“Did you get a first day of school outfit?”
Ahhhh, the start of a new school year! The butterflies. The school supplies. The new outfits. There is a routine that sets the stage for this seasonal change every year. And, as I considered this I realized that, even more than New Year’s Eve, my year truly begins when the school days start. In fact, I missed this during those post school, pre-kids, days. My schedule felt off… like I was missing something important. And, I was. Because during the slower, mess structured summer days I end up doing a lot of thinking (and not a lot of writing). Summer is when I take stock of my year so far; when I dream about what could be and how to make it so. And then, when school starts I sit down and make my shiny new list of goals. Two years ago I told myself I would get my first book published… October 2011, BETTING JESSICA was released on Kindle. A year ago, 2012, I knew I would have to buckle down and do some real marketing for Soul Mate Publishing’s release of my 2nd book, UNTANGLING THE KNOT in Feb. of 2013… Now my marketing plan is filled out and actively referenced in all of the promotional plans I take on. This year my head is filled with many dreams and plans. But the word I would use to describe all of them is expand. -Expand my writing through a new creative project (which BTW – was my official 2013 New Year’s resolution so I better get to work on that:>) -Expand my publishing through getting Molto Mayhem out there for my readers. One way or another you will finally get to see this story. -Expand my marketing by building a fundraiser for Comfort Zone Camps and tied to UNTANGLING THE KNOT. -Expand my knowledge by learning about screenwriting and engaging with the film industry. As the weeks progress there will be many great new things going on in my blog. And, I expect pieces of this will change, get dropped or reprioritized. But right now, as my daughter embarks on a new school year armed with a stuffed pencil case and stylish new clothes, I head into my new year with a fresh new coat of energy, ready to tackle whatever the year holds. I’d love to hear about your back to school routines. Leave a comment for any of my blog posts and at the end of each month I will randomly select one visitor/commenter to receive a free download of BETTING JESSICA. (Note: winner will be notified by a comment linked to their comment…. So check back at the end of the month for directions on how to claim your prize!) Good Luck! Here’s to a fantastic school year for all kids and moms alike.
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“Do you have the lunch boxes with the thermos inside?”
It may have been a joke- I mean, we were at Office Depot, not Target- and I wouldn’t have blamed the mom who said it since I was tempted to make up something ridiculous after asking the clerk for dayplanners and getting in response a funny, somewhat panicked look. And of course, it was worth a try. I imagine she was hoping to cut out one more stop. Plus, she was probably kicking herself for not going to Target in the first place. Still… a lunchbox? It is that time of year again. Back to School ads are everywhere. Stores have fall clothes on their racks (even though it is still in the 80s where I live). Kids are talking about locker decorations and fall sports. But I have tried to put off the craze as long as possible. This summer has flown by- filled with a little bit of vacation, some amazing camps (for my daughter, not me:>), and lots of hanging out together. And, while this last part hasn’t always been the romantic visions I carry with me as I go into summer vacation (“Moooooom, I’m bored.”) I have still have enjoyed my time getting to know the girl who rocks out in a band now and finds creative ways to convince me to set up a playdate for her (“It would give you more time to do your writing.”) But all great things must come to an end… and so I am preparing myself for the fall. School supplies? Check. Back to school outfit? Check. Practicing multiplication and division. Double check (“Summer’s not even over yet, Mom.”) And, while physically we might be ready, emotionally we are staving off what we call, the Sunday blues. We have one more trip planned (which I will tell you all about on Thursday…. So check back, it is going to be very cool, and related to my last book, Untangling the Knot.) And while we are excited to go away, underneath it is that niggling feeling that all of this will soon be over and a surprising desire to begin to hunker down and make apple spice cake and stew. So, perhaps that mom was also trying to get her head around fall, focusing on the homey, comforting aspects of shorter days and crock-pot suppers, and picturing where she would put the leftovers for lunch the next day. Are you ready for fall? What is your favorite part of back-to-school? I love, love, love my apple cake (too bad I am on a strict diet:>( Good news, though, Lucia, my character from Molto Mayhem, isn't and she has posted my recipe in her section of my website. Check it out and let me know what you think! I love to get your comments. Cheers, Deanne |
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June 2020
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