Yesterday, after a long week with several ups and downs, I submitted my third manuscript to my publisher for developmental edits.
I’m expecting my first round of revisions in two weeks. In the meantime, I have no other pressing deadlines aside from interviews and promoting my upcoming book, HEARTH MAGIC. I have no other contracted books or stories to write or edit. It’s been months of nearly non-stop work and sacrifice. I mean that literally. My dream was always to become a published author, so I put in the magical and practical work to get there, and my lady delivered not one, but three contracts to me. I’ve dedicated so much of this project to her, and it’s been very worthwhile, but my goodness…I needed a rest.
My family needs me to rest.
I’m not entirely sure what to do with myself at the moment. I inherited my work ethic from my late grandfather, a fellow writer, and he was always laboring on something until his death. Yet I need to force myself to pause and renew. To inhale and exhale deeply without worrying that I’m wasting precious time that could be spent outlining, drafting, revising, proofreading…
I need some time to reconnect with the spirituality that initially inspired my books. Spirit allies cry out for more attention and urge me to turn inward for introspection. My work on book three is far from done, but without another contracted title in the wings, I can catch my breath, spend some more time with my family, catch up on housework, and refuel for the next project. (I also need to organize a virtual Imbolc for my grove!)
Whatever those future writing projects become, they are brewing. I already started a skeletal outline for something, and I may give into temptation and play with it next week. I need a break, but I still adore writing, and I really enjoy crafting stories about Pagans and other magically-inclined people in our world. RIVER MAGIC resonated with people. I hope my other novels do the same.
For now, I’m inhaling and exhaling deeply.
Author M. A. Phillips 