Meet Number 1!

If you've been following me online for very long, you probably know that "No 1" is my online nickname for my husband. Those who know him in person find this hilarious. They think it's either a Star Trek reference, or...a less pleasant US colloquialism. ;)Actually, it comes from the fact that he claims to be my very first fan. (Though my mother disagrees. She's been reading my writing since I was five, so I guess she has a decent case there. ;))

In the past year, the non-writing parts of my job have become pretty overwhelming for me. Before I became a writer, I never would have believed how much of my day would be spent filing, and packing, and shipping, and blogging, and returning emails, and answering interview questions, and monitoring my forum, and updating my website. Most days, those tasks take up more than half of my work day. Literally. I can't keep up. So a couple of months ago, No. 1 stepped in to help me in his spare time. He's always been my webmaster and graphic designer, but he's taken on several more roles lately, and I'm so grateful for his help, though I do feel a little guilty for putting him to work. ;)

He's been helping me out a LOT lately with day-to-day non-writing stuff like shipping, organizing, and scheduling me for guest blogs and stuff. If you've received a package/prize from me in a timely manner, he probably shipped it. If you got a prompt email response from me about a guest blog or donation, he probably reminded me to respond. And that's not all...

Take a look at what he's done for me now! I got home from running an errand this afternoon to find this waiting in my office closet.



This is Prize Book Shelf #1. It contains all my extra copies of Shifters books, both foreign and domestic. Those two big boxes on top? Those are full of copies of the Soul Screamers omnibus and If I Die. I haven't even opened them yet. By the way, I'm still looking for public and high school libraries in need of donations. If you know of one, email me (admin1ATrachelvincentDOTcom) and I'll see if we can set something up.

An hour later, this one was done:



This is Prize Book Shelf #2. It holds all my extra copies of Blood Bound and the Soul Screamers series, both foreign and domestic. Except for a box of German copies, which I seem to have misplaced. ;(

All those boxes that were stacked all over my office, on chairs and on the floor? They're gone. Unfolded and stored to be used to ship prizes to the weekly winners. My office is SO much neater. Which makes me calmer. Which will make me more productive. ;)

Which reminds me: If I owe you a prize or some swag and it's very late (more than a month) or you haven't heard from me about it, please email me with a reminder (admin1ATrachelvincentDOTcom) so No. 1 can help me get caught up on everything.



Yesterday, this came in the mail (above). No 1 is building a new computer, which will make it easier and faster for him to design and maintain my website, design all my graphics (including the Soul Screamers tees) and help with my email and scheduling. However, I think he would have jumped at just about any excuse to put together the monster PC the above casing will someday house. ;)

Yes, I know, the casing is ginormous. And so far it's empty. But he has very big plans for this big empty box, I can assure you!



And just because, here he is (above), hard at work. No. 1 and Zombie Yoda, keeping me organized and on-schedule.

Behind every still-sane writer, there is at least one generous, patient, helpful loved one behind the scenes, reminding us that even though we spend the majority of our time in made-up worlds, the real world is still there, and it still needs our attention.

I couldn't do this without No 1.

Well, I could. But stuff would never get packed, shipped, cleaned, organized, or answered without him. So...to my No. 1:

THANK YOU!