My Christmas Novel

Well, so far it’s still not going too well. I did not write one word on it yesterday. I would say I have high hopes for today but I don’t really. I have a lot of inflammation going on because of not sticking to my diet and sugar is highly inflammatory. Plus I stayed up late to watch the election so I’m super tired.

I have my release date planned for December 10th. I know I can write 50,000 words in a week if I put my mind to it, so if I were to get it done by the end of next week, there is still lots of time for editing, formatting, book trailer, promo videos, press releases, and ads. It will be launched directly on Amazon and Kindle and nowhere else. My goal was to have it already in preorder by November 1oth, but I refuse to launch the preorder until the book goes into editing because too many things can happen that would interfere with me even finishing the book and if I miss a preorder release, I won’t be able to have anymore books on preorders. So, my method is to make sure the book is in editing, then launch the preorder and make sure the book is finalized and ready for launch weeks before the actual launch date.

Why December 10th? Well, first of all, it’s a Christmas novel. On the 10th, there is lots of time for Amazon to deliver the books because of their two-day delivery. And there’s time for people to read it and get into the Christmas spirit before the hecticness that is Christmas. And time for them to give it as gifts if they choose.

The other reason for December 10th is because that is the anniversary of my mother’s death. Every year on the 10th of December, I miss my mom so much. More than the other times of the year when I miss her. I still celebrate her birthday. Even though I was surprised to realize that it has been 21 years ago that she died! 21 years!!! In my mind it is just a few years ago. As traumatizing as it was that she was gone, I didn’t really feel like an orphan until my dad died six months later. They were divorced and he had cancer, so I don’t think it was like when most spouses die of grief within months of each other. Although I was born when Mom was 40 so they were married for ages before I was born and for 14 years after I was born. So, perhaps he did mourn her. I think–no I’m SURE–he did.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to release my book on the anniversary of her death is to do something positive because Mom was the most positive person I know. When I was a kid she always told me, “You can do whatever you put your mind to!” She always told me she was proud of me, and she always encouraged whatever ideas I had. When I told her I wanted to be a singer, she told me if I put my mind to it, I can do it! And Dad gave me a guitar. When I got my first story published in Highlights for Children Magazine in 1999, Mom clipped the newspaper story about it and framed it. Dad did the same. In different houses, of course. Whenever I sang anywhere, Mom was there if she could be. She was my biggest fan in everything I did.

So, I like to think she is still cheering me on from the other side, and perhaps she is. I dream about her often. I have theories about dreams, but that is a story for another day.

So, if I buckle down and quit staying up late, eating poorly, and getting sidetracked, there is a chance my book could be available for preorder on November 18th. I WILL make it happen.