Friday, September 06, 2013

Home, Again

I just got back from five weeks away from home, and suddenly I find myself in utter chaos. Plus it's hot here. Really, freaking hot.

The summer was fabulous...I was able to take a break from editing and read for pleasure, for one. I read a whole bunch of books while I was on vacation, my favorite being Looking for Alaska by John Green. John Green, where were you when I was in high school? Seriously, there is so much great fiction out there for the YA crowd now. I remember a literary vacuum when I was in high school. Man. Teenaged me would have loved that book. Grown-up me certainly did. I also read The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, How to Love (another YA book I picked up at the Readerlink trade show in Chicago), The Autobiography of Us, and The Silver Star

The Camp at Newark Pond, Vermont 2013

I also did some writing...a little side project that I am excited about...but for the most part took a vacation from writing. 

Mostly though, I thought about writing. I really spent a lot of time thinking about both the book I am working on and what will come next. What I have realized over the last several years, is that summer is my time to get excited about writing, without actually doing any of the hard work. That way, when I get home and fall descends, I am ready to go. I have four ideas percolating right now...two of which came to me this summer. I am chomping at the bit.

And fall has descended. Kicky started middle school (entering into preteendom with all the requisite rage and bliss). Esmee is in fourth grade and doesn't need me anymore except when she does. I have editing jobs lined up. I am back to teaching. My dog wants to walk. Food needs to get cooked. And the other day my dishwasher broke. 

Oh! And Bodies of Water comes out 9/24. 

And so it's back to real life now -- good thing I've got some stuff to be excited about.