Just a quick note while packing my bags for a trip south: I'm between writing projects which means while I'm scheming the distribution for the poetry/colouring book (DEVOTIONS), I'm also trying to corral the characters that keep showing up in my head for (not just 1 but) 2 Y/A stories (be they novels or novellas like ENOUGH available free on Wattpad.com). 

How to pack for them, you might ask? Paper. Notes. Clippings. File folders to keep the stories separate. Laptop...for researching. But I'll also be packing a bathing suit, cap and nose plugs since I'm determined to dive right in! Wish me luck...

And aside from the writing materials, I'll also be bringing the pencil crayons and markers; the yarn and crochet hook; my tiny poetry scribbler for brain-dumps - all these as outlets for any frenetic creativity and to keep the anxiety (of vacationing?) of life in check. 

On the laptop and the phone, I've also got lots and lots of music. Music to write by; to dabble by; to walk the beach by. Just for fun, check out the playlist I created for ENOUGH (which is on Wattpad). Here's the YouTube link to songs on a playlist (not my taste at all) that were channeled straight from my characters. 

Cozy up during the winter, read and write! Til next time, peeps!!

We've all been presented with a clean slate; a blank page; like the crisp snowbanks outside and it's our obligation to take opportunity by the scruff and make things happen. 

In my case that means taking DEVOTIONS to a whole new market. Yes, the launch is over. The holiday purchases of this poetry/colouring book were made. It's a start. So aside from submitting the book for several awards, I'm on the hunt for unique distribution for this very different kind of project. That will mean reaching out to some very unusual places: historical sites (i.e. forts), gift shops and craft shops. In order to prepare, I need to work up a spec page or line sheet on the product. Of course, Mr. Google and then an industry friend can be very helpful in fine-tuning what buyers or store reps would need. I also have a lead on an agent or two (that deal with some of the biggest retailers on the continent - yikes). 

And if you're wondering why this isn't scary-out-of-my-depth - well, it is. No reason not to take on the challenge. At the same time, I'll be starting to write a followup. Retailing dictates that bundling colouring books together makes them more marketable. I'll keep you posted!

All this while starting to post another Y/A novella on the brilliant (free) WATTPAD website. And I've also got some brand new characters stomping around in the back of my brain (mental-health related, of course). 

What do I do to relax? I've been knitting and crocheting to buffer the anxiety of this time of year. I'm always colouring. Winter months can be boring without the requisite splashes of colour, you must agree!