My life as an author has been pretty darn busy of late. But I’m not complaining—it’s busy in a very good way.
You see, I’m currently working on/dealing with three different books all at the same time.
First, I’m thrilled that Waters of Destruction, book two in my Orchid Isle series, has been nominated for a Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel. The winner will be announced next month at Left Coast Crime (where I’m also the toastmaster), so my brain has been quite active taking in this exciting news—not to mention writing my toastmaster speech. Yikes! [Edited: I just learned late last night that Waters of Destruction has also been nominated for an Agatha, my first time being nominated for this award!]
In addition, book three in the series, Murder, Local Style, releases on April 7, and we all know what that means: publicity and marketing! Which I am most definitely not a fan of. Nevertheless, it must be done. Hence, this past week I’ve been designing and ordering bookmarks and recipe cards, drafting posts for my upcoming blog tours, and communicating with book stores about having book release events there. Oy.
But wait—there’s more!
I also have a deadline for book four in the series, tentatively entitled Endangered Species. This Orchid Isle mystery is set in the world of birdwatching here in Hawai‘i, and I’ve been having a blast doing the research.
endangered nēnē in the Lili‘uokalani Gardens here in Hilo
But the writing? Well, let’s just say that right now I’m floundering about a bit, having reached what we authors like to call the “messy middle.” I have until summer to turn in the manuscript, but working under any deadline at all is always a bit daunting. So I’m doing my best to write between 500 and 1,000 words most days.
my writing desk
As a result of all of this, I find myself getting a tad mixed up at times when trying to remember the plots of my different mysteries. In which one did Valerie first go padding? Was it in the last book that she had a falling out with her good friend Isaac, or the one before that? It’s embarrassing to admit how often I have to actually flip through the books to figure out what happened to whom and when.
As they say, however, these are all VERY GOOD PROBLEMS.
I am so fortunate to have a marvelous agent who hawks my books, not to mention a fantastic publisher who understands my stories and provides me with gorgeous book covers.
But most of all, I am one of the luckiest gals on earth to be a part of my beloved Chicks on the Case, and to have you marvelous readers in my corner.
Mahalo, and I hope to see some of you at Left Coast Crime in San Francisco (and at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, MD) !
Readers: Do you get confused when working on various different projects at the same time?
LESLIE: This is a good type of BUSY!
Congratulations on your Lefty and Agatha noms!!
Looking forward to seeing you in Toastmaster mode at LCC!!!
Thank you, Grace! It’ll be great to see you next month!
It’s one of the reasons I read one book at a time.
Congratulations on your Lefty and now Agatha nomination. Looking forward to seeing you next month.
(Same. I can read one non-fiction and one fiction book at the same time. But not two novels…)
Thanks, Dru! It will be great to see you in beautiful SF! I rarely read more than one book at once, and if I do, the other one’s non-fiction.
WOW! You are one busy Chick! Congratulations on both the Lefty and the Agatha! I was delighted when I saw that last night. Sorry I can’t vote for the Lefty, but there for Agatha! Looking forward to picking up Murder, Local Style at Malice. Best of luck in SF. Know you speech will knock ”em dead!
Thanks so much! (And a speech that knocks folks dead at a mystery convention brings up all sorts of ideas…)
Doesn’t it just!
Huge congrats on your nominations!!! You are, indeed, the good kind of busy.
Thank you, Olivia!
Congratulations on your nominations, Leslie! I’m so excited for you and look forward to seeing you next month!
Mahalo, Kim! And yes, it will be great to get to see each other in person in SF!
I try to work one project at a time. Life doesn’t always give me that option be it the day job, writing, or home renovation.
Congrats on the nominations and I’ll see you in Bethesda!
Yes, it’s too bad that real life has to interfere with our writing lives…
I was excited to see the Agatha news yesterday! I’m about 3/4 of the way through JUSTICE IS SERVED, which was on my TBR pile far too long. Halfway through, I had to order a copy for my lawyer daughter who loves to cook, and even writes some fiction. I can’t write 2 books at once. I get confused enough promoting one while writing another! BIG CONGRATS ON THE NOMINATIONS!!
Ha! So true! And glad you’re enjoying JUSTICE IS SERVED–and thanks for buying it for your daughter, too!
YAY, Leslie! So excited that you’re juggling two award nominations. And, of course, being busy writing and promoting is a good thing. Huzzah to your current and future success!
Thank you, dear Jen–and same to you!
Congratulations on your nominations, Leslie! Exciting times, indeed!
Thank you, J.C.!
Yes! Huzzah, J.C.!!!
And huge congrats to you as well, JC, on your book birthday for Buried in the Sand!
First of all, congratulations on not one but TWO noms! Secondly, I relate so much to what you’re saying… I’m trying to multitask and it’s hard switching between all my different tasks. I’m writing too many things at once and also trying to do marketing. Basically, I need a manager!
A manager…wouldn’t that be nice!
Congrats on everything. And it’s easy to get confused when you’re working on multiple projects simultaneously. I try to avoid it.
Best to avoid it if you can, for sure!
Huge congrats again, Leslie, on all of your awards and accomplishments! So well-deserved. I attended a webinar last week where the speaker said that writer’s block has been attributed to “decision fatigue.” He suggested switching from 1 project to another and back (rinse & repeat) as a way to break up cycle. I’m trying it out now–so far, so good. I think.
Decision fatigue–ha! So true….
Congratulations on your double achievements! Your hard work abd perseverance have truly paid off! And now you’re writing more! Thank you!
As long as you keep writing, all’s good!!
Congratulations, Leslie! So happy for you. Hope you have many celebrations!
You’re a rock star, Leslie.
Congrats on both your nominations! Yes, definitely a good problem to have. Like all the books I want to read.