Timing is everything

I was chatting with a co-worker today about this. Our office moved to a new location and it added to his commute. But if he leaves his house 5 minutes earlier, there's no impact at all. If he leaves at his old time, then WHAM: he's stuck.

Timing is everything, isn't it? What was a tragedy yesterday is a matter of humor today. That book you wrote yesterday that no one thought would make it is now a hot commodity because it features talking animals who take over the world (hey: who would have thought zombies and Jane Austen could mix?) Timing is everything about your pitch (at National Conference) -- did the agent/editor when s/he is tired, happy, sad, or upbeat? I can go on and on, but you know it's true: getting published is a matter of luck, perseverance, luck, talent and timing. Yes, luck twice. Because it really is like getting hit by lightning, at least the first time.

Whenever I find myself swamped (as I often am. Let's face it: I work full-time. I have 5 books releasing this year, three in May/June/July. I just sold my house. I just bought a house 300 miles away. I'm out of town 3 of the next 6 weekends. I'm editing a book to submit. I'm packing. It's garden season. I'm packing) I just figure: "how will this look a year from now?" It's like dipping into my own private time capsule. Just kick back for a second, close your eyes, and think: 'what will tihs be like a year from now.'

Then I start to laugh and pick up whatever has me annoyed and tackle it. You know why I laugh (okay. Sometimes I just smile)? Because I know I won't remember this grievance in six months, much less a year. There will be a vague cloud of "man, that was tough!" but it won't weigh me down then. So why should I let it weigh me down now?

Time to pack that next box. Enough relaxing!

Oh, those bourbon slings (and arrows of outrageous fortune?)

Once again, life is handing me what might be lemons but which might also become a marvelous Bourbon Sling.

I can't remember if I mentioned this or not, but my web site vanished around Christmas time. It's a long story (best told in a bar at a writing conference), but suffice it to say, I had to come up with a new hosting service, new web site, and new, well, everything. I flailed around for a few weeks, then I designed a new web site, or a web slog: a web site/blog that I can easily update. I'm rather proud of it. Check it here: http://www.jayellwilson.com.

I've got a "landing" site, a home site for my mysteries, one for my time travel books (which will be a blog about self-publishing since I'm taking the books that were returned to me and launching them myself), and a site for my paranormal thrillers (one of which got a 4-star RT review. I am STILL pumped about that!)

So there's a BIG Bourbon Sling: a new web site that will be easy to maintain. Whew.

Just when I thought it was safe to relax, I had a book release on me that I didn't plan for. Lie to Me is a cross-country blind date from hell...which turns into a little bit of heaven for Grace Jamison. It's fun, it's sexy, and it released when I least expected it! But I got a rockin' cool cover, it's out there, so hey, life is good, right?

So now I can relax, right?

Nope. My husband and I were contemplating a move to a new state. I've lived here for 20 years, and that's a LONG time for me. We thought we might move. I started to browse for new houses, etc., and WHAM, found one that might just be perfect.

So now: scramble? Prep our house for sale? Put in an offer? Move? Not move? Oh, and my husband is job-hunting and just got a short-term contract offer...in our current town. Prep the new house, let him stay here and sell the old house?

Nope. That idea fell through when we investigated a bit more. So now it's back to the drawing board--literally. We may be building a home. 

That sound you hear? It's me, screaming as Life once again piles ... maybe lemons ... on my plate.

But that's okay. I'm somewhat confident there's a bourbon sling at the end of the tunnel...