I know that most readers (and even some unpublished writers) believe that being a published author is glamorous and fun and a dream-come-true. . . and it is, most of the time.  Most of the time I’m writing and blogging and interacting with readers and other writers, this is what I look like >>>>> Yes, as glamorous and pink as Dame Barbara, with little (is that dog pink too?!) dog in tow, secretary and bon-bons at the ready. I conduct myself with confidence and a sense of joie de vivre that puts people at ease and encourages conversation and laughter. Yeppers, that’s me most of the time…..

 

 

 

And then we come to the real writing worktime — my deadline binge o’ writing times. During the last weeks of my deadline, I hibernate. I disappear into my writing cave and email dwindles, FB posts dwindle, and, HOW CAN IT BE!, even my Gerard Butler watching dwindles, as the characters in my head claim supremacy and begin to force their stories through my brain, down my arms, into my hands and out onto the computer…..in a mindless rush of words. And it’s not pretty!  So, we come to this morning when I was supposed to post my Jaunty Quills blog and instead found myself like this>>>> Overtired. . . overwrought. . . all written-out with no energy to do much at all.

 

Yes, the sad truth is that I used to be able to party hardy with the best of them. All-nighters? No problem! Dancing, imbibing all night long? No problem! At 20 years old, all that was fun stuff and I would get up the next morning and go right back to it…or to work…or to school. But now, at 55, it’s a different story and as I said, it’s not pretty to watch.

So, rather than force you all to watch this pathetic example of why I should learn to write in a nicely-paced, orderly fashion and not let myself get to this point, I’m going to ask you all to give me your suggestions for your best method of recuperating and restoring yourself after a . . . difficult. .  time — what do you do? I have a pile of books to read now that mine is done, but even those are not calling to me yet…. Do you read? Sleep? Sit on the beach? Sip something cold with an umbrella in it?  Your help would be greatly appreciated. . . and I’ll take notes for the next time this unfortunate situation happens…LOL!

Terri

 

Terri is also preparing for: 1)the release NEXT WEEK of her newest Kensington Brava story – MISTRESS OF THE STORM!, 2) the re-release in DIGITAL of the novella that begins it all – A STORM OF LOVE, and 3) the RWA Conference in NYC!!  If you’re in the Big Apple on Tuesday, June 28th (RELEASE DAY!!! YAY!!!), stop in at the huge Literacy Signing at the Marriott Marquis — more than 500 authors (and TERRI!) will be signing books for the benefit of literacy projects across the country and in NYC. Visit her website for the deets. . . .