HEAT and TEMPTATION’S KISS. It could be anything.

Even, “Holy boob!” as my editor said. Lol!

And the winners are… *cue drum roll*

Caitlin

Francoise B

Jessirae

You each win a copy of Temptation’s Heat and Temptation’s Kiss, plus two more novellas – Captivated By You by Diane Alberts and Unwrap Me by Samantha Spencer and Carolina Jordan – from Swoon Romance. To claim your prizes, email swoonromance@gmail.com with Shadowguard Series Cover Giveaway in the Subject line. Please include whether you’d like Nook or Kindle versions of your books.

Thanks for entering and remember that you still have time to win these four books PLUS a $50 or $25 gift card to the book store of your choice in the Shadowguard Launch Giveaway! You have until Midnight EST on 12/20 to enter.

Satellite

Loving this week’s song, Satellite, by Guster. It’s kind of a groovy, mellow jam, yes?

Hope you guys like it, too!

A Little Goes a Long Way

… toward yourself and others. It’s rough out there.