Better late than never!

What can I say? Deadlines in the Paycheck Job, planning a class reunion, a new book release (see the pretty cover? it's all about a ghost who comes back to haunt a woman and a fire and ... well, check my web site for more details, that's not what I'm going to talk about now), a new book in the works, an old book being revamped ...

I forgot to blog today. Yikes. That oversight has been remedied and a reminder is now in my Toodledo task manager.

Yes, I use a task manager. I have to. You see, I blog 7 or 8 times a month at various sites. I update my web site weekly. I have a personal blog. I have book releases, blog tours, and promo spots. And I have work obligations, like 2-4 hours of meetings every day, assorted webinars, etc.

A task manager and calendar are essential. I use Toodledo for Tasks and Google calendar for most other things. The nice thing about both is that I can synchronize them effortlessly on all my devices. I have a phone, a tablet, 2 computers, and an iPod Touch that all need to be synchronized. I've found nice apps for all that let me synchronize.

Plus I use Sugar Sync, to store files in the cloud and thus draw them down to any device whenever I need them. I use it because it automatically makes copies as I use it, so I don't have to remember to drop files into a folder to be synchronized.

So you see, I really am organized -- whenever I remember to put something on my calendar! I promise, from here on in -- I won't forget. I just put it on my reminder list.

Promise  ☺

Another 3 month book ...

You know, whenever I write a book, I'm amazed by how loooooonnnngggg the process seems. I start writing it and I pick at it, and I work on it, and I procrastinate, and I put off, then eventually I knuckle down and get the thing done.

And when I look back I realize it took me 3 months. Yep, that's what I average per book: 3 months from start to finish. I tend to self-edit as I go, so that's 3 months total, plus or minus a few weeks.

Why does this seem so long to me? I've finally figured that out: usually that 3 months spans a season, or maybe two. Example: my latest WIP was started in early June. I wrapped it up in early September. It spanned the whole summer. Maybe *that's* why it seems so long?

I'm not sure, but I'm glad it's done -- or nearly so. The ending of that one gave me fits, but I think I finally the right way to wrap it up. I'll know more in a few months when I go back and re-read it and make sure it all makes sense!

And to celebrate, I scheduled another book for publication. Gilt released earlier this week (on Amazon to start with, wider distribution in a month or two).

This is a book about guilt -- and about gilt, as in, the things we hide from each other, and the more importantly, the things we hide from ourselves. I did the first draft of this book in 2005. When I picked it up again in 2011, I said, "well, I like the characters, but this plot needs work."

And work it I did. This was another 3-month book, one that spanned the autumn months last year.

I'm enjoying the flexibility of scheduling my own releases. I plan one more for this year, then we'll see what next year brings ... I have 3 ready to go, but I think I might take a break and only release 2 next year. We'll see how fast I can type!