I have been hard at work lately on several different projects. I won’t bore you with the details. Let’s just get to the two biggest things right now.
Viewing entries in
TTMR
A tremendous amount of work is involved to bring the story to the reader. In the case of self-published work, the writer must take on a lot of extra work. With a traditional publishing arrangement, that work might be handled by others.
The weather has been great this week. The temperature is just about perfect, between 60 and 70 degrees. The grass turns green more and more each day. Daffodils are emerging from their winter slumber. The weeping cherry tree in my front yard is in bloom. After a cold, dreary winter, it feels great.
The season has also sparked creativity.
I read a lot about history when I research topics for books in the Through the Mist series.
I don’t really like to make the dreaded “New Year’s Resolutions.” Who ever sticks to them? By the middle of the month or even the end of the month if we are lucky, they are abandoned. It is just easier to stick to the same old, same old, isn’t it?
I prefer to think of things I want to accomplish. More of a goal than a resolution.
With that in mind, I have some goals for 2024.
I devoted a lot of energy to getting side businesses off the ground in 2023. The Gift Over Yourself shop on Etsy was a complete disaster. I took it offline on 12/31/23. I am not going to waste any more time or money on that venture.
After my mom passed away, we had a tremendous amount of stuff to sort through. Anyone who has been through the process knows what that’s like. Seeing how she accumulated so much made me think about all the stuff I had. I intend to spend 2024 culling my collectibles and listing them on eBay.
My stuff isn’t worth millions of dollars (unfortunately). For example, I have about a million dalmatian dog figurines - not because I collected them. I had a dalmatian once, and my parents thought I would LOVE dalmatian stuff. Why not make a little money, which I need, and give someone else the opportunity to enjoy something? I bet someone out there does collect dalmatian stuff - you never know!
I started a second blog, 52 Things. This year, I will offer tips and tricks gleaned from my years at a wealth management firm and, well, my life. We old dogs learn a lot. Time to share the knowledge. You can find the blog on this website.
Speaking of knowledge, wow, I have learned SO MUCH. I look forward to learning even more about marketing in the digital age, graphic design, and similar creative topics in the coming year.
It’s also time to look for a job. I work extremely hard now on the website, blogs, eBay, books, et cetera. Unfortunately, these endeavors do not provide the income I need. It is time to see what’s out there. Don’t worry; even if I am lucky enough to find a job, I still intend to pursue all of these projects.
Last but certainly not least – I will return to the world of the Through the Mist series. I have dabbled a bit in recent weeks on a collection of short stories, based upon three characters from that world. The stories might turn into a book for next Christmas. The characters are also whispering to me about the sixth book in the series, so I have some good ideas there. (No, hearing voices in this case is not a sign of mental health issues. It’s part of my process.)
Here's to accomplishing our goals in 2024. Slainté!
I am having a sale in my Etsy shop. From July 5 to July 9, 2023, enjoy 20% off all bookmarks. Shipping is free, so it’s a great deal. You can follow my shop at GiftOverYourself.etsy.com.
In fact, you should follow it all the time. I have another sale planned for next week, during Prime Days. I have other ideas for sales further down the road. And, you’ll be the first to know when I add new products. I have already made several Christmas ornaments that I will offer soon.
It’s also not a bad idea to follow my Facebook page. I have started researching the next book in the “Through the Mist” series. You’ll find updates there as I continue the process. I will post info about other projects I am working on as well. I have several ideas – we will see what makes it.
Stay tuned – exciting things to come!
I have been working for months now on a special project, setting up my Etsy shop. The name - Gift Over Yourself.
Now - some tips for searching on Etsy. First, they don’t put spaces in between the words. You’ll have to search for a shop called “GiftOverYourself.” Second, make sure you tell it to look for the shop. Otherwise, you will see a bunch of listings for other shops and items.
You can find unique gifts that I created as well as curated collections for both the "Through the Mist" and "Love at the Woolly Bookworm Shop" books. I also have a special box for a favorite book of mine, Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
You can find the shop here: https://giftoveryourself.etsy.com/
I hope everyone will take a moment to visit the site and, even better, place an order! Right now, I am only accepting orders in the US as I learn more about the ins and outs of having a shop.
Keep an eye on the site. I intend to add more listings in the coming months.
The fifth book in the Through the Mist saga is now available on Amazon! I finally finished formatting it!
Through the Mist: Redemption traces Tilly’s adjustment to life in 1800s Scotland. We learn more about how she is trying to build a new life for herself. It also picks up where Through the Mist: Reflection left off. No spoilers here! Read it to find out what happens next.
Enjoy!
If you follow my Facebook page, you know I am hard at work on the fifth installment in the Through the Mist series. I am in what I call the “Beta Reader” phase right now, where I make adjustments based on feedback from early readers and correct grammar, spelling, and other mistakes.
At some point with every book, I become so obsessed with the story that it dominates my thoughts. Here is an example. As I drifted off to sleep last night, I said to myself, “No, the color of that dress is all wrong.” What??? Seriously???
Just this morning, I was online reading about the fuel the average Scottish person would have used for their fires in the 1800s. (Peat and wood, by the way) That led me down another rabbit hole. What does a peat fire smell like, since we typically don’t have peat fires here in the States? I already knew how peat was gathered, thanks to watching too many documentaries, reading too many articles, and actually paying attention when I saw someone gathering and drying peat on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Too bad I cannot put “exhaustive knowledge of peat” on my resume. I doubt it comes up much in the workplace, unless maybe I am a peat harvester.
Why do I bother? It is in my DNA. I cannot help it! I must be accurate when I discuss certain elements in the book. While it is a work of fiction, it is not a work of pure fantasy. It goes against every fiber of my being to just make up little details that you probably breeze right by. Do you really care what fuel was used for the fire? No! You are more concerned with what Benjamin and Tilly are doing in front of the fire!
The next phase will be what I call the “Ah, Screw It; I Am Done” phase. I can feel myself inching closer and closer, because, frankly, I am tired of reading about peat. Until then, please hang in there with me. I am really excited about the next book, peat fires and all. Dare I say it – it may be the best one in the series. Stay tuned!