I don’t even know where to start. This week was a whirlwind; some bad, some good. And then there were great parts, like my son’s graduation, which we got to celebrate as a family. He delivered one of the keynote speeches at the grad ceremony and did an amazing job! I can’t believe that he’s off to high school next year. He’s been at his current school for 10 years, so it’s truly the end of an era. Come fall, it’s going to feel strange to have the kids going to different places in the morning – not to mention logistically challenging, haha! But we will cross that bridge when we get to it.
Meanwhile, the next big event coming up is my annual clothing swap on Saturday. For the first time in years, the weather looks like it won’t be cooperating to allow us to hang out in the back yard. Speaking of logistical challenges … trying to figure out how to fit 16+ people in my (modestly sized) living room has been occupying me all week. But it’s a good problem to have! I am so looking forward to seeing everyone. This year, the guest list is all clothing swap veterans plus a few “next gen” members (aka daughters of OG participants). We love to see that! I’ll write more about it next week.
And THEN, next Tuesday is another big day: pub date for The Mysterious Affair at Gaunt Hall. If you are planning to get the ebook, please consider pre-ordering it – pre-sales are super helpful in creating early visibility for books. A paperback version will also be available come June 9. This week, I received my first ARC review and it was super positive, which was great. This book is a departure from the style/genre of my first two books, so I am extra nervous and excited to see what readers think about the story. In the words of my editor, it’s a ‘wild, fun ride’ 🙂
And speaking of exciting things on the horizon, I am taking next week off from work and I am beyond excited. I’ve been in low-key burnout territory for months, and I need a good reset. In the past, I would have tried to use any vacation like this in a “productive” way, but I have made a pact with myself to do nothing of the sort this time around. So … no writing! I’ll try to keep chores and errands to a reasonable amount, too. The kids are still in school (and my husband will be at the office), which means I will have most of the day (and the house) to myself – bliss!
The current plan is to do a little gardening, a little scrapbooking, a little cooking (for fun), and lots of reading. I’ve fallen way behind on my reading, and my TBR list is out of control. The one thing I probably won’t get a chance to do is thrifting; wee currently down to one car, which my husband is using for his commute, so I won’t be able to get out much, except for walks, during the week. Honestly, I don’t mind. I love spending time at home with my books and my projects.
Have a great weekend!