Month: September 2020

Life

What Do You Do to Relax?

katjorgensen

Since I’m taking a bit of time off from work, my mind naturally turns to how will I amuse myself in these days of Covid.

I could do housework? HAHAHHAH! I crack myself up sometimes. I’m on vacation. Why would I want to do housework other than the day to day necessities?

I could take walks outside. That’s always a good option, but I can’t do that all day.

I could read a good book. I do love to read.

Or I could knit or crochet. I love to do handwork. And I enjoy starting a new project and choosing colors.

There are tons of options to occupy me. I just need to make choices. I’ll find things to delight me and refresh and relax me. But it would be lovely to have the option of being with friends and sharing time with them in person as we did in pre-covid times.

I have to remind myself to be patient. We are going through tough times. We need to be able to get creative with our free time and to look forward to when we can comfortably socialize in person again.

So how do you keep yourself busy in your downtime? What things do you enjoy doing these days? And what do you wish you could do that the continued pandemic keeps you from doing?

Looking forward to more normal times. But until then Milo, Sam and I will enjoy ourselves.

Stay safe. But find ways to enjoy life.

Kat

Books, Life, personal growth, Success

Finishing a Book; Starting a New Project

katjorgensen

Yesterday I finished the draft of my 4th book in the River City Mystery series. Today I’m on a self imposed vacation.

Sadly, I’m not in the Maldives as the picture above depicts. But I’m home. Enjoying some downtime.

Writing is hard work. But it is also very rewarding. I am so pleased with this latest book project. My characters are all in a very good place at the end of the story. I’ve revealed a series secret or two and I have seen a lot of character growth.

One of my personal pet peeves in reading series from any genre is when the characters do not grow. We all grow in our lives from day to day. Why shouldn’t our characters? So that’s something I always try to work on with my story people. And I have to say, I’m pleased. And they seem pleased as well.

I don’t have a hint of what my cover will look like for this book. I hope to get some glimpses of it in early October. My cover artist always surprises and delights me. This story will be available in both e-book and paperback.

After this book is published, I will have two months until the end of the year. Originally, I thought I’d work on one of my unfinished projects or start a new series. But I always try to listen to what my characters want too.

Your Addiction is Deadly, this 4th book, had all of the characters telling me – don’t stop now. Pull out your notes for book 5. We want to be the next project in your line up. So they have spoken and I have listened. The last two months and into the new year will be book 5 in this series. And then I’ll see where we will go.

I know there will be at least one more book in The River City Mysteries. But I haven’t thought much more after book 6. So time – and my characters – will decide on that.

But I do have two or three other series just waiting for their chance to shine too. It’s a great problem to have.

So while I’m taking some much needed time off I’m going to do a few things around the house, some knitting and crocheting, walking in the fall weather and chilling out with some movies. But I’d rather have this as my view for the next week.

Hope you are enjoying the start of the autumn season. And I hope you are challenging yourself with new projects and even managing some downtime. We need work and play in our lives to stay balanced.

Kat