Diary of a Writer: The Lull… What To Do, What To Do!

I finished a book, Princess Ever After, Feb 4th and turned it in that afternoon. I was exhausted. I’d been backside-in-chair since Christmas with a fast week up to Indiana for the ACFW Board meeting and a few days with Hubster’s parents.

There I was, sprint rewriting to the end, fifteen hours a day, confusing my poor dog. “Mom, why are we in the turret working so late!?””

The last weekend I ran into a Jeremy Riddle video on YouTube that completely pushed me into the presence of the Lord when I needed it most and I felt as if He was literally my writing partner.

The story came together with the pings I love in a way I could not have planned. It was blowing my proverbial mind!

Funny story… I met Jeremy at a Bethel Music worship night in Tampa about a month later. I accosted him with my story of worship, writing and the part he and Stephanie Frizzell-Gretzinger played in my deadline success.

I was a geek, “Ooo, you’re Jeremy Riddle.” Like he didn’t know. Then I told him the story whether he wanted to hear it or not. Ha! He was gracious and enthusiastic and kind.

You know, John Grisham could walk up to me and I’d be like, “Sup?” Run into Jeremy Riddle and I’m go all fan-freak. 😉

Love me some awesome, anointed worship leaders!

Hubster was with me, so don’t fret.

We met Stephanie too and she was an utter doll and delight.

So, book done… turned in. I actually loved it when I turned it in. That was a first in 16 books.

I took a day or two to recoup… which to my weak soul feels too much like goofing off and squandering time.

But I forced myself to take a few down days, then collected myself to prepare for a trip to Nashville to meet with my publishing team, then to Destin, FL for the My Book Therapy Deep Thinker’s retreat followed immediately by the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference.

I was gone 10 days. Missed the Hubster but had a great time!

Came home from that and took  few days to recoup, tried not to feel guilty and prepared for a women’s event in Poughkeepsie.

Did some social media. Updated my profile on Goodreads. Had lunch with good friends Debbie Macomber, Roxanne St. Claire and Martha Powers aka Karla Darcy.

I kept busy but it’s weird when I’m not writing.

I kind of get lost. What to do, what to do? I worked a book therapy. Helped Susan May Warren with some of her book. And Beth Vogt who’s coming up on a May deadline.

Then I got reversion right to novella I wrote in ’05 and thought, “Oh good, I’ll edit it, get a cover designed and make an ebook out of it.”

Oy! No simple edit here. Needs a complete rewrite. It’s one of my earlier books and y’all, I’ve learned so much. So look for a redo of Hurricane Allie from Windswept Weddings anthology soon!

Oh, so, I went to NY in March. Flew up with Hubby on the 21st. Which was also our 21st wedding anniversary.

Stayed with our good friends. Had a day in “the city.” Great fun. Went to a Brazilian restaurant and had taste senses over load. Amazing. The saw Rogers & Hammerstein’s version of Cinderella. Fabulous!

Saturday I spoke. Sunday Hubby spoke. We prayed, worshipped, prophesied, laughed, ate, and the husbands took the wives to town in Euchre.

Found an amazing pair of boots. See earlier post.

And oh yea, I “got the email” that The Wedding Dress finaled in RWA’s RITA award. Remind me to tell you that story later!

But now, it’s already the second week of April. I have things looming but boy, while I’m waiting, time is slippery.

Okay, I’ll go work on that novella. I will. In the mean time, check out the Jeremy Riddle video below. And then watch Part II.