Mismatched Socks...

Kim here: My amazing friend and full-time assistant, Lori, wrote a blog post for you all since we're in the trenches editing.

Lori here: As you probably know, I will do pretty much anything to help the Woodhouses out, which happens to include... laundry. So, yesterday, betwix all the craziness I let Kim know that something was totally wrong with this house. She just laughed, and asked, "what?" I replied, "I only found four socks that don't match." Kayla piped up and said, "No..." she pointed to her feet, "Six!" (Kayla likes to wear socks that don't match - LOL)

We all needed something to laugh about. You see, line edits are in progress. Kim, Kayla, and editor, Karen are all clicking away on the keyboards. Having only read 2/3 of the original manuscript, I can tell you the plot thickens and I just learned that I had the "bad guy" all wrong! And now that the edits and line edits are almost done, I can't wait to find out how and why I was wrong. :)

You see, I may work for authors but they never let on... even to me!
What I do know is how busy they are! Always something to do betwix the house, writing, swimming, school, PR, marketing, meals, and so much more. Like your lives, there is always something that needs to be done.

So stop matching those socks - even slip on a mismatched pair (it'll make Kayla smile) and get ready for the book's release in March.

Until next time, and wearing my mismatched socks, simply because laundry always needs to be done... Lori

Research, Research, Research...

Kim here:
My great friend and author, Camy Tang, made a comment on twitter yesterday about research, "Can I just say, I LOVE MY JOB! Where else can I have a legitimate reason to look up how to do a proper triangle choke hold?"

It's true. As authors, we have so much fun doing research. Like when we went to the Grand Canyon and I asked a ranger, "So... how many people die here every year?" The ranger didn't even blink at the question, but several people around us looked at me as if to say, "why is this sweet looking mom with her two kids in tow asking a question like that?" I, of course, told them I was an author and doing research. I do write suspense, you know. :) And found out there's an entire book written on the subject. Death in the Grand Canyon. Huh, imagine that. And yes, I bought it.

Anyway, we love research. Even when I've sat on the phone for hours asking questions, taken thousands of pictures, my eyes have blurred from staring at website after website, and then have gone bloodshot from reading book after book...

Research is awesome. It takes a lot of time, but wow, does it make your stories sing! I even have to admit that sometimes I get distracted doing research. I'll be writing a scene and just have to check on one little minute detail and off I go - getting lost in the world of information.

I agree with Camy. I love my job. Now I think I'll go look up that triangle choke hold thingy she talked about - you never know - I might need to use it in a book someday...

Ah, the Joys of Writing... and Taxes

It's that time of year. Tax season.

Tomorrow morning, I have an appointment with my amazing accountant for all my business related (writing/author)"stuff." He's been handling all this for several years, and as the business has grown, I've had to learn A LOT. Last year, he told me that it was a good idea to purchase QuickBooks Pro for my "stuff."

This is what has happened since:

I went straight to Costco and purchased said program.

Six months later, I realized I better figure it out to input the mountain of receipts/deposits/inventory... i.e. "stuff."

Looked at it.

Decided it was complicated.

Went and brainstormed a new book instead.

Looked again at pile of receipts.

Felt guilty.

Called a QuickBooks expert trainer to come teach me. (Thankfully this person still likes me after that craziness.)

Was so proud of myself after getting everything into the amazing program.

Then... I went on a six-week book tour.

Returned mid-November to face unpacking, laundry, the holidays, homeschool, and several more speaking/appearances.

Avoided the monstrous pile awaiting entrance into QuickBooks.

Moved my office, re-organized, scrapbooked, wrote, blogged, wrote some more, i.e. - avoided my "stuff."

Today, there was no avoiding it. And after my amazing assistant and I discovered that I had input over 200 duplicate receipts, I spent hours deleting all the doubled-up entries.

I whined and complained. Dented my desk from banging my head on it. And then moved my purple "complaint free world" bracelet several times for my behavior.

Daughter Kayla - and my writing partner on our suspense series set in Alaska - came in smiling with a hug for me and said, "Mom, I wish I was old enough to help you, you're working too hard."

What an encourager. Sigh.

Wait a second... I'm imagining a new and complex math project for the kids for school...

No. That would be cruel and unusual punishment.

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for more information on the "complaint free" bracelet check out
A Complaint Free World