That was my reaction when I realized it was yet again my turn to do a Dames post. You see, my writing life has become completely crazy of late. For all that we try to plot and plan our schedules, sometimes life just comes along and bitch-slaps the hell out of it.
It kind of feels like she’s doing that now. Not in the ‘huh, your life is so comfortable, just watch what happens now’ kind of way–had that last happen year, and do not ever want to go through that again!–but more a ‘thought you were organized? Just watch!’ kind-of moment.
You see, so far this year, I’ve completed and handed in two books–Bound to Shadows and Mercy Burns, as well as an outline for Captured by Vengeance, the last of the Riley books. I’d barely even breathed a sigh of relief over having done all that (I won’t say on time, because I was actually two weeks late handing in Mercy) when the edits for Bound to Shadows came in.
I’m now racing to complete them before I leave for the USA in a week’s time.
Add to all this the fact that I have to hand in Captured by Vengeance by August–and have a grand total of 4 pages written so far–and you can see why my life has been a little hectic of late.
And people wonder why I’ve got grey hairs. (it’s not the fact that I’m old–it’s the stress, people. Stress! lol)
But the fact is, stress is all part of a writer’s lot, whether you’re published or unpublished. When you’re unpublished, there’s the stress of trying to sell, and of coping with a constant barrage of rejections. There’s the wondering if you’re good enough, if you’ll ever find an editor or agent who loves your work, or if it would just be better to give it up and find something else to waste your time on. Most unpubbeds think all those worries go away when you’re published, but the truth is, they generally just intensify.
Published authors still have the stress of selling the next book, and coping with rejections. And just because a book is bought doesn’t mean the editor loves it as is. lol. We still worry if we’re good enough, and those fears are generally amplified by the sales figures (or lack there of). There’s the stress of deadlines, and of trying to juggle writing with edits, line edits, galley checks, and the promotion of new releases with actually having a life outside of writing, and trying to fit in time for family and friends as well.
Sometimes writing makes me want to scream in frustration–it’s even bought me to tears–but the fact is, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
I’ve been in jobs that I absolutely hated, jobs that I had to stick to because we were desperate for the money and I had no other option. But that’s not the case here. I love writing, and as stressful and as frustrating as it can sometimes be, the fact is, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I’m one of the lucky ones, because I can do what I love and make a living at it (well, at least I can at the moment. Fingers crossed those books keep selling! lol)
And speaking of being lucky and books selling–the lovely Dame Miriam passed on some exciting news from the wilds of London yesterday. Deadly Desire, the 7th Riley book, will debut on the New York Times bestseller list at number 6 next week! Woohoo! (an image of me doing lots of champagne swilling and happy dancing here would be appropriate. lol)
Related posts:
NUMBER SIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, that’s so cool, Dame Keri! I knew it! We’ve all been watching the numbers. Party on the loop time.
And I will eat another Tim Tam in your honor tonight. I’ve been guarding them with my heroine’s daggers.
Number F**KING SIX on the NYT list???!!!!
Wooooooohoooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Like Dame Rinda, I shall too be eating TimTams. If my brother didn’t snarf the last of them.
Wow! Number six! That’s amazing! Well done!
So the pressure doesn’t go, huh? That sucks. Oh well, you’re right, it’s a great job, not only for yourself, but for readers, too!
Hmm…I noticed something. Did you say you don’t live in the US? But I thought your agent lives in the US. How does that work? It must be awfully complicated!
Sorry, just wondering, ’cause I live in the UK and I’d like to write in a genre that’s bigger in the US and I was worrying about finding agents here…
Anyway, well done for being number six!
Keri!!! Wow, that’s awesome!!! How could you bury that at the end of a post?!
Congratulations!
OMG! Congratulations! I’d eat a Tim Tam in your honor as other Dames are doing, except I ate the last one before reading this post. I will resist breaking open the package you donated for the auction. (Think anyone would notice if one was missing? LOL)
KERI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So thrilled for you! See, we **knew** that being in double-digits ALL WEEK at B&N.com had to be an awesome thing!!!
Congratulations!!!
thanks for the congrats, everyone.
Irene, I live in Australia, and Miriam (Dame agent extraordinaire)is in New York. I think if you want to hit the US market, you’ve got to have a US agent. Most agents these days don’t care about where you live–the internet and emails makes the world a small place. Mostly, they just care about the novels.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I loved Deadly Desire and can’t wait to find out what Riley will do next. I also got a copy of Generation 18 and have saved it for my flight on Saturday (I’m scared of flying so I’m hoping your story will keep me so engrossed I forget I’m in the air:-)
Good luck with getting everything sorted before your trip!
Wooo!! Keri! Congratulations! I am so happy and excited for you!! May your time on the lists be long and may your stress be short.
Yay!!!!!
Congratulations – it’s worth all the stress when you hear something like this, right?
Dame Kaz
Keri, big congratulations. How thrilling. Toni posted on twitter so I came over to “congrats” in person, or “cyber-person.” I too, feel so lucky to have Miriam, she just helped me through my first ever contract in the history of my world. Lol. Can’t wait to read the 7th Riley Jenson novel, I’m a fan. And, again, #6! Wow.
ZOMG!! Congrats, Keri!!
Number six? Number SIX!? Go you! Congratulations!
And I hope your trip to the States is for play and not work. It sounds like you could use some downtime!
Hi keri I wish the writing muse to bless you with an abundance of inspiration! I’m a new reader I read one of your stories in an anthology (sorry can’t remember which !) but i was so impressed I picked up the first three Riley Books congrats on your success, look forward to your next books.
Congratulations Dame Keri!! I’m in the middle of Deadly Desire as we speak–er, write! Can’t wait to finish it!
Congratulations…looking forward to reading Deadly Desire, as soon as Waterstones send my copy, wait wouldn’t be so bad but I’ve had it pre-ordered since December, (it’s a publishing problem they say!) (Sob, sob).
Congratulations again.
CONGRATS! That’s so fantastic! I have my copy waiting in my TBR pile on my bookshelf but I made sure to buy it in the first week to help out.
#6! YEAH!
Oh, Keri! That’s amazing news! Not surprising given your talent but amazing and fun. *Runs around singing CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, DANCE TO THE MUSIC* I have no idea why that song, but that’s the one playing in my head! Congrats and may your muse keep you writing like mad on the plane flight so you’ll be ahead of the game.
Congratulations! Deadly Desire was an awesome book that I couldn’t put down and I can’t wait until September to read Bound By Shadows.
Wow! That’s AWESOME!
Congratulations!!!
[...] « Argh! [...]
Good job! I’ll dance naked for you girl!
awesome!!! debuting at #6 is very cool. congratulations dame keri!! and riley is just so as well.
Keep up the good work!
Congratulations on book 6 and keep them coming.
~
p.s. and maybe come to Portland,Oregon for a book signing.
Wow – what fantastic news Keri!!!
#6 is pretty damn awesome Keri!! Way to go!! I just finished Deadly Desire this week and I loved it!! Read it in 2 days, in between going to my classes. OMG it was awesome and what an ending!! Keri you’re killing me, now I have to wait until November to see what happens next!!! That is the bad thing with such killer endings that are awesome, you have to wait forrrrevvvver (Sandlot moment!
) for the next book! But it is good for you because you have readers hooked for life if they aren’t already!
Way to go on hitting #6, that’s gonna be your lucky number for awhile now, right?
Loved the book cannot wait for Bound to Shadows!!
A very big congrats!!!! Love your series Keri!!! And I can’t wait to read Deadly Desires!!!!
Congratulations Keri!
That’s amazing!
I’m excited to read Deadly Desires!
Woo! Hoo! #6 AWSOME!!! I can’t wait to buy it!!When I first started reading the series, I couldn’t put them down! Now, I can’t wait for the next ones to be released!You are a spell binding author.
CONGRATULATIONS Keri!
Way to go Keri. You’re one of my all time favorite authors and I wait near breathless for the next book from you as soon as I finish one. lol
Congrats.. No doubt that you are the best in my book..LOL… I don’t sleep and I mean I don’t sleep and your books are what keeps me going during the nights/mornings.. I can’t wait to read the next one.. I now have two friends who I’ve passed your books to and they are ready to read the next one too..
Congrats again.. Your fans are ready and waiting.
Congratulations Keri!!! I think it’s fantastic that your #6 on the NYTB list. My sister and I have been following Riley Jenson from the first book. I think they are fantastic and so are you for writing them. Keep up the good work!!!!
That is so awesome!! I am proud to have helped you get to #6!!! I totally love your series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!! Although really…did you have to end it like that??? At least we only have to wait till November…gosh, that is a long time. Oh well I will just start reading the series over again! LOL!
Keep em coming and Happy writing!
Keri – congrats on the great reviews on the latest Riley book. I loved Deadly Desire – no surprise there as I totally love the series and the world you’ve created. Can’t wait for November!
Congratulations on the #6. I’m halfway through Deadly Desire. (It takes me a little longer to get your books as I get them through a bookclub so I can have the whole series in hardcover.) It’s sad to think that the Riley tales are going to come to an end. Do they really have too??
Wow, already on the best seller list. I love all of the books. They just keep getting better and better. Don’t ever end this series.
Is it only the 7th book? It feels like I have known Riley forever! I love the series and everything else I find with your name attached. Your writing is just awesome. I guess my self-imposed “ban on bookstores to help my wallet program” will have to be ignored. Just don’t tell my husband. lol
Number 6 on the NYTB! Just think…that is so totally awesome. May God continue to bless you in your writing career.
Hey Keri! Loved the new book, I finished it in a few hours, lol it was so good I completly ignored my homework. I cannot wait for the next one to come out, and am so glad your amazing writing is being recognized!! I expect you to break the top 5 soon. lol Keep on writing, I wait on the edge of my seat for the next Riley book!
Outstanding! I really enjoyed “Deadly Desire” and I was very happy with the ending. Gotta love Quinn
. I am definitely looking forward to “Bound to Shadows”.
Again, Congratulations on reaching #6!!!!
Wow that is awesome. I can’t wait to read it. Haven’t seen it around here yet. Congrats
BIG Congrats from all of us in Canada !!!
I’ve just started reading Deadly Desire and WOW! I had been anxiously waiting for this release and you certainly did not disappoint.
Congratulations on making #6, that’s really awesome and I can’t wait for the next one! Thanks for a great series!
FABULOUS !!! BE VERY, VERY PROUD !!!