Thursday 13 – Reasons Why I’ll Be MIA From The Cyber-World

1. Finished final draft on a new mystery (written under my real name). This book has been kicking my ass forever. It’s done, it’s to my crit partners and then it is off to my agent. Can you say WAHOO?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Summer. My life changes when my daughters get out of school. Daughter #1 has a job and drives, daughter #2 has a job, so I am her taxi. Daughter #3 is pretty self-sufficient but I feel guilty she spends time by herself. Seems I’m in my c ar more in the summer than during the school year.

3.Time at the pool. Hey, I live in South Dakota. Pool time is limited, I’m there with a kiddo or two in tow at least 3 times a week. I don’t bring a book, I don’t talk on my cell phone, I just wallow in the sun and water. It’s therapy for me.

4. Family reunion at our family farm. We leave tomorrow. It’s always over the 4th of July weekend. It happens to fall on hubby and my anniversary – Happy 22 years, baby 🙂 Yep. I’m bringing my gun.

5.My children have a social life, I don’t. Unless you count the pool, hence I’m always running to and fro.

6.General house stuff/garden/flowers. We live in the woods so we gave up on our yard. Yeah, we’re the scourge of the neighborhood, but I refuse to pour water I can drink on my lawn so I can bitch about the deer eating my grass.

7. Going to Dallas next week. My mystery, HALLOWED GROUND, written under my real name, is up for a Daphne du Maurier Award for Best Mystery from the RWA Kiss of Death Chapter. I’m not going to the Death by Chocolate party (clothes are tight to begin with) nor am I going to the RWA conference since I’m not considered a “published” author (ooh, don’t get me started on that). Hubby and I are going to the awards ceremony and will spend the rest of the two days in Dallas with friends.

8. We’re going to Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. We’ll see one day of pulse pounding rodeo action and also take in the Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson concert. Can’t wait – yee-haw! Plus, we might check out Univ. of WY at Laramie for daughter #1 who is a senior in high school.

9. I’ll help chaperone my daughters’ orchestra camp. All three are at camp, and this is the first year I’m a full-time chaperone for 5 days. Yeah, I volunteered for the 11 yr olds group rather than t he high schoolers.

10. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I hope to work for a beer vendor in Sturgis this year. If not, I’ll take in the concerts at night, including Godsmack, Velvet Revolver and Toby Keith. Days will be spent going “Huh?” because the music is so damn loud.

11. My grandma’s 98th birthday party. I want to grow up to be just like her. She still takes care of herself and is sharp as a tack. She is an amazing woman.

12. Spending a weekend in Wyoming with another writing buddy and his wife, and then up to Montana for my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary – more fun family stuff!

13. Contracts. I have THREE books to write before Jan. 1st…but the one front and center, is… RODE HARD, PUT UP WET, the next book in the cowboy series. I gotta tell you, I cannot WAIT to work on this book.

So, if you don’t hear from me, you’ll know I’m not ignoring you. Trying to find a balance between promo in two genres and finding time to write…not to mention I’d rather be with my husband and kids than do almost anything else in the world. Sigh. I suck at balance. Anyone got tips? Because I’m looking for some!

Lorelei

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