Shannon here: Due to a scheduling snafu, my guest couldn’t make it today. So I thought I’d give an update on what’s happening in my writing realm. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for 1 title of your choice from the books I have on hand from my backlist. Deadline: July 10th, 11:59 pm central time.
I shared some of this on the Inspy Romance Blog, where I blog once a month. But in case you missed it, last July, I took on partial ownership of a publishing company, along with the tasks of acquisitions and content editor. At first, I was overwhelmed. Eventually, I hit my stride, figured out a schedule, and enjoyed the ride. I kept up, even got ahead. Until. I. Couldn’t.
In November, I had surgery to remove half my thyroid due to a nodule. It was cancer. But it was stage one and they got it all. Along with my energy. Since then I’ve struggled with having any oomph. Sometimes, I don’t want to do anything. Ever.
In February, I went for a check-up and my doctor put me on thyroid medicine. Which took some time to kick in. In the meantime, I had ocular migraines, where there’s no pain, but my vision blurred for twenty minutes or so. Not conducive to editing. Or writing.
I struggled to keep up with my editing workload and writing became a myth. I talked about it with my husband and my mom and God, not necessarily in that order. After lots of prayer, I decided I’d have to cut my workload. It was a tough decision. I didn’t want to let my friend/business partner down or dump everything on her. I didn’t want our friendship to suffer.
Our authors had been sold the year before and I didn’t want to disconcert them again. But I couldn’t keep going like I was. I came up with a plan for me to keep part of my duties and to give my business partner three months’ notice on everything else. And not to tell her until May, when I planned to be good and ahead on my work.
But God had another plan. During a typical phone conversation with my friend/business partner, we discussed a few things, agreed, and then out of the blue, she asked. “Do you want out?” I got teary-eyed. “Since you asked, I do.” For the next thirty minutes, we came up with a plan. I’m still acquisitions, which I love. Though I hate dashing hopeful writers’ dreams with rejections, I love making writers’ dreams come true with The Call.
I also love doing the content edit on Contemporary Romance and Women’s Fiction, so I’ll continue with those genres. Since I don’t read Historicals, Romantic Suspense, or Mysteries, they tend to stress me out during the content edit. I’m so afraid I’ll miss something. And I have, but thankfully my business partner caught my oopses.
Overnight, I went from twenty-something books to edit for the year to six. And by the next day, my friend had other editors in place to handle the genres I’m no longer editing. Since I’m no longer co-owner, I don’t have to make business decisions, which isn’t my forte anyway. Our publishing schedule is intact with no delays and our friendship is intact as well.
As if God orchestrated the whole thing. And with perfect timing, since I’m in the process of getting a new agent and need to whip some proposals of my own into shape. Thankfully, once the medicine kicked in, the vision problems stopped. After several months of meds, I still have some lethargic days, but I’m better. I’m not stressed over editing and have time to write too.
Speaking of which, that picture is of me signing a new book contract. I’m currently writing a novella for
Scrivenings Press. It will be in a collection with four other authors and will release September 28th. And it requires a road trip. Sometime before summer ends, I need to visit my setting, Surfside Beach, Texas. Since our son graduated, the school year no longer determines our schedule. But book deadlines do, so hopefully the road trip will happen soon.
About Shannon: Award-winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.
She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Connect with her: Shannon’s Website, Shannon’s Blog, Shannon’s Facebook, Shannon’s Goodreads, Shannon’s Pinterest, Shannon’s Twitter, Newsletter Archives, Shannon’s Amazon Author Page and Shannon’s Bookbub. Sign up for her Newsletter to get a free e-book, recipes, behind the scenes info, & enter exclusive giveaways: Shannon’s Newsletter
Shannon also works for Scrivenings Press as acquisitions/content editor.
Question for Readers: What are you doing this summer? Any special plans or projects?
Come back July 2nd for Patricia Lee!
I’m working on setting up a watering system for my garden using a rain barrel….with loads of help from my husband! Also catching up on the many books on my lists. Looking forward to your new book.
Wow Jennifer, that’s ingenious. I don’t have a garden because I like air conditioning. There’s nothing like garden-fresh vegetables though. Thankfully, my aunt shares from her garden.
no plans of yet but maybe slip in a trip to the mountains later this year.
I love traveling in the fall, Shelia. I love fall period. It would be better if I could visit Surfside Beach near Christmas for the setting of my novella. But my deadline won’t allow that, so it will have to be this summer.
My plan for the summer is to not make plans. Life changes plans. Focus on today and maybe a special blessing will come our way.
But we have to have supper sometime, Vicki. We are overdue. So plan on it.
I’m looking forward to it!
Maybe moving, but like you health problems may delay me. I’ve at least got the realtors looking.
Glad you are getting better and hope you continue to do so.
Oh moving is such an ordeal, Linda. I’ve moved twice as an adult. You never know how much stuff you e accumulated until you pack it up. I hope your health gets better too.
Special plans this summer involve attending virtual and in person writers conferences. Also, sharing time with family, enjoying the beach, and taking lots of walks with hubby. Lots of writing, too. 🙂
Those sound like good plans, Melissa. I’ll be so glad when all the conferences are in person again though. I miss seeing friends when they’re virtual.
I’m in Spain now on vacation visiting my brother and his family who live there. Spain opened up to all vaccinated travelers including Americans in the first week of June. We were planning to come last summer, but then the pandemic happened and we had to cancel the plane tickets.
Oh wow, Diana. I’m so glad you’re getting to see your family.
We had our family beach vacation in the beginning of June. Couple camping trips are planned for July and August. Unfortunately, California doesn’t allow wood burning fires anymore 🙁
That sounds like so much fun, Natalya. I’ve never been camping. I require air conditioning and plumbing. And chlorine. Call me high maintenance.
Probably, we want to go on a holiday in our own country. But I really want to finish my third story. So that is my goal for this summer!
Both worthy goals, Marilene. I have several writing projects that need attention also.
This summer, I plan on doing a lot. Going racing with my family, spending time with my boyfriend, getting a lot done on the cookbook I’m writing, doing a lot of editing, harvesting fresh produce from the garden, doing yardwork, etc. Summers are always a busy time of the year for me.
Wow S, Daisy, that’s quite a to do list. I’m curious, what kind of racing and what kind of editing.
I have a winner! Jennifer Robertson won the drawing. I appreciate everyone for stopping by.