A quick re-cap of recent(ish) events

Whew! What a long summer! It seems to be getting longer and longer, too, what with this extended warmth into September. Ugh! Enough already!

Anyway, I just thought I'd write and share some of the experiences of this summer with my readers since you were decidedly shortchanged in recent weeks (nay, months!) while I was in the US.

For a start, there was jetlag (isn't there always?), but I still found myself driving after just a couple of days. Obviously I survived, so that's okay. Immediately upon arrival, I found my "proof" copies of my novels waiting for me, and I had a look at them before I approved them for printing.

Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, what with jetlag and all...? Hmmm...

Anyway, a short while after I arrived, I was delighted to find that the Versus channel would be showing both the Tour of Switzerland and the International Criterium. O, delight! O, joy!

And I duly plonked my butt down in front of the TV and watched all the coverage I could, making notes all the while.

I got some writing done.

I did an interview with the local newspaper.

Then I did two book events in Newport, TN, which were both a lot of fun.

Books and newspaper article, on display at the signing at Comfort Inn of Newport.

I wonder if this will ever get "old"? I kinda doubt it.

It was a real treat to sit and chat with people who were interested in my work, and it was equally rewarding to do this with people who really, truly want to see the book succeed and for me to do well in this career. The amount of satisfaction I got from doing these events was just incredible.

---

Some of the attendees of the Comfort Inn event in July.

The hubby on holiday. He's even got his towel. He's a really hoopy frood!

Then my hubby arrived from Italy in August and I found myself behind the wheel more than ever, as we traveled from Tennessee to Kentucky to Virginia to North Carolina and back again. We visited friends and family, and found a little time just for the two of us, too. We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and took a walk in Cades Cove, ate delicious chocolate and unique vegetarian food, slept and shopped and watched TV.

In other words, for the first time in ages I think I had an actual VACATION.

Then we boarded the plane at the beginning of September and flew home.

---

Over the course of the last few months, I've made more paperback sales - both out of hand and online - and e-book sales have continued at a reasonably steady pace. Stephen King and J.K. Rowling aren't exactly shaking in their shoes or anything, but it's enough to keep me modestly happy and eternally hopeful.

Not to mention: motivated.

Another thing which kept - and keeps - me motivated: fan mail! I got my first fan mail messages this summer, and it was the most surreal, wonderful feeling ever.

Without motivation, I look something like this, most days.

And this brings me to: now.

I'm still jetlagged (West-to-East is harder than East-to-West, in my experience). It's hotter than normal, so I'm having trouble sleeping at night. I'm trying to get and stay motivated, so I'm not in the aforementioned condition, modelled above by Abel the kitty. I'm also trying to eat right/better so I can lose some weight and feel better all round. You know, like most folks do at New Year's?

And above all, I'm trying to write. I have chapters to crit, and my own writing to do. I have blogs to complete for other sites and reviews to write. I have artwork to prepare and photos to upload.

It's the glamour of a writer's life, don'cha know?