Today I decided to write and submit a ‘Press Release’ for my book. I don’t think there are several newspapers that will be interested in my first book, but I have every intention of submitting it to every local newspaper, regardless. There are books by New York Times bestselling authors that don’t make the papers, but that’s not going to deter me. I’m going to give it a try anyway. I figure I’ve got very little to lose. For sure if I don’t submit the press release to any paper it wont’ appear in any papers.

I’ve never written a press release before. I’ve never had a need for one. But this could be the first in a long string of many (I’m thinking positive).  This is a big deal for me so I think it’s qualifies, don’t you?

After doing some research on the Internet, I found some sample formats and lots of dos and don’ts.  Very helpful stuff, otherwise I’d have no idea what I needed to include. 

I’ll probably say this a lot between now and November 17^th, but I need to stop adding items to my list of things to do for the book release. There are only so many hours in a day and I only have two arms.

I belong to several writing groups, so I’ve heard many published authors talk about the editing process. Not the one they manage themselves, where they’re making the finishing touches to a manuscript.   I’m talking about the one where the suggestions and the deadlines are set by the publisher.

As late September neared my anxiety creep higher each day as I waited for my edits.  Every day I checked my e-mail waiting on the dreaded edits that would shut down my social calendar and glue my butt to the chair for sure.  I checked my mail account every hour without fail. I even check it first thing in the morning before I washed my faced and just before I turned the lights out for bed. I even sent the editor a note, just to make sure I hadn’t missed the edit note from her.

When the note finally showed up in my mail, instead of going bonkers, I was happy. The book was become more of a reality. I settled in my office and review her suggestions page by page. I was so hyped by the process that I managed to finish my content edits in less time than she had given me. The line edits weren’t as clear-cut. The line editor wanted me to added more definition to certain parts of the story.

Next up will be the proofing edits and then the book will be ‘final’. Silly me, I thought all I had to do was write the book.  By the time November 17^th rolls around you might see me dancing in the middle of Times Square with joy. Please just don’t put it on u-Tube.

Have you ever look upon something with both dread and delight?

Today there is a lot of talk about finding your passion.  It sounds easy enough.  I find lots of things.  The other day I found the pen I thought I had lost. I also found a pair of shoes in the back of my closet that I bought last year and never wore.  Then there was that five pounds that I found on vacation that’s still hanging around.

Finding things is really quite easy. It’s took me a bit of time to find my passion. Not because it changed but because I wasn’t sure what the term meant and the moment I selected one thing I had to exclude everything else. I thought finding my passion meant I could only like one thing, crave one thing or yearn for one thing. Now I know better.

My passion is my writing. I think about writing when I get up in the morning. I often write during my lunch break. I go to bed thinking about how I can improve the scene I’m working on. I write nearly every day of the week.  I’ve got writing book stacked all over my house and I’ve actually read most of them. I want more hours in the day so there is enough time for me to write.

Now I’m clear that having a passion doesn’t mean I can’t like other things. I like golfing, painting, reading, traveling and too many other activities to name here. But now I’m sure what my passion is and I’m not beating myself up because it took me a while to get here.

Have you found your passion yet?

This week my publisher interviewed me for my upcoming release on November 17, 2012. As the date gets closer, I’m getting more excited.

https://passioninprint.blogspot.com/?zx=fa913e25f8948748

When my children were young I was always saying I couldn’t wait until they grew up. I imagined all the free time I was going to have to do my thing. Writing, reading and just lying on the couch eating Oreo Cookies. Not to mention all the extra money I would have since I didn’t have to take regular trips to Toys”R”Us or buy them a whole new wardrobe every school year. I relished the idea of sleeping late on Saturday mornings without having cartoons blaring in my ears. The teenage bickering over curfews, car usage and parental guidance rating on movies would all be behind me.  Hallelujah.

But it turns out I could’ve waited. Much longer. Sometimes I miss them so much it’s unbearable. I miss the fun we had together fighting the waves on the beach, or the thrill of riding crazy attractions at amusement parks or hearing them go through the Christmas catalogues picking out all the things they wanted Santa to bring them. I even miss the disagreements, the trips to the toy store and preparing for school.  I miss it all.

It’s funny how life can turn on you. If only I knew then what I know now I would have held my children tighter, listened to their stories with more enthusiasm and enjoyed those morning cartoons on the floor alongside them. I don’t think I could have loved them with any more fieriness than I do already. But I would have cherished every moment like it was golden. Because it was.