"Another blog tour?" you say. Why, yes!

Click on over Novel Novice to see how I'm spending my virtual summer. What about my real summer, you ask? Not nearly as exciting. But the book stuff? I'm giving away swag, suggesting summer reads, and hobnobbing with some of my favorite writer peeps. Check it out! There's even a vlog!

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Are you writing this summer?

Summer is a challenge for the writer-mom. The beautiful, reliable schedules of the school year have fallen to late night family poker games, pilgrimmages to SafeCo field to watch the Mariners play, and hours spent shuttling kids to drama camps, baseball clinics and so on. S'mores? We've made 'em. Thrice.

With a manuscript nearly done, I am torn between my desire to make memories with the kids (particularly my eldest who is briefly home from college) and my deep love of routine, my anxiety about getting to the end of this new story. I've also got several freelance jobs awaiting my attention and things are starting to break down in the house (broken drawer in kitchen; irremovable stain on living room rug; and the dust, oh the dust!).

So, where does that leave me?

I have not cracked the spine of a single book I've been saving for summer reading. I have not knocked off any freelance jobs. The manuscript still hovers at 350 pages of not-yet-finished.

I can't figure out whether I'm procrastinating OR I've lost my touch OR I'm reprioritizing OR I'm burnt out OR spending too much time on social media (well, I am doing that, too) OR what. Am I lazy? Maybe. Am I depressed somehow? Who knows? I keep wanting to get the book done and then failing.

Some days I feel ready to really focus on the work and then the phone rings and somebody needs a ride or a bit of conversation. Or the sun starts to set and my husband gets home from work and suggests we open a bottle of wine. Or I go to sit at the computer and get that LOOK from my eight-year-old that reminds me about the weight of the guilt I carry over ignoring my family to write.

This post has reached the point at which it requires an upside, some insight...A CONCLUSION. Have you got one?

Back-to-Business Monday: SUMMER SEND-OFF

Well, June is here and the kids are wriggling in their desk chairs waiting for vacation to begin. Teachers are frantically wrapping up units, completing testing, and writing up final report cards. Authors may be noticing a slow-down in appearance requests and school-library correspondence in general. Before you take your own break, consider one of the following promotional ideas:


1. Send a "Wishing You a Super Summer" newsletter/note to your "e-mailing list" or add a Summertime page to your website. Make your letter/page link sunny and fun. Include a book-themed summer recipe or craft, a vacation plan based on your book's setting, your own summer reading list, or some good book-biz gossip about friends and colleagues with new titles being published in the coming months. ASK FOR FEEDBACK on a question such as, "What is your #1 wish for your students this summer?" (Offer a signed book or other prize to be awarded to one or more feedback respondents.)

2. Offer a discount or other incentive (e.g., extra 30-minute writing workshop for up to 20 students) for 2010-2011 school year appearances booked before, say, August 15, 2010. Post the special on your website, blog and note in your newsletter, above, if you're sending one.

3. Support summer reading programs. Offer to stop by libraries, bookstores, museums, or other appropriate venues near your hometown (or perhaps locales where you'll be vacationing) to do a free book talk, signing or other special event in support of their summer programs. If you set these up, make sure once again to note the dates on your blog, website, Facebook page, etc.

Summer is also a great time to create some of those value-added elements for your website or author appearance programs, such as reading and activity guides and tips for preparing for an author visit.  And, spend a couple of beach blanket hours thinking about fall promotions, such as contests. Speaking of which, next month I'll be posting information on my own first BLOG CONTEST. Get ready...!