WHOO HOOO

OK, vacation's drawing to a close (SIGH). BUT, the good news!

THERE WERE COPIES OF MOON'S WEB IN WALMART IN SAN ANGELO YESTERDAY!!! WHOOO HOO!!

Not at any of the other stores yet, but IT'S OUT!!!! (Cie is doing the happy dance).

I do not think I will ever, ever not be thrilled at seeing my book on the shelves of a store. Even better, seeing it in somebody's hands as they're browsing and don't even know I'm there. Since this is what I've dreamed of doing since I was 4 years old, I just can't quite get over it. My mind just won't wrap itself around the fact that it's REAL. They exist, in real paper and print. The people in my head are actually out there being loved and/or hated (or ignored) by people I've never even met (and, even in countries I've never had a chance to visit.) How cool is that?

I mean, truthfully, how many people actually GET to live their ultimate dream?

The new book is coming along. I had one day last week when I had the galloping "OhmiGods" where I look at everything I've written and think it's utter dreck and why do I even bother? So I just shut off the computer and went for a walk. Didn't even look at it again until the next day when suddenly, while it wasn't even close to perfect, it wasn't THAT bad, might be salvageable if I... and pretty soon I was rolling along. There are days when I'm just TOO negative and have to step back because otherwise I'd delete it all and never get anything done. Once you have a complete project you can edit the hell out of it if you have to. But you have to GET to that finish line. Otherwise you run out of joy and energy and the project just dies. I can't tell you how many half-finished projects I have.

Funny thing, the other day I was backing up the computer prior to doing a complete overhaul (see previous blogs regarding rants on viruses) and I ran across this really seriously cool scene that was obviously the beginning of something. Had a helluva hook, really grabbed me. AND I HAD NO FREAKING CLUE WHAT THE STORY WAS. It was just GONE. Something I started, didn't finish, and didn't outline a plot since I figured I'd remember it when I saw it.

Cathy said, oh well, we can always replot it, and I suppose we can. But what a waste. And I probably quit on one of those super negative days. But at least I'm learning. "Back away from the computer." If I hadn't, there wouldn't BE copies of Hunter's Moon and Moon's Web on the shelves. (BIG GRIN. CIE IS NOW DOING THE HAPPY DANCE AGAIN BECAUSE ****IT'S ON THE SHELVES*****!!!!)