Back on the Chain Gang

Today is my first day back, but it proved a little mellower than I expected, although I did have 2 authors email me to ask if I had closed any foreign deals over the Christmas break (like they think they don't celebrate Christmas and New Year's in England/Germany/Japan?).

It was a good break for me, and one I desperately needed, as the year-end work-wise proved to be very different than what I expected. Having ten days off has enabled me to approach reselling or resubmitting a bunch of books with renewed vigor that I would not have if I had had to do it all again the very next day.

I surprised myself by doing the stuff on my to-do list that I never get to, namely the sorting and organizing. I went through the contents of all seven of my desk drawers and somehow threw out four bags of garbage from that. I found even more old and/or already published manuscripts to discard, as well as bank statements from before the turn of the millennium and old checks from closed accounts.

And I made a dent (a minor, but real one) in cleaning up my son's room. I donated all his middle school clothing to the Salvation Army before the year turned, and threw out toy parts that I could not recognize.

I read a few proposals, but I didn't even manage to finish the book I was reading for pleasure (although I think I have two chapters to go, and if I told you what trash I am reading, your faith in me would be dashed).

I slept late, but I did exercise. I cooked up a storm (roast pork loin to die for and shrimp scampi on Christmas Eve), took care of a sick boyfriend and visited friends in Massachusetts for New Year's Eve.

And I even wrote a bit.

And now I am ready to face the new year, and its challenges.