Mental Reset and June Contest Fun

Where did May go? Seriously.

The first thing I have to do is thank the readers who have made the last two months so amazing. Home To Stay came out of the blocks in April riding the top of the Amazon charts all month, then continued to hold her own through the month of May. My books are selling all over the world and I’m pinching myself every day. So thank you thank you thank you. Readers. Are. Awesome.

For the first time since this past December, I am not working on a crazy deadline. The clock is not ticking in my ear. Life does not feel like a race against time.

And it’s weird.

To be honest, I’m not sure what to do with myself. So much went ignored during the deadlines (including this blog) that there are countless things that need doing. Maybe too many. Do I fix up the flower bed out front, or the patio in the back? Should I vacuum the stairs, or the cobwebs? Do I schedule the electrician to finally put that outlet outside, or the duct cleaners in hopes the top floor of my house stops being an oven?

And then there’s the new series. Just because I’m not looking down the barrel of a looming deadline doesn’t mean I don’t have a book to write. In fact, I have an entire town to create. And populate. And bring to life.

Then there’s this website, which needs no less than three books added. (I’m determined to do that soon!) Have I mentioned how much I would love to have an assistant?

I realize this all sounds like whining, and some might say these would be lovely problems to have. So let me make it clear—I am not complaining.

Just a little off kilter.

What I need is a reset button. In lieu of that, I need a plan. And if I could find a little focus, I’m sure I could come up with one.

This leads to my question. How do you stop the world long enough to get your bearings? Short of that, how do you focus? Do you have a long term plan, or do you go through life by the seat of your pants, making it up as you go along?

I used to do that, but not anymore. Could be my age or that I burned too many brain cells in my younger years. Either way, I need a lifeline.

 

Also, I’m happy to announce that during the month of June I’m taking part in the Sizzling Summer Reads Party over on The Romance Reviews site. There are over 250 authors and publishers participating, with more than 200 prizes up for grabs. Make sure you visit every day to check out the contests and get yourself in the running for not only the daily prizes, but the grand prize of a $100 gift card.