Monday, November 17, 2008

Book #3 and the Awful, Terrible, No-Good Week

It's nearly one a.m. and I just finished Book #3 in the Kiki Lowenstein series.

I like editing work all in one piece, so I started around 9 a.m. and kept after it until, well, now. Boy, my shoulders are killing me. I have this tendency to hunch them up as I type for long periods. When you read your own work all the way through, it's like reading any book--you pick up the discrepancies better because everything is right there, fresh in your mind.

I'd thought about going upstairs to bed. Or reading someone else's work.

But here's a little secret: I love writing. And when I'm writing I'm telling myself a story. Why read someone else's book--a work you can't change--when you can read your own in-progress-work and make the characters do what you want? And I love Kiki and her friends so much that I enjoy seeing what's happening with them. Trust me, this is a very exciting book. Characters deepen. Relationships are explored. You'll learn about the Veiled Prophet celebration here in St. Louis, a city-wide pageant that dates back to the 1860s!

A Rotten Week

So finishing Book #3 will, I hope, ensure that this week is better than last. I mean, I did NOT have a good week. I...well, I can't even type all the crummy stuff that happened because it's just too depressing. You know how you'll have this one thing and then another and it's like a train wreck and YOU're IN IT!!!

This I will share: I lost the book I had put aside for last month's Marvelous Monday gift. ARGH. So, dear poster, you know who you are, we're going to have to decide whether I buy another copy of that particular book or you'll be happy with another book in my larder.

Groan. It's got to be around here somewhere! Or is it? Is it possible that when my son came home from college last week, he borrowed it? ARGH!

And mess? My office is a total swamp. It's so bad that tomorrow will be dedicated to cleaning up. After I write a report I need to get done that's past due. And call the doctor's office to get a new order from her for lab tests. (Nothing serious.) And, well, I'm so behind on my thank you notes I feel totally ashamed. And interview questions for Alex Kava that I need to work on.

But the Good News Is...

I had two great signings over the weekend. One at the Waldenbooks Store in West County Mall where we sold out of books and another at For Keeps Sake where we did the same. Last weekend I had great fun at Daisy Lane in Mattoon--we sold a ton of books there, too.

And one of you lucky posters today--someone who comments--will get some fun trinket from my giveaway cabinet. Which I did get cleaned yesterday, and which is full of fun stuff.

Now...to bed!

20 comments:

Camille Minichino said...

Congratulations on finishing #3, Joanna. The next day is always clean up for me, too.

I hope this week is much much better for you!

Anonymous said...

It does get harder to read other people's books, doesn't it? I keep finding myself wanting to edit them.

And I'll pit my swamp against your swamp any day. The piles are threatening to topple. How high can you build a pile of really important print-outs that you have no idea why you saved?

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Thanks, ladies. Yeah, the piles are threatening--and the worse part is not knowing what lurks beneath. Whhoo-ha-ha!

caryn said...

Joanna,
Do you have any signings in towards town for those of us who consider West County another country?
I do hope this week is better. but at least you got the book finished!
Caryn

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Hi, Caryn,

I was just in South County at For Keeps Sake Scrapbook Superstore. I'll be signing at Barnes & Noble, Mid-Rivers Mall area on Friday, Nov. 28 (day after Thanksgiving) from noon on, Borders on Manchester in Ellisville from 1-2:30 Dec. 6, then that same day from 3-5 Barnes & Noble in Chesterfield. On Dec. 13, I'll be signing at Barnes and Noble in Crestwood.

I'd love to see you, but I have to warn you--we've run out of books at each signing, so please do come early!

I'm sure I'll have more dates to post--and I'll try to add them in this blog so you'll know about them.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Oops, I'll be at the Kathryn Linneman Branch Library in St. Charles on Thurs., Dec. 4 from 6-9 p.m. That was re-scheduled due to construction.

Betty Hechtman said...

I am always relieved to read that I am not the only one with piles of papers.

Congrats on finishing book 3. It sounds like your book signings are going great.

traveler said...

Congratulations on this accomplishment, #3, Joanna.
Enjoy this time and best wishes.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Caryn,

I'll be at the Barnes & Noble in Florrisant on Dec. 7 from 1 to 3 or so.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Hey, Betty--

Thanks for the kind words.

Brenda said...

Congrats! on book #3. It must feel like a great accomplishment. There is nothing like that to pick you spirits up!
Brenda.Spiers@thyssenkrupp.com

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Ah,Brenda, and now I have NO excuse for not picking up my messes!

caryn said...

Joanna,
Any chance of you being at the B&N at Ladue Crossing? Or one of the stores in the CWE? Crestwood is a possiblity, but do you know, that I've lived is St. Louis for 24 years and have been to South County exactly once? Florissant maybe twice? I live in this little vaccuum I guess. I seldom have any reason to go west of I-270, north of Page (except the airport) or south of Manchester. I go downtown though all of the time. What we do and where we go is really all in that area. We get to St. Charles county maybe once a year for something.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Caryn,

You are totally cracking me up because in Book #3, I think I mention how people INSIDE 270 never go outside it, and people OUTSIDE 270 never go inside it!

I'm working on visiting the B & N in Ladue as I write! I'll probably be there the weekend of Dec. 5 or 6 if all goes well.

anne said...

Congratulations on finishing #3. Must feel good. Have a great week.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Anne, it does, but I must admit I have that "empty arms" feeling. Fortunately, it won't last long because I have a new book I'm in the midst of writing.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

I'll chose a winner from my posts (by random!) tomorrow morning, so come back then. That way anyone who might read this tonight will have a chance. Hmmm. I have my eye on some cute goodies!

ellie said...

Such great news. Congrats on finishing #3. I hope that your week is lovely.

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Caryn--

My husband picked your name randomly. Please email me at savetales@aol.com so I can get your prize to you--a set of travel-size apricot products from The Spa at PGA and a cute little notepad with a magnetic back.

Camille Minichino said...

Are you the Caryn who won my mini crime scene?

St. Louis must have good karma this week!