Interuptions

 I'm still working on the rewrite of SENTENCED TO DEATH which is due at the end of the month.  But of course life keeps intruding.  

This week among things like dealing with accounting software that won't work anymore after the end of the month, I'm dealing with a garbage disposal that drains slowly, so the dishwasher backs up in the sink when it drains because it goes through the garbage disposal.  The garbage disposal is very old, so old I don't remember getting it or if it's the one that came with the house. I picked a replacement at Costco that was on sale and is much trimmer than the one we have. 

I would have called our regular plumber to put it in, assuming that's the problem with the sink, but I wanted to have the water filter replacement so he could do that too.  He always tells me it's easy, but it require going under the sink and turning off the water.  I used to do things like that, but not anymore.  Unfortunately, getting the replacement water filter wasn't s easy as getting the new garbage disposal.

It was hard to find in stores and  last year I ordered it from Amazon, so I tried to repeat it this year. When it didn't come in a couple of days, I checked "my orders" and saw that it had been picked up on Monday, then there were two messages at 3:00 and 7:00 on Tuesday that there were delays with no explanation.  The top of the screen said it was expected to be delivered Wednesday or Thursday.  Today  (Thursday)when I checked there were no more details on where the water filter actually was.  UPS tell you pretty much where a package is.  I know because I just went through it with my Apple Watch which went through a bunch of delays.  But Amazon said my water filter would be delivered today (with no detail of which day of the week they were referring to).  Underneath was a message that if I didn't get it today, tomorrow I could get a refund (no mention of exactly what day of the week they meant).

It's already almost 9:00 pm, and no package.  

So instead of working on the rewrite I am debating my options.  So much for convenience.

Lost In Time

             Oops. Sorry. I’m lost in time this week, partly because of all the promotion I’ve been doing for the two May books I mentioned last week.  Wednesday crept up on me.

            The books, which I mentioned before, are BEAR WITNESS, my first Alaska Untamed Mystery for Crooked Lane, under my first pseudonym, Lark O. Jensen, and GUARDIAN K-9 ON CALL, my second Shelter of Secrets story for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

            I could blame my not paying attention to time on Roxie, of course. Our young pup takes a lot of attention. But, oh, is she fun! I just wish she wasn’t so intent on playing with our other dog Cari, who does like to play with her some, but Roxie jumps on her and nips, so I’m having to scold her a bit and keep them apart when Roxie gets too rough.

            I’ve continued working on my next Alaska Untamed Mystery and have made some progress. And yes, I’m continuing to promote those new books.

            Okay, enough excuses. I’m here now, at least. Hi to all of you reading this, and thanks for your patience!

  

           

Sentenced to Death

 I have begun the rewriting of SENTENCED TO DEATH.  It is always interesting and sometimes upsetting to see what I have written.  Over time, my internal mantra has become keep it straight forward.  

There are always these turns of phrases that I and other writers fall in love with-- and then move heaven and earth to try to make them work.  Now I realize it is not only a waste of time, but the turned phrases aren't even that great. 

There's even a saying about it which goes something about kill your darlings.  So far I have hacked away a few and I'm sure I'll encounter more. 

I have limited time, as always to complete the rewrite and I recently found out I won't be working with the same editor which is disconcerting since we worked on three books together and I knew what to expect.  Publishing seems to be an ephemeral  business.  I have been watching all the original episodes of Sex and the City.  When Carrie gets her book deal she's dealing with two editors who seem to have a lot of clout.  And then in the episode last night, one of the editors has been let go, along with the option for a second book from Carrie's boyfriend.

I guess the book business is on my mind since there is a well regarded author whose last book was a disappointment in the manuscript I'm working on. 

In this book, Veronica is writing copy for a local house and garden tour. All the houses in the book are based on real places, most of which I have actually been in.  But since it has been too many years to mention since I've seen the insides, it was nice to be able to revisit them courtesy of sites like Zillow and Redfin.  It's also a little eerie when I see pictures of rooms that I connect memories to.   Is there some kind of vibration  still swirling around, left over from when I was there?  Do houses have memories?

Meanwhile, the painters finished at last and a lot of stuff that needs to be put back where it belongs.  But at least there is no one looking in the window while I work at the computer.

Now it's back to the rewrite.

It's Time!

             Yesterday was the official publication date of BEAR WITNESS, my first Alaska Untamed Mystery for Crooked Lane, under my first pseudonym, Lark O. Jensen! And now I’ve been busy publicizing it.

            For one thing, I’m on my Great Escapes Blog Tour, which will go on for a while. It’s fun, and the book will appear on various blog sites, sometimes with reviews or blogs or interviews of me.

            I’ve been interviewed by others too, so my name—and/or Lark O. Jensen’s—will be out and about for a while.

            And my latest Harlequin Romantic Suspense book GUARDIAN K-9 ON CALL is now available too.

            So how are things with me otherwise? Well, yes, I’m trying to get some other writing done. Even succeeding a little.

            But of course I’m spending a lot of time with my dogs, especially new pup Roxie. We’re settling into a bit of a routine, at least. She finds ways to tell me what she wants. And yes, she loves treats! So does Cari, so they’re always spending time near the kitchen counter where treats are kept. And in a couple weeks we will start Roxie on her official puppy training.

            She’s asleep now. Time to get more writing done.