Michelle Zink's Blog, page 23

Blunderbuss by Jack White

Sorry for the radio silence these last few days. I took a much-needed weekend off (after realizing I hadn’t had one since Christmas and handing in a big project Friday morning) and am still easing back into things.

Maybe the Song of the Week will help! This one was recommended by Stacee (@ivygirl702). Jack White is, in my opinion, one of the most talented musicians of our generation.

Love this! Hope you do, too.

Meet My Amazing Assistant!

Most of you probably know that my daughter, Rebekah, is my personal and professional assistant. I always feel like she gets a raw deal. Like because she’s my daughter, people think, “Oh, riiiight. Your ‘personal assistant’.”

But it’s legit. And so is she (that’s her desk, at left).

I pay her for the job because it’s a lot of work, and then sometimes, it’s NO work at all, which also means no money. Now that she’s graduating, Rebekah is expanding her clientele by offering up her services to other writers who need virtual assistants, so I thought tonight would be a good time to post an interview with her and profess my gratitude for all she does.

It’s Thursday Night Write, after all, and having an assistant makes it easier for me to focus on writing, because really, all the other stuff is a full time job in and of itself. When I really need to buckle down and focus, I can do it only because I can send an email to Rebekah with a list of things I done. She answers email, fields awkward questions (believe it or not, the most frequent ones I get are about my religious affiliation… O_o), runs contests (something she does for-hire as well and has done for a couple other writers), calculates entries, packs prizes, files all my receipts and contracts, gathers tax records, tweets from the @prophecypress account, scours the internet for just the right gift and/or just the right swag, designs all my ads, bookmarks, bookplates, magnets, and postcards and then orders them, and keeps me up to date on market trends, YA books I should read, etc., etc., etc.

Basically, I’d be lost without her.

So even though she’s my daughter, I can say with absolute confidence that if you’re a writer and you need a little help, even temporary help, Rebekah is the one for the job. As the daughter of an author, she understands the privacy imperative, understands how important is to be gracious in correspondence (because it’s your reputation on the line), understands how to handle sticky situations with grace. She can multi-task tons of jobs at once but she can also step in when things get hairy (like during a launch month or contest) and lend a hand and then step out when you don’t need her.

If you’re looking for a little help, just drop her a line at rebekahzinkva@aol.com for a price list.

In the meantime, get to know her better here!

What kinds of things do you do as a virtual assistant?

Lots of things! I design promotional material (bookplates, bookmarks, postcards, magnets, etc.), answer emails, forward interview questions, tally contests and pick a winner (via random number generator), organize the office, keep an inventory list, keep a mailing and email address list, and keep track of log-in info for different websites.

What are some of the things you enjoy most about the job?

I love working with my mom. She is prompt and gives good deadlines. I like organizing things as well, which is very important for this job, along with time management. But I think my most favorite thing of all is being able to work at home in my pajamas at any time of the day or night.

What are some of the biggest challenges?

I think the biggest challenge is juggling everything, keeping it all straight and organized. We have over 500 addresses, and when we do postcard promotion, I have to count on the addresses being up-to-date so I can hand-address them. Near launch time, there’s always a lot of giveaways, which means emails and going back and forth with the wonderful fans, plus packaging and shipping giveaway items.

Favorite snack while working?

Everything? But if I have to limit it, probably some sort of non-chocolate candy, like jelly beans (Flav-Reds

As a virtual assistant, you’re subject to private correspondence and sensitive information. How do you handle that?

As the daughter of someone in the public eye, I understand firsthand the critical nature of the information I have. It’s a scary thing to give someone access to your log-ins, emails, financials, etc. The main reason my mom hired me is because she was worried about giving that information to an outside party. Seeing her worry about stuff like that has made it easy to empathize with people in the public eye and the delicate balance they have to maintain to do their job while sometimes seeking outside help for day-to-day tasks.

How do you deal with rude or aggressive people?

I really try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I’m always nice, but if someone continually harasses my mom or is repeatedly rude, I find a firm but professional way to put an end to it.

Do you have a standard response to handle emails when Michelle is under deadline and can’t respond? If so, what is it?

I do! It varies depending on the request, but in general, it goes a little something like this:

Hello so-and-so,

Thank you so much for your support! Unfortunately, Ms. Zink is under deadline and will not be able to respond to your request. I’m sorry for any inconvenience, but let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

All the best,

Rebekah Z.

Personal Assistant

What is one of the strangest requests/emails you’ve ever gotten?

We had a reader who desperately wanted to be pen pals with my mom, so I sent her a nice  reply saying Michelle wasn’t able to oblige due to time and work. She sent me a reply informing me that she and I would be pen pals instead. She even told me to come up with questions to ask her and told me we would talk a lot that summer because she would be really bored.

Work-related pet peeve?

Not having an organized To Do list. I’m hyper-organized, but during times when there is a lot going on, I really need a straightforward list of what to do and when to have everything completed.

You’ll be going to college in the Fall. How do you expect that to impact your work as a virtual assistant?

I don’t. As a virtual assistant, I work mostly from my computer. Since I have juggled school (including college and AP classes) and work in the past, it will be no different with the onslaught of college work. I complete my work on time because that’s just the type of person I am!

What is the best and worst thing about working with your mom?

The best thing: I have the greatest relationship with my her. We get along great the majority of the time, and I love working with her.

The worst thing: Because of the familial tie, there are some situations where neither of us treat the other as employer/employee. Although we both try, there are times when I have to refrain from acting like her child and act like an employee. It’s hard to keep the balance between daughter and worker, mother and boss.

A secret about Michelle no one probably knows (come on, dish!);

Hmmm…. Her middle name is Lee. She doesn’t really like it, but I think it works for her.

Youth Without Youth by Metric

I had so many great song recommendations to choose from this week that I had a tough time picking one. In the end, I went with this one from Rachel. It had just the beat I needed after a loooong few weeks of writing.

Plus, I’m thinking it might help me push through the next two days, which are going to be hardcore.

I made a note of the other recommendations, though, and will choose from them for the next couple of weeks. So if you offered up a recommendation, stay tuned!

A Love Letter to Children of Single Parents

As I type this, my two daughters (ages 12 and 18) are making an hour-long drive, determined to buy us all dinner from my favorite Thai food restaurant as a Mother’s Day gift.

It’s 6:00pm. So far today Andrew has made me breakfast (pancakes, complete with fresh peach sauce and homemade whipped cream, and fresh juice), Kenneth has gifted me with a dark chocolate and dried fruit bar (my favorite) and the promise of a copy of The Twelve (sequel to The Passage, one of my most-adored books from last year), and Rebekah has driven Caroline to the flower store where Caroline personally chose every flower for a gorgeous bouquet. Every one of these gifts has been paid for with money my children have earned or been given, and some of these presents (like breakfast) have included money spent for groceries and trip out to buy supplies.

Today, I’m truly overcome with gratitude and love for all four of my children. They don’t have another parent who helps them with these kinds of preparations for my birthday and Mother’s Day, and while I always tell them (and mean it!) that presents don’t matter to me and it’s not necessary for them to go to the trouble, they always go out of their way for me. Because they’re on their own, it means a lot of coordination on their part, a lot of work and effort, and sometimes, a lot of money (which I wish they wouldn’t spend on me, ahem).

It saddens me that there is such a burden on them during these occasions. There is part of me — the part that tries to look on the bright side — that thinks they are better people because of it. Less self-centered than many young people. More giving, empathetic, thoughtful.

But I still wish they didn’t have to shoulder so much.

They hold down the fort when I travel, help around the house and yard far beyond what most kids have to do, and sometimes just stand there next to me while I scream expletives (as when a pipe burst in our basement and water gushed in a torrent from the ceiling). They know more about our financial situation than most kids do (sometimes I’m thinking aloud, trying to work through stuff, and they are the only other ones in the house to hear it). They see me emerge red-eyed from the laundry room (my favorite spot to lose it, because hardly anybody goes in there) and avoid questioning me about it because they know I’d be embarrassed. My older kids chauffeur the younger ones around when I can’t. The younger ones will have to help me manage everything — just the three of us — when the two older ones are gone. They are all endlessly loving, supportive, caring. They are not only the reason for everything I do — they’re the reason I CAN.

It is widely acknowledged that being a single parent is a challenge. But what isn’t always acknowledged is that being the child of a single parent is a challenge, too. So on Mother’s Day, I want to say thank you to all of the kids and teens who help shoulder the burden of your single parents, to all of you who pick up groceries and drive siblings around and coordinate and purchase gifts and in general RISE ABOVE the situation, giving far more of yourself than many kids your age are ever asked — and some would argue — ever should be asked to give.

I love every one of you with my whole heart. YOU are unsung heroes in this equation, and the world is beyond fortunate to have you.

A Week in the Life; Bugs, Writing, and Good Friends

This week was full of writing (and writing-related angst), garden prep, track stuff, a movie, flowers from a beloved friend, and kitchen kickboxing.

Here’s my week in pictures…

Hope you guys had a great one!

What’s Happening

So I’ve decided to post about what’s going on in my life, writing and otherwise, on Wednesdays. I always assume details of my life are boring for others, but a lot of the feedback I got when I asked what you guys wanted to see on the blog was along the lines of “what you’re doing” and “what’s going on in your life.”

I used to do this a lot, but after awhile, I just felt narcissistic. I’ll try to get past it!

The last few weeks have been a nightmare in terms of scheduling. I’m an organizer. It’s the only way I can manage everything in my life plus single mother four teenagers and not feel like everything’s spiraling out of control. So last fall, when I had a hefty line up of projects, I penciled neatly into my work schedule and knew I could do it.

For the sake of confidentiality (because I’m not allowed to talk about all of them), let’s call the projects Novellas 1, 2, and 3, Book/TV/Film Project, 2013 Book, and Option Projects (of which there are three).

I figured I’d take care of the novellas last fall, edit the 2013 book in January, work on the Book/TV/Film Project in February, and have spring and summer to prepare my option projects (for those of you who are wondering, publishing contracts typically include the books being purchased by the publisher plus a clause that says that publisher has the right to look at and the option to offer on your next book before you show it to any one else).

Ha! Hahahahahahaha!

This, of course, was all based on my persistent denial of the pace at which things move in publishing (described by one writing friend as “glacial”).

But then it took awhile to work out details for the novellas and it took awhile for the contractual stuff to get worked out on the Book/TV/Film Project and it took awhile to get my revision letter on the 2013 book.

All of which means I’ve written two novellas in three weeks and edited all three simultaneously, have exactly nine days to write my 100-page sample for the Book/TV/Film Project (which is, at least, thoroughly outlined), and have 3 weeks during all of this to finish revisions on my 2013 book. Then, I’ll have to hurry and prepare the three proposals on the three projects I’m considering using for as my option books.

Needless to say, it’s a little hairy around here. I’m trying not to panic, but some days it’s easier than others.To add to the fun, we’re doing college prep for Rebekah (who leaves in August) and my divorce is officially under way (which is well overdue since my soon-to-be ex-husband moved out four years ago), so I’m sure that will occupy some of my time and energy, too.

I still love what I do and thank the universe daily for the privilege of doing it, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy, ya know? I’ve been fighting that insidious brand of despair where I just want to hide under the covers in the morning and hide from life.

Alas, that is SO not a possibility. So I’m slogging through it.

On the plus side, I’m super excited about every one of these projects, and even more excited to get to work on my options projects (all three of which are kick-ass). And I have a theory that the universe finds a way to teach the lessons we need to learn (whether we want to or not). If it’s true, I ended up in publishing to teach me to be patient and let go.

It’s a work in progress…

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

 

Leave the Lights On by Meiko

This week’s song was recommended last week by Cat! I loved it then but had already chosen a song of the week, so I’m giving it to you this week instead.

Hope you enjoy it and that you all are having a great week!

A Week in the Life; Spicy Noodle Salad, Kitty Naps, and Strawberries

I have to admit it; I’ve been having fun taking pictures of my week for you guys.

I’m going to try it without captions this week.

Hope you enjoy it!

Announcing Three New Prophecy of the Sisters Novellas

This week’s Friday Poll is being pre-empted by NEWZ!

From Publishers Marketplace;

Michelle Zink’s three Prophecy of the Sisters ebook novellas, Whisper of Souls, Mistress of Souls, and Rise of Souls, each revealing the back story behind the characters and the Prophecy in her popular series, one from the twins’ mother’s perspective, one from Alice’s, and one focusing on the world of Altus, for ebook publication Summer 2012, World Rights to Kate Sullivan at Little Brown Books for Young Readers by Steven Malk at Writers House.

The Prophecy world is a world that just won’t leave me alone. Even the secondary characters continue talking to me, and I can’t help wondering if I’m not finished telling this story. Which is why I’m super excited to bring you these three novellas. I receive TONS of email asking for more information about Lia and Alice’s mother, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that die-hard Prophecy fans are positively obsessed with Altus. Now, you’ll get both!

Most of all, I’m thrilled to bring you a story from Alice’s point-of-view. Of all the things Prophecy readers seem to want, that is at the top of the list, and I promise that Alice’s story, Mistress of Souls, will shed more light into her very complex character.

The cover for the first digital novella, Whisper of Souls, is above and I can’t tell you how much I LOVE it. It’s gorgeous and moody and perfectly reflects the atmosphere of Adelaide Milthorpe’s story.

I don’t have a solid release date yet, but I know all three novellas are slated for release this summer, probably in conjunction with the Circle of Fire paperback (which comes out July 3rd).

Hope you guys enjoy these extra glimpses into the Prophecy world!

Inspiration; Mistress or Dominatrix?

Do I have your attention?

Lol!

Don’t worry; this is totally a PG-rated (okay, maybe PG-13) post. But last week, when Rebekah and I decided to watch a documentary titled Cracking the Mayan Code, I got to thinking about inspiration, and since it’s Thursday, I thought it would be a good topic for Thursday Night Write.

You’re probably asking; what does a dominatrix have to do with Mayan hieroglyphs?

Stay with me. I’m getting there.

So, we’re watching this documentary, and honestly, I just needed something to space out to. My brain was on overload from a series of hardcore (wow, I’m really taking it to the mat with this dominatrix thing, right?!) deadlines that started in January and won’t let up until fall. We don’t watch TV unless we can stream a show from Netflix, and even then, we typically watch one show from beginning to end in 45-minute increments and only ine episode a night Mon-Thurs. But that night, I was just fried.

My typical thought process on inspiration goes like this; make your own. Sure, sometimes I get inspired by stuff. But it’s random and fickle and totally unreliable when you need a stream of ideas steady enough to make a living in a business that trades depends on them.

Basically, I wasn’t expecting inspiration when I sat down to watch Cracking the Mayan Code. But as I sat there, half letting my mind wander and half watching, I remembered how much I love ancient cultures. I thought about the Ancient Near East class I’d taken when I was a teenager, and how awesome it would be to set a YA book in that time and place. I thought about all the epigraphers and cryptographers who’d worked to decipher the Mayan alphabet and how fascinating history is and how we never know where the next big discovery will come from or what it will lead to. I thought about the awe-inspiring Mayan construction and the lush jungles surrounding the temples and the people that historians agree were war-like, violent, and aggressive.

And even though I didn’t come away with an IDEA, I was inspired.

It reminded me that sometimes, being a hardass, even with yourself, can be a bad thing. How many times have I wracked my brain to come up with an idea or a solution to a writing problem, only to find the answer while I sat on the bleachers watching Andrew and Caroline run track? Or driving to the grocery store? Or watching a (totally unrelated) movie?

At the same time, I HAVE finished books and found inspiration and worked through roadblocks in my writing by pushing myself — forcing myself — through them. By working every day. By treating this job like the very real job that it is, logging hours and hours at my desk, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Then again, “sheer force of will” is a saying my mother uses often when talking about me.

There’s no easy answer. Sometimes we need to push, and sometimes we need to take a step back. Sometimes we need to hold our feet to the fire, and sometimes we need to drop them into a cool river and say, “Ahhhhh.”

I guess the trick is knowing when to rely on the dominatrix — and when to light the candles and cue the music.

See what I did there? Inspiration, dominatrix, Mayan glyphs, even my mother! I got it all in!

What about you? How do you find inspiration — not just for writing, but for everything?!