Remember that nice, peaceful August I had planned? The one where I would have time every morning to write my morning pages, revise sedately in the middle of the day, and finish the day off with a craft exercise, a nice dinner, and a relaxing evening on the couch with a good book? Remember that?

It didn’t happen.

I’d like to say the writing life conspired, but it didn’t. Things happened, I’m still kind of tottering around in shock, and I think it’s going to be well into next year before I get a chance at that nice relaxing writing retreat. Maybe January? Maybe?

So, in order of what happened:

1. I am going to be a published author. I signed a contract with Mystic Owl, an imprint of City Owl, for my gay ghost story, FLIPPING. I’m looking forward to working with Lisa Greene on revisions soon.
2. I finished my revisions to TEETH in time for the Write Mentor showcase. It wasn’t easy—that was a tight deadline for all I had left to do. I’m still not completely certain that story should ever leave my shelf, but it’s out there anyway.
3. I’ve been up to my ears in kitten management. That’s fun.
4. I hired Jaime Dill to work on my fantasy romance TREE GODS to help me get it in amazing shape. And wow, it’s going to be great, but intense.
5. It’s hot, I’m tired, and it’s been a very, very long summer.

But you know what? It’s September now. August is over, autumn is coming, and soon it will be time to get into the nuts and bolts of what being a published author is all about. And from what I’m seeing so far, it’s intense.

But also a heck of a lot of fun.