Hey Folks. Yeah, I know I mentioned it in an earlier post, maybe even the last one, but I will be doing a sidewalk book signing at The Bookstore Plus on Main Street in Lake Placid, NY on July 29th, 3-5 pm. I realize it’s about two weeks away, but since I usually only post these blogs twice a month, one in the beginning and one in the middle of the month, this is my last opportunity to toss out a reminder. If you are in Lake Placid and find yourself on Main Street, I would love to see you. Stop by for a chat if nothing else. Years ago, I was speaking to a friend who had written his first book and done a signing or two. I asked him what these signings were like. His answer was “lonely.” I don’t believe it was any reflection on his writing, it’s just that unless someone has scheduled to stop at the book signing, it’s pretty much the author and a pile of books, waiting. Hopefully, there will be less waiting and more chatting and signing on the 29th. I’ll be sitting out front, under the awning. Thank goodness for that awning. If the weather that day is anything like what we’ve seen up here for most of this summer, it will be pouring. Our poor neighbors in Vermont on the other side of Lake Champlain have really been having a time of it. Let’s hope for a break in the action for everyone’s sake.

This is the first time in a while I haven’t felt behind in my writing schedule. Actually, I don’t really have a schedule, I have places in my “process” where I feel I need to be at a certain time. Earlier this year I allowed myself to fall way behind and I’ve been catching up. The target for everything to be written, edited, formatted, uploaded, shipped and received is the book signing from above. Right now everything I have control over is finished. It’s now in the hands of the powers that be at Amazon and their shippers to get everything delivered on time. But I just learned about an hour ago there is a strong possibility of a UPS strike very soon. Oh, boy. All I can do is wait and hope. But it brings me to something that really ticks me off. Procrastination.

I said I don’t feel behind schedule. As far as my writing goes, anyway. But damn, I’ve put myself in a tense situation because six months ago, eight months ago, I did not do what was necessary to nudge the process along. I remained in a sort of holding pattern thinking I’ll have time down the road to catch up. And truthfully, that’s how it worked out. I did catch up. I had the time. Barely. But damn, the tension it creates! Toss into the mix silly editing errors on my part, delays in printing, and possible strikes, the feel-goodedness of having a brand new book coming out certainly is not present. But what IS present is the self-blame of having put myself in this situation to begin with. I honestly have no idea what it would feel like to publish a new book with no down-to-the-wire pressure. Whether the pressure is self-imposed or not. I retired from teaching a little over a year ago and thought that now I could pursue the writing thing thing at my own pace without having to worry about squeezing it in around other responsibilities. Newsflash to me: there constantly seem to be new responsibilities cropping up that I now have to work around.

I think maybe I’m one of those people who takes a long time to get comfortable with just about anything. It’s been about 13 months and I’m still trying to figure out my retirement schedule. As I write that last sentence I realize it sounds pretty whiny on my part. Poor me, I can now exist without having to go to work, but I can’t figure out exactly how. Yes, I’m fortunate. But yes, I am also a bit of a slow learner and it’s going to take some more work on my part to get it down. So, for now, I will attempt to accept the fact there is nothing I can do to make my new books arrive when they are supposed to arrive. I will be at The Bookstore Plus on the 29th at 3:00 ready to sign. And hopefully, I will not just be signing my first two books, but the new one, as well. I hope I see you there.