Thursday, July 31, 2008

Life is Crazy


Okay, I admit it. This past year has really been tough. I know you BGs are used to me complaining about how hard writing is. As far as I'm concerned, I haven't complained enough about the last year. It's not the contracts I mind. It's the deadlines that come with 'em.

I used to write an adult suspense every seven months. That's comfortable for me and allows some breathing room in between for my pea brain. Plus it gives me adequate time to spend on marketing. However, since last year instead of writing two books in 14 months, I wrote four books in 12 months. That's because two young adult suspenses were stuck in between the adult novels. And I gotta tell ya, I'm exhausted.

You writers who churn out books this fast all the time--keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear how easy that is for you.

I finished that fourth book on July 3. By then I'd been working nine or so days straight--looong days. I jumped right into entertaining for the fourth (didn't even have time to go to the store until that morning). On Sunday we flew back to California for a hectic two days in my office there. Then it was up at 3:30 a.m. to catch the flight to Orlando for the ChiLibris retreat and ICRS. Got up at 3:30 a.m. the following Tuesday to return to California. Spent a whole 10 hours there, flying through my office to pay bills, unpacking and repacking for weeks. Then we flew to Tacoma for a night. Then on to our Idaho home. Where I had a few days to prepare for my writers' retreat, which ended Monday morning. I now face the following, all due soon:

Rewrite of Last Breath, the second YA
Proofing of galleys for Dark Pursuit, adult stand alone releasing in November
Rewrite of Exposure, my next adult stand-alone releasing in April 2009
Proofing of galleys for Always Watching, the first YA

Oh, and did I mention my Mom's still here and soon I'll be getting more company. Why? Because next week on August 9 my son is getting married in our home. The wedding will take place in the great room, with the procession coming down the staircase, then moving out to the gazebo and backyard overlooking the lake. There are probably a dozen things I need to do for this wedding that I haven't thought about yet. Like what to serve for the rehearsal dinner the night before--for about 25 people. I haven't even had time to think about it.

Sleep sounds good about now. Maybe a week or two of it--straight. But no. Not yet. After the wedding we need to fly to southern California to move our daughter into her apartment for college. And I'll still be doing a rewrite. Somewhere in there I have to figure out what to write for my next adult suspense. At the moment I have no clue.

Sleep? Maybe in September ...

6 comments:

Lynetta said...

Wow, Brandilyn...that makes me tired just reading it :-)

May God renew your strength that you might mount up like eagle's wings, run and not be weary.

Kim Vogel Sawyer said...

Brandilyn, praying for you as you meet these multitudinal (is that a word?) responsibilities. What you describes as far as writing/rewriting/marketing/planning is why I decided to write for one company instead of two. Four books a year is taxing, and it leaves no time for other important things...like family.

Congrats on your son's upcoming nuptials. As for feeding them, they'll all be so happy, McD's hamburgers on a Chinette paper plate will probably be okay. :o) Take care!

Gracie said...

Yikes! And I thought my schedule was busy. Well, congratulations that your son is getting married, and that your daughter is heading to college. And at least the first drafts of your books are finished. I'll be praying that you stay awake through the rest of the month.

Prayers, and blessings.

Pam Halter said...

I have one word for you.

Caterer.

Unknown said...

Maybe your next book could be about a woman who's stressed and sleeped deprived then goes postal! LOL

Anonymous said...

And yet, in the midst of all your running, you still manage to write some of the best mysteries I've had the privilege of reading. God has truly gifted you, and He will give you the strength and fortitude you're going to need in the upcoming days.

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding of your son! You'll have so many wonderful memories. :-)

One of your thankful fans in MD.