Feeling Happy, Feeling Sad

I can’t quite believe this, but I have finally completed my third novel. Counting the two reference books I have published, that’s five books. I know I have said in the past “I can’t believe…” but it still rings true for me. I feel so wonderful at what I have accomplished since I began this journey in 2013, but I do pinch myself from time to time to make sure this isn’t a dream.

I read a blog post earlier today from an author who said she doesn’t count how many books she has written, and she doesn’t feel that matters. Her focus is always on the current project, not projects past. Reading further, she admits the total is over 30, so I do understand that more than likely you wouldn’t remember or even think about all those stories. I can’t say I feel the same, though, although maybe that will change if I ever get to 30 books, which I certainly hope I do.

With each book I have completed, even the reference books, I feel a little blue once the entire project is done and published. Actually, I go through a lot of emotions. I’m thrilled I’ve completed yet another story; I’m terrified to hit that submit button so that people can actually read my work; I’m sad because I have to say good-bye to that project—the researching, the note-taking, figuring out what the next chapter should be about, choosing a cover, and writing up the synopsis.

It could be I feel this way also because, especially for the three novels, they are about me and my family. I learned so much about my mom and dad, my grandparents, and even my great grandparents. And, yes, I even discovered a few things here and there about my marriage. I guess they were things I already knew, obviously because I lived them. But when you put it all down on paper, there is a bit of a new perspective gained. WOW! We really have gone through a lot, and we survived and still going strong!

My next project plans include a series of cozy mysteries. The main theme of the stories won’t be anything particularly new, but how I approach the various stories I think will be something not done before, or perhaps not done very often. At this point, I’m not sure if I have the ability to write a mystery, but I won’t know until I try. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t stop there. I’ll keep trying. But maybe the “feeling happy, feeling sad” won’t be a part of my process, since this time around, I won’t be writing about real people. It’s going to feel strange making up people and events, but I have no doubt it’s going to be a lot of fun!

I’m still in the proofreading process for A Life Time After Time, but I should be hitting that submit button by the end of the month. Yep—feeling happy, feeling sad. I can promise you, it is so worth it! Keep reading, keep writing, and enjoy your day!