It still rained here and there this weekend, but nothing like it was before, and I do believe we might be sliding into summer. It’s about time, considering it’s nearly the middle of June.

I’ve been in a rather contemplative mood lately, and the weather may well be to blame, but I’m making a few lifestyle changes (cheesy as that sounds) that I think are necessary for me both as a person, and as a writer. Instead of reminding myself that some day, I’ll work at home and have time for all these other things I’m interested in, I’ve decided to live like that day is never going to come, and make time for the various things in my life that I’ve set aside for the past two years to put writing first. For me, being “just a writer” is never going to work, even when I can finally make writing my full-time job. I need to be more, so that I can put more into my stories, and so I can be more than just a one-dimensional character in my own little universe. It’s important not just for me, but for my relationships with other people (including my husband, who seems to be happy that writing/publishing is not my only conversational topic anymore, and was hinting that I should maybe open the tea blog again as well catching the nail blog up).

My changes aren’t going to affect this blog or my romantic suspense writing at all, except that I’m starting a new blog series on Thursdays that will explore the idea of sculpting a three-dimensional life. The series is called Code Name: Succulent – my plan started with houseplants, and so it will continue with observations about said houseplants (and garden plants too). I hope you’ll join me.

Incidentally, there won’t be any podcasting for the foreseeable future. I just don’t have the proper motivation, though I may do an author reading here and there.

I finished the Desert Heat trailer this week, and I must say, it turned out great. You can watch it at the end of this week’s W.I.P. Newscast, or watch it on YouTube. I’ll get both of my trailers posted to my web site later this week.

This Week on The Variety Pages

Tuesday: Interview with urban fantasy author Katherine Gilraine

Wednesday: Writing Notes – Research What?

Thursday: Code Name: Succulent – Intro

Friday: Chapter 5 of Falling in Public

Saturday: On the Bookshelf – Excerpt from Katherine Gilraine

Elsewhere

Tuesday: Chapter 5 of The Minister’s Maid at FantasyRanchNovels.com

Tuesday Night: Design of the Week at Nail Art Tuesday

Thursday: Priorities & Book Sales at Beyond the Words

Sunday: W.I.P. News at Snake Bites

Goal Reports

I did pretty well with my goals list last week. Some goals got put aside as I started rearranging my priorities, and others simply didn’t get done, but the ones I considered most important, like finishing the sample file, sending out interview questions and catching up my bookkeeping were all completed, so I feel good about that. I kept up easily enough with all of my serials, did two workouts and caught up with a lot of housework this past weekend. So overall, a rather productive week, all things considered.

Goals for the Week

Writing

• 5 serial scenes

• Edits for The Biker’s Wench (which I just got back – yay!)

Business

• Update all web sites

• Keep bookkeeping up to date

• A little promo

• Plan TBW launch giveaways

• Post free stories

• Assign ISBN numbers for TBW

Personal

• Read for ½ an hour every night (at least)

• Move manicure to Sunday nights so I have time to prep post for Tuesday

• Three workouts for the week

• Laundry three nights

• Make time for a puerh tea session (gong fu)

So that’s the plan for this week. Do you have a plan? Care to share?

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