Summer ending is bittersweet. For what seems like a brief moment, I’ve had my kids back, away from the daily influence and pressures of academic and social life. I’ve enjoyed spending time with them, even though at times, I couldn’t do enough to entertain them. As summer heat fades way too soon, I see they are ready to go back. Already, fall activities are creeping into our schedule.
Bittersweet for me.
Even though I’ve squeezed in work in the early morning and late at night, it’s goodbye to relaxed evenings and lazy mornings. Soon I’ll be back to making lunches at 6 a.m. when I can barely function.
In just another week, the kids will be gone, and I’ll be starting new projects while finishing up older ones. As summer ends, I’m finding inspiration, encouragement and exitement.
1. I’m proofing the young adult Real Girls Don’t Rust Steampunk Anthology, edited by Jennifer Carson. She’s my friend, critique partner, and an editor at Spencer Hill Press. She has an amazing eye for good work.
2. Karen A. Hooper paid for a Bookbub ad for Taking Back Forever. Watching her book skyrocket up the charts made me realize anything is possible and the sky’s the limit. Same with Sue Quinn’s serial: The Debt Collector, which is sitting on my Kindle, taunting me with its wonderful prose and gritty characters.
3. I’ve seen Indie friends sign with agents and court publishers, though that doesn’t seem as paramount to their success as an author.
4. I’m excited for Christina Lee’s New Adult debut, All of You, release this fall.
5. My blogging friend, Stina Lindenblatt signed with an agent and penned a book deal.
6. My crit partner and friend, Kris Asselin signed with agent, Kat Rushall.
7. Magan Vernon released a YA contemporary romance, Life, Love and Lemons, which I can’t wait to read.
8. Leigh T. Moore revealed her cover for Watercolor, the third book in the Dragonfly series.
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I know I’ve forgotten someone or something, but there’s a lot to celebrate and encourage me as summer ends and I head into another season of writing and publishing.
What inspires you? Share a friend’s or your good news in the comments!
Big Sigh.
It seems everywhere I go in the Blogosphere, writers are talking about sending their kids back to school and suddenly having full days to write.
Not me. Because I go back to school with the kids. Darn it.
BUT, this year when I go back, I’ll begin planning for the sabbatical I want to take the following year. So maybe next August I can join in with everybody else’s hurrays. 😉
That’s a whole lot of good stuff going around!
I have to get up around five in the morning. Sadly my brain doesn’t engage until some time after eight…
Time seems to rush ever quicker, I must remember to take the occasional breather to appreciate things.
Congrats, Laura!! I often wondered if I’m the only one who secretly hates the beginning of the school year because I know the years are turning fast and soon the kids will be off trying to become adults on their own. I will miss our time spent together this summer and being able to pick up and go where we want, when we want. Lol. Ah, next summer!!
I’m with Dianne – I love my job and am excited about heading back to school but I’m not looking forward to the crazy chaotic schedules and limited writing time!
I can’t believe all the craziness that’s about to start come fall. And thanks for all the updates. Most of this I’ve missed!!!!
Winter drags on and on and summer is fleeting. Summer goes by far too quickly. I remember when I was kid how the panic would set it when it was August 1! I liked going back to school, but I wished summer was just a little longer. Now as an adult it doesn’t matter, LoL. Work is every season all day every day!
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
So much excitement! I’d never heard of Bookbub before–very interesting. There is definitely that fall feeling in the air. I’m not sure I’m ready for it to start. Ah well…
Mainly, my inspirations are independent of publishing. Still, watching friends take their next steps on their writing careers is a wonderful experience. 🙂
Many great things are happening for many well-deserving writers. It’s wonderful to see.