Our hashtag is @IWSG

The awesome co-hosts today are:

Tamara Narayan, Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, and Julie Flanders! 

Please stop by and thank them for their time. 

August Question:

What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published? Add this question and your answer to your post.

As you may have heard, here at IWSG, one of our brilliant Admins came up with the idea of posting a specific question each month for those who were at a loss as to what to post about. I think this is a wonderful idea. However, this month I’m not participating because, if you’ve read my profile, you’ve already heard the answer. I began my first novel when I lost my dad in 1983 in hopes that I could write his story and keep him alive. Only problem was I didn’t know his story other than as my dad. As you can imagine, the book lacked a certain appeal. But the seven years spent writing it left me hooked on the process.  

Instead of rehashing the same old woe is me I lost my dad, I would like to whine. 

Did I mention I don’t enjoy whining? 

When I was growing up, whining was never considered an option. Nor was bragging; another reason why marketing is difficult for me.  My parents believed in hard work, eating humble pie, and always being ready to help someone; it’s only a showoff who blows her own horn. 

Which is fine because I actually don’t feel sorry for me, I’m just feeling stressed. If it weren’t for prayer, meditation and Tai Chi, I’d be in trouble. On a scale of 1 to 10 stress-wise, I’m currently 5. I’ve been 1. I’ve also been 12. Five isn’t a big deal. I’ll get through this. There’s so much to be grateful for: My life, my family, my friends, my publisher, my cats, my writing buddies, food, wine; not necessarily in that order. Everything always works out for me. 

But life is changing and I don’t adapt well to change. I like structure, order, a little complacency. 

The home we built 24-years ago has been on the market for a total of four summers. (We took last summer off) The scary part… I don’t think this is the year it will sell either. 

I’m not sleeping well. I’m behind on marketing, critiquing, blogging, editing, commenting, and all my other online duties. My computer is ready to croak. I’m either spending beautiful summer days inside cleaning a well lived in 2500 sq. ft house (3 floors) or trying to get my computer to unfreeze. 

Then there are the gardens, the lawns, the deck to tend to when it’s not pouring out. How can two seasoned human beings, two senior cats and visiting family (active grandchildren) make such a mess? How would a faller feel if he fell 40 trees and returned the next day to find they’d all grown back? That’s what it feels like to have your house on the market. 

Thanks for listening. I needed to get this off my chest. Doesn’t fix the problem of me trying to get everything done that I need to do before Matowak’s release on November 1, 2016–BUT–I can mark this post off my list! 

One down, 99 to go.

I’m off to meditate for a bit, then I’ll meet you back at your blog. But before I go, last week I had a Rafflecopter for Matowak Playing Cards.  I’m thrilled to announce the winner is:

(drumroll…)   

Next month’s question: 

September – How do you find the time to write in your busy day?