The Merits of Breathing
Golly, I can't believe it's been a month since I last wrote something in my blog. My excuse is that I've been working, and I haven't had much noteworthy writing news to pass along. I still don't have much to report, but I sent the first draft of Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue off to the editor yesterday, so I'm feeling wonderfully unburdoned and ambitious. It's funny how deadlines can weigh me down. I don't even realize they're affecting me until a project is done and suddenly a huge weight is lifted from my shoulders and I can breathe deeply again.
Which is where I'm at right now. For the first time in two and a half years, I have no project waiting in the wings. That's a little bit scary, because -- though I had a new book out in the spring, another set for release in the fall, and another for next spring -- I have nothing lined up after that. Of course, I have a ton of ideas and I shall definitely pursue some of them, but not right now.
For the next few weeks I'm pushing all things writing-related to the back of my desk. I'm going to paint the kitchen cupboards, dead-head flowers, read in the sunshine, party with family, do some pickling, try some new recipes, and drink wine on the deck ...
... Oh, yeah ... and breathe.