April 26, 2005
There's some truth to a writer's life and one of them, I think, is if you're not actually pounding the keys or editing a manuscript, then you're not working. Today's been one of those days, those chicken-with-his-head-cut-off days. Of course, it's work, but it just doesn't feel like work. I use the dental expression--if you're not filling or drilling, you're not billing.

Let's backtrack just bit. A week or so ago, when I sent off a copy of Serpent's Kiss to the editor at Midnight Ink (who read it overnight and loved it mostly and will be shortly discussing the two-book deal with her committee), I also sent a 100 pages of the follow-up to Dirty Deeds to my agent. I didn't think she'd like it and she wasn't wildly enthused when I told her it was on the way.

Well, last night, around 8 o'clock or so, I went online to check something, and, because I'm an anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive, I checked my e-mail. There was a note from Irene saying she loved what she read (I loved it! It's fabulous!) and wanted the rest. Part of it's also at Silhouette Bombshell, an imprint of Harlequin, and yes, the book falls reasonably well into their requirements and guidelines. And Irene's associate, Ashley, (her daughter), has a big client with Harlequin, so Ashley's more or less on top of that. So, before I got another e-mail, I ran off on this rainy morning to photocopy the entire ms of the follow-up, ran off to Office Max to pick up ms boxes and a few other office supplies I needed and got home in time to receive an e-mail suggesting I should also send a copy to Ashley.
Sigh.

Well, I ate lunch, and I worked on an article I should finish, and I called Patty at Breakthrough Promotions to get some publicity going to promote Dirty Deeds some more, then I interviewed a guy for an article about Medicare, then I ran the first copy to the post office to send to Irene, then back to the copy shop to photocopy Intentions for Ashley, back home to count it and package it, then transcribe the interview, hit the phone to set up another interview for another article... gee, at least I did a little writing first thing this morning on the new novel!

It seems like the only things on my to-do list that got scratched off today involved spending money. You have to spend money to make money, but man, all in one day? Ah well. Such is a writer's life.

Best,
Mark Terry