I am so far behind on...well, pretty much everything. But I've come to the conclusion (and it's kind of a relief) that I am not working much slower than I ever did. In fact, the SO asked yesterday if I was "on" something given the (apparently) frantic speed with which I was "buzzing" around. It's just that there is SO much more to do now. All the time.And that doesn't, unfortunately, include writing.
But I am writing!
Meanwhile, I thought -- since I'm now six months late on my newsletter (yes, I AM hanging my head in shame) I'd better offer some kind of
And the plan is to do half of those stories through publishers and half of them through my own JustJoshin imprint. But in order to get on those publisher rosters for next year, I have to write the proposals NOW. It's irritating, I know, when you're waiting for me to write something you can actually read in the near future, but I'm trying to be proactive. I'm trying to build the foundation of a sane life. A sane life in the future, because at the moment...not so much. The proactive phase is BRUTAL.
Like, for example, my typical day involves...figuring out wholesale prices on print books for a Canadian bookseller, responding to an email from a French publisher, finding copies of tax forms for another (now I have two?!) Japanese literary agent, writing back cover copy for the short story print collection -- stopping everything to jot down notes about a series of interlinking novellas about a haunted museum -- dashing into Facebook and Goodreads to say HELLO!!, writing Audible.com to find out why the last two audio books aren't listed on Amazon yet, finishing final round of edits on short story collection, approving cover art for same, answering quick email from new editor at Entangled...
And before I know it, another day is gone.
And I didn't write a damn thing.
See, that's where I am right now. That's why, as much as I value emails from you all, I'm not getting around to answering them in a timely fashion. Or at all, I fear.
But stuff is happening, I am writing, and here's a list of some of what's on the horizon:
Strange Fortune audio book should be out before the end of this month
The Hell You Say audio book should be out mid-June
Shinshokan has selected Don't Look Back for Japanese translation
The Darkling Thrush, Ghost of a Chance, Winter Kill, and The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks will be translated into French
The proposal for Stranger on the Shore has been accepted by Entangled Books (for 2014 publication)
Man Oh Man: Writing Quality M/M Fiction should be available in print in June
In Sunshine or In Shadow: Collected Short Stories Volume 1 should be available in June (13 stories, including the 5 Petit Morts, a lightly rewritten version of "The French Have a Word for It," and one new exclusive short story called "In Plain Sight")
All that said, I do still plan on completing all the projects I had planned for this year. I could be delusional at this point, but I think we're still...well, I won't say on track, but we're not derailed yet, and that's a good sign!
Wow! I'm winded just reading that! I had no idea what all it takes to 'be your own boss.' Did you? Did you find it odd or weird going back to a publish instead of your own imprint? What does that mean for book rights down the road? Wait - don't answer... you're too dang busy already!
ReplyDeleteAll in all, it sounds like you're in a pretty good place, considering you took a year off and you're doing double duty as being both boss and employee. I'm looking forward to all your new releases and being a part of the ensuing fanfare.
I admit I pictured ending sabbatical and going back to exactly what I had been doing before -- writing every minute, but at a slightly less insane pace.
DeleteBut the fact is, if I was at all successful, this was bound to happen anyway, sooner or later.
I've got a bunch of writing days scheduled next week and I am SO looking forward to them.
You do sound busy, busy, busy. As long as you're happy and not frustrated by all the things you aren't getting done. Stop and look at all the things you've accomplished! Once your backlist is in place in all the formats that you choose to put them in, it's all going to fall into place, I think. In the meantime, keep running, and swimming. Whatever you do, it's all forward motion. We'll be here. Whether you email or not. I am looking forward to whatever you do, whenever you do it.
ReplyDeleteWhat M said!
DeleteYes. Good thought, M. I do try and make sure the day end accounting is me focusing on everything I got done -- and not me lying there thinking about everything I still have to do. :-)
DeleteJosh, keep writing and don't worry about the emails. Sometimes I send a link I think will be of interest. There is no need to respond though we are happy when you do, but we are here for your writing.
ReplyDeleteIn my previous life I was a library director. My definition of my job was "doing everything no one else will do."
In my current life (supposedly retired), I am my own boss. I swear it's crazier now than all those years of administration? More frantic.
The two things that work for me - relative to all the "busyness of business" - are, making a list each day, and applying my 30 minute rule - 30 min. house duties per day, 30 min. in yard (live on a mountain with no grass, but, wow, do I have leaves and branches etc., falling every day), 30 min. on online duties, 30 min. contact with clients, 30 min., 30 min. 30 min. And, by all means - 30 min. in the a.m. and 30 min. in the p.m. JUST FOR ME.
If I am good and apply my rule, it seems I can accomplish several hours of researching or writing or editing or whatever. Prioritizing is difficult sometimes and I write non-fiction, so it's not exactly the same, but it seems that if you choose the projects - shorts, novellas, books - that mean most to YOU, they will mean most to your readers.
And, I always swear I'm going to take one project at a time, but that never works 'cause I can't seem to say "No."
Take deep breaths. Let time be your friend, not your enemy. Let us be your friends, and as we are friends, we understand.
Thank you, Penelope. I do love getting those emails -- I read them all, I smile over them, I click the links. I do appreciate the emails. And I do have every intention of responding to them. Eventually!
DeleteOkay. I'm going to be that supportive, yet moderately demanding fan who understands and respects the fact that you're insanely busy with the business end of writing, and yet who waits on tenterhooks for the release of your next book because she misses you. Quite badly! So...please allow me to follow up on something you said above that was just a little bit odd. You said that "Winter Kill" would be translated into French. Do you know when you plan on releasing it in English? ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi as a first-timer here (well, responding, not reading, though I did discover this site quite recently and became a fan of JL not long before that; but hey, I've been trying hard to keep up ever since). Can't help laughing out loud at the last line by bluenote - I did try and fail locating the mysterious Winter Kill @ Amazon not two minutes ago, after all. :D
DeleteJust reading the daily schedule of JL makes my head spin. How can anyone get anything done with so much correspondence to make? Seems you either have to clone a JL or prioritise and reduce the redundant work to be able to really write, which to us readers, has to be the most looking forward to (no pressure attached ;D).
Savanna
So...please allow me to follow up on something you said above that was just a little bit odd. You said that "Winter Kill" would be translated into French. Do you know when you plan on releasing it in English? ;-)
DeleteOh THAT. I knew there was something I was forgetting!!! :-D
I figure that one will be finished by the end of the year -- it may end up with an early next year release. Possibly January.
Hi there, Savanna!
DeleteWell, I hear (BELIEVE YOU ME) what you're saying. I do think this year is devoted to a lot of stuff that won't be such an issue moving forward. Like building up an audio backlist. I spent 8+ hours last week listening to the files for The Hell You Say. And I really did have to sit and listen because otherwise it's easy to miss the occasional wrong word or a little blip. But moving forward there won't be so many audio books at one time.
Or maybe it really will always be this busy and I'm going to have to hire more help!
Wow, Josh. So...not just sitting around. :) A couple of items stood out for me: 1)books being translated into French (yay), and 2) the issue with Amazon re: Audible. It used to be when you typed in Books-Josh Lanyon you then got a choice of Kindle, Paperbacks or Audible edition. Now it is only Kindle and Paperbacks. To see your Audible books you need to additionally click Amazon's Josh Lanyon Page and then choose Audible edition to see a list of all 10 of the audiobooks. But at least they are all there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update, Josh. As long as you feel healthy and are happy with your work that is all that is important. Your readers will always be here whenever something new becomes available. Best of luck as always.
One hates to be cynical, but it does seem like some flunky at Amazon took umbrage to a post or two. ;-D
DeleteOh Josh, I love reading what you write, even if its just an excuse/explenation. Just keep explaining! :-D
ReplyDelete:-D :-D :-D
DeleteI got a million more excuses where that came from!!!
All the 'other' stuff that goes with being an author isn't as much fun and very time consuming. Ali and I will be happy to get one story finished this year lol.
ReplyDeleteHopefully this schedule works for you and I look forward to reading the new stories and getting the audiobooks :o)
Any idea when a sequel to Fair Game is planned? See I was trying to bride you with the Helgoland postcards to move it forward on the schedule ;o)
Hope you are taking time to sit outside and enjoy the sun.
-Andy
Here's my plan for Fair Game. Next month I will try to get that proposal together for Carina Press. If they can get the book out in (assuming they take it at all!) 2014, it's theirs. If they can't, I'll self-pub it myself in 2014. I don't want to push that one back to the following year.
Delete*bribe
DeleteI should not be allowed on the internet whilst on muscle relaxants :o)
I just figured you were hoping for a Tucker and Elliot honeymoon spot!
DeleteExcellent! The Evil One will be very happy to hear that - that is still her favorite to listen to.
DeleteYou need an assistant Josh. Maybe let someone else deal with the emailing and phoning? Did you get time to eat and sleep during all of the above? The last thing you need is to exhaust yourself hun.
ReplyDeleteYes! I am making sure I stop long enough to eat dinner with the SO. That's my new rule. And I try to get in some splashing around in the little pool each afternoon (thus kidding myself that I'm really exercising).
DeleteMy husband is happy for your busy schedule, apparently his wife spends too much time/money buying and reading your books lol. (Is it bad that even though he hates to read he can give our friends a synopsis of your 'Adrien English' series? *guilty smile*).
ReplyDeleteYour fans understand that you have to sleep sometime, we also understand that without the business side your creative side would starve. So keep typing away and we will continue to be here reading.
~cindy
Yes! See, I'm helping with your personal economic recovery. ;-D Granted, I'm not doing a whole heck of a lot for my own!
DeletePoor Josh! I can sympathize. I'm at the beginning of the publishing game and I'm already experiencing flurries of the chaos you're talking about. It's nothing short of overwhelming at times. There are people who can do a lot of that for you but that costs money and publishing isn't the goldmine it appears to be from the outside.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best of luck with your chaos! I look forward to new stories on whatever timeline you can manage.
True. Plus, there's so much that has to be done on site. I can't pay someone to dig through my files or hunt through my bookshelves, unfortunately. And there does seem to be a lot of that.
DeleteI have one friend who sorts his desk first thing, does half a dozen quick wins, then the most important things on the list, once those are done he goes back on the not so urgent and anything left at the end of the day goes in the bin! I spent years organising people's diaries and used to book thinking and planning time as well as doing...your key task is writing, so plan it in. When it's writing time, that's what you do, nobody is going to die if you don't do some of the other stuff! And having a plan and sticking to it can mean that because you know you have limited time for the other crapola, you don't sweat the small stuff! Good luck, and don't worry about us, we're all out here waiting patiently!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to write though (for me) when I know there is stuff waiting to be done -- needing to be done. To let go and drop into that creative state, I have to kind of not visualize a bunch of obligations peering over the edge of the pool waiting for me to crawl out. :-D
DeleteHmmmph. I suspect that though you want to write there are days when you'd do anything rather than sit down and get on with it...I know that feeling well. Normally I'd rather buy a new cooker than clean the oven, but on a day when I have nothing planned but writing the siren song of oven cleaner and brillo almost deafens me and blots out my muse!
DeleteSadly true! ;-D
DeleteI think it’s the other way round. We owe you thanks for your work and for giving people pleasure and lightness. You shouldn’t go beating yourself up over not answering every email… and as for that bunch of obligations. I’m sending you a special force field to zap them.
ReplyDeleteAw. Thanks, Caroline! I think it's a two way street.
DeleteI'm probably right in thinking most readers would just rather I wrote a new story and shut up about the rest of it.
:-D
I don't worry about you derailing, Josh. You're like the little engine that could.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about perspective. You woke up worrying that you weren't doing enough. I woke up excited that I'm going to be getting a collection of all my favorite short stories, plus a new one. Yay! You just have to realize, that while you have goals for yourself and for your work, we don't have that burden. Our goal is to enjoy your talent, whenever we get the chance. So, sit back with a glass of your favorite and know you'll get there. Whenever you do, we'll be happy for you and for ourselves too.
That's human nature, isn't it? I have to consciously make myself focus on what I did accomplish versus what I failed to get done. Humans are kooky critters.
DeleteHello, bello!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about anything. We're here supporting you. I know things get busy, and so do the rest of your fans. We'll wait until the next release and then we'll cheer you and hug you and laud you.
Best,
Viv
Hello above! :-)
DeleteI do have the best readers, that's for sure! I just want you all to know it's not for lack of *wanting* to respond...
Take as long as you need. We'll still be here, I mean who could resist? <3
ReplyDeleteIf readers try, I will provide dip and chips in the waiting room! ;-D
DeleteAh love... I SOOOOOO know where you are. *hugs* Deep breath. Pet the cat. Have a cupcake and make a mojito. *nods*
ReplyDeleteHa! Like the song says, baby. "You've only just begun." Hang onto your hat!
DeleteI love it when you give us these types of posts. It's so much easier to wait knowing that something is coming, even if there's no specific date for it yet. And congrats on the French translations! Or is that not new, and I just missed the announcement? At any rate, it all sounds very exciting, and busy and stressful and absolutely fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoy the posts, Caitlin.
DeleteThe French translation news is indeed news. I'm kind of excited about that one. :-)
This is really strange. A narrator interview was here earlier. What happened?
ReplyDeleteI yanked it because the book is still apparently a month out from being released. Therein lies a tale of incompetence and terrible customer service.
DeleteACX is fast becoming one of my least favorite publishing partners.
You shouldn't pull tricks like that on the elderly, Josh. We are all terror stricken about "old timers" disease anyway. First it's there, then it isn't. Naughty man. lol
DeleteBTW, purchased Ghost of A Chance via Nook this a.m. Have only read a few pages as yet, but seems good.
Oh, to be financially secure enough to tell my clients to take a hike 'cause I just want to read...
I'd forgotten the interview was scheduled to run -- along with some other promo and advertising all made pointless because ACX Doesn't Get It. Doesn't get that parent company Audible is encouraging promo and marketing for a reason. Doesn't get that that promo and marketing is based on expected release dates. Doesn't get that leaving a file untouched for a month without contacting the producer or rights holder would conceivably create an issue with that promo and advertising.
DeleteHonest to God.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'm so sorry you are being jerked around by them, and I'm very aware that often separate divisions of these huge corporations often don't really care what other divisions are doing. Ah! The hearts of corporate bureaucrats are often as "black as a Newgate knocker."
DeleteI suppose you've talked to all the audio distributors - RB, Brilliance, Tantor, etc.
The interview was a good one Josh. We'll be here when you re-post it.
Happy Memorial Day! (Point to Ponder: Is it appropriate to wish someone "happy" Memorial Day?)
I get irritated with myself for these flare ups of...impatience? exasperation? outrage? Once upon a time I ran a top notch customer service department. I think that's why I feel crap customer service and bad attitude so keenly. It seems like a personal affront. Whereas actually it's just kind of typical. :-D
DeleteHappy Memorial Day. Hmm. Good point. Come to think of it, it's rather a solemn observance for our culture, isn't it? When you figure we can turn Thanksgiving into cute stuff about turkeys...not sure how A Good Day to Pause and Reflect would fly.
Hey Josh, can tell you're seriously busy. I just popped in to ask, I'm keeping an eye out for the print ed. of In Sunshine or In Shadow but will the volumes include the stories from MLR's Collected Novellas now that your self-publishing?
ReplyDeleteThe saga of this collection. ARGH. We had some problems with the margins last night so it has to be reformatted again. SO close but SO far away... :-(
DeleteHowever, it's going to be beautiful once complete.
There are a thirteen stories and six have never been in print before. The others have been in print in one form or anther -- either in the JL collections or in other collections (the Petit Morts, etc.)
Yeah, not mean to sound stalkerish but I have all your works ebook and print-those available-the only editions I'm totally missing out on is audio. As for the Collected Novellas, it's alright just wanted to know. As for In Sunshine or in Shadow, it'll work out and it's going to be wonderful I'm sure, the wait will be worth it. Looking forward to your stories.
DeleteHi Josh, I can't recall seeing the answer...will there also be a Kindle (or any ebook) version of the new print collection, In Sunshine or in Shadow? Will happily buy them again in digital version (along with the new short story)! :-)
ReplyDeleteNot at this time, Cynthia. Thanks for asking.
Delete