Wait, WHAT Day Is It?

It’s June? HOW IS IT JUNE?

Ok, progress update on the Banshee novel. I’m at about 50k words, but more importantly I have the remaining chapters plotted and synopsis-ized out. That sounds like I didn’t do much, but it means I figured out exactly what happens for the rest of the story, how it ends, and how to lead into books 2 and 3. For me, this was a huge accomplishment, and I’m trying to be patient with myself regarding timelines (as I stare down the barrel of three months of sabbatical gone). I’m excited to finish the first draft, but it is definitely just the first draft. I already have my own notes for revising, and I’m sure any beta readers will have plenty as well.

The cancer book could likely use a third edit/revision session. After multiple rejections that all have the same, albeit encouraging, messaging (great concept but the market is so niche we can’t take it) I’ve decided to self pub. My project plan for that is late fall 2023 (coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness month seems like a good goal) or early spring 2024. Depends on turnaround for a few things I can’t do myself (book cover design, pro edit, etc.).

Unlike Jess BC (before cancer), AC life looks very busy all summer. Swimming lessons and confirmation and marching band will blow through most of the next two months, followed by a much-anticipated week at Grandma’s cabin and then it’s only a few weeks until school starts and DAMMIT this needs to slow down just a little.

While I’m not working on a fixed schedule I’m focusing on instilling better habits. Working out and eating better to start, for more energy and to prevent cancer recurrences. Getting outside to garden and play with dogs and maybe start seriously hiking again, because I have a terrible tendency to hole up in the house for far too long and could morph into a cave troll if I’m not careful. Journaling/meditating and reading more (oh LORDY my TBR pile is long right now. I have six books from NetGalley, one through the blog, and nine on my “read these” shelf by my desk. And those are the fun books, not the writing craft educational books). Practicing cello at least every other day, which does seem to be getting slightly better. At least I can play the Twinkle warmups without squeaking. TV less.

If all of that sounds like a lot, well, baths and candles and wine reactive self-care. They have their place for relaxing and recovery, most definitely, but proactive self care to be as good a version of myself as I can get has to be more intentional, or I let it slide into weeks of catching up on naps and movies, resulting in depression and lethargy and ultimately a bad cycle for me. The freedom to make my life what I want it to be means putting in the effort to make my life what I want it to be, and that’s a whole bunch of hard work.

With hammock time and the occasional horror show binge watching day thrown in for good measure (and also fragments and run on sentences, as evidenced by the tone of this blog post).