Aaahhhh!!!!! I got my first check from my publisher the other day and boy do I feel great! It took me an entire day to deal with personal finances. Trying to get things in order because this is going to be a little different for me. Instead of the security of a check every two weeks, I have to learn how to budget a lump sum over several months. Underbudgeting is no problem, but should I over budget or over spend...let's just say it won't be pretty! So I'm planning things out so I can avoid ever getting in that situation. And while I'm planning, I get a call from my friend's girlfriend, telling me about a shoe sale and these ankle boots she saw that caused her to think of me. I broke out in a sweat when she told me. My heart started beating faster and what's that? Chill bumps ran down my arms and the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up. But no, I've got to get my priorities straight. I'm going to have to learn not to be driven by impulses. So when she called me yesterday, I didn't go. That would've been impulse buying. So instead, I waited a day, thought about it and I'm going today to get those boots. It's no longer impulse buying. It's well thought out and planned!

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I got the copyedits done and FedEx-ed them yesterday. I met the deadline. Yea! Now I can concentrate on meeting the March deadline for the detailed synopsis and outline for book two. I just got word this morning that we got the go ahead from my agent on an anthology that I'm doing with four other authors. So, I have to quickly finish up my story and we need to put the finishing touches on all of them before we send them all to her. Things are really moving now and I'm extremely excited and motivated! Lots of writing to do. I'm about to go run on a treadmill to give my body the second wind it needs so I can focus a little more.

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Edits are going good! Although I had really hoped to be finished by now, I've made great progress nonetheless. I should be able to send it off this weekend for the Tuesday deadline. Then, I can work on finishing up the synopsis and outline for the second book. It'll be great to focus at least 90% of my writing time to that too. I'm still working on a novella as well. I've already planned that this is going to be a writing year for me indeed. The goal is to have book two written by the deadline, as well as book three. Plus, I want to have at least three novellas or short stories written. What this all means is that I'm planning on spending a heck of a lot of time alone. But it's my birthday weekend. I have an event today. I'm speaking on a panel about the choice of reading fiction vs. non-fiction. Then afterwards, I'm hanging out with a friend to celebrate. Saturday, I'm hanging with the ladies of SHERAH for movie night. It's girls night out and we're just going to watch a movie, eat pizza, drink wine, and do what we do best....TALK!!!!! LOL Should be a lot of fun! And oh, yes, I'm writing in between all of this.

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Finally got the synopsis done yesterday! All right! Now I'm back to the copyedits and the outline and synopsis for the second book. Things are on the move now. Now, only if I can fit everything else in...laundry, getting a new drivers license and new insurance, change of address, and the list goes on. Man! I don't see how people with children do it! LOL Unless you have nannies and housekeepers. It's just me and I can't even fit in all that I need to do! Just went to the shop next door to grab a cup of coffee. It's a routine now, even though I have my own coffee maker. Going next door gives me a chance to get out in the morning and let the fresh air hit me in the face. I get a chance to breathe in the energy and creativity in the atmosphere to help jump start my own energy and creativity. Even though I'm partial to hot weather (not warm, but HOT), even the cold air feels good against my skin in the morning. When it warms up a little, I'm looking forward to changing my routine around to get out and do a morning walk or jog along the riverfront. Maybe watching the sun rise on some mornings. Our rooftop has a pool and an observatory and the view is spectacular. I can see myself hanging out up there, coming up with new ideas. :-)

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I'm so happy to hear from one of my favorite authors about doing a blurb for my book. In addition to the galley Hyperion sent her, she also emailed me to see if I had a detailed synopsis. How cool is that?! So, I told her I'd get one together for her this weekend. Here it is Monday morning and I'm still not finished. I should be finished today though. After I get back from my two doctors appointments. So maybe I'll be done this evening and can shoot it to her by email. During all this madness, I'm using books to relax and re-group. I started reading The Coldest Winter Ever. It's been on my shelf a very long time. Years. Like so many other books I have, I just haven't gotten to them yet. So I started reading it, but I had to stop. I'm not a very big fan of street or urban lit. Now, I must say, Coldest Winter is well written and it's a good storyline. I've browsed some street lit books at the bookstores and usually I'm kinda turned off by the writing. Not the writer, but the writing, or the story. Much in the same way that I usually don't care for stories written from a child's point of view and in a child's voice. So, it's a personal preference thing and not a reflection on the writer. I put Coldest Winter down to go back to another book I was reading, Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver. Before I went to sleep last night, I read quite a chunk from it. I finished up the part that's about his reaction after Malcolm X was assassinated and he goes into the changes in the generations of whites and blacks. Very interesting read. I also went to my women's group meeting yesterday. SHERAH (Sisters helping each other reach a higher height). Founder Shante Davis brought in a speaker to talk to the ladies about HIV/AIDS, and how the number one group of new cases now is African American women. We discussed the issue and how we can protect ourselves. While I thought I was up on the issue, I was pretty surprised that I walked awayy with new information. She also brought a map that broke down the number of HIV & AIDS reported cases by zip codes in the St. Louis area and it was mind blowing. And those were the ones who actually got tested. We know there's so many people who haven't been tested and have no idea they have HIV. I left with information that I will further apply 100%. If anyone hasn't been in a seminar on HIV/AIDS lately, I would highly recommend it. Even if you think you know all there is to know.

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I'm not as far along in copyedits that I expected to be. I feel like I've read this story a thousand times and my mind keeps drifting to the book two while I'm working on book one. I started writing Counting Raindrops in 2003, so it's like I've been working on this book for two years now. Don't get me wrong, I love the story and I love the idea of making it even better for the traditional publisher version. But as a writer, I'm anxious to get on to book two and book three. I'm excited about both of these books and ready to give all my attention to them. In due time though, I know.

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Just came back from a marathon drive to and from Cleveland to pick up more of my things. I left for the 10 hour drive to Cleveland Monday morning, packed the car, then drove back Tuesday morning. It was long, but peaceful. Driving alone is so serene, so calming. Listening to the radio, being alone with your thoughts, stopping when you want to...It was great.

So I'm back home and about to unpack the car. Got an email from my editor telling me my copyedits are on their way and due back on February 22nd. So, I need to get organized so I can focus on that while completing my outline and synopsis for the second book, which is due March 15th. Then I speaking on a panel on February 18th, which is my birthday weekend. Another event on the 25th. I don't necessarily like being busy while these deadlines are looming, but I'm learning that I'm going to have to balance. Staying out and about is long term promoting and introducing myself to people. So, I want to keep up with that too. Once again I'm being reminded that even in being a full-time writer, there's still not enough time!

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Okay, contracts are done. I sent them back on Monday and became a full-time writer the same day. Um...not by choice. Well, seems that the job found out about my engineering degree and even though I was doing an awesome job as a marketing administrator, they decided that I was over qualified and let me go. Can you believe that? Geez! I feel blessed in that I got my contract off and that I won't need the job to survive. So, guess what, I'm making lemonade! I've decided not to look for another job and just to be a full-time writer. I desperately need to get further along in my writing and that's difficult to do when you're even working a straight 8 to 4. But, really, again, GEEZ! This was the most funny experience to me. You know this is going to go in a book somewhere! LOL

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