Loudsystem Soundspeaker

During her last visit, my sister had this beautiful moment of malapropism when she coined the phrase "loudsystem soundspeaker". I told her upfront that I was planning to steal it from her, and then she went and used it before I did--and made fun of me in the process for getting there first, which, fair...I deserved that--but now, here I am, putting my own spin on her loudsystem soundspeakerery.

To kick us off, some of you may be wondering what is going on with the book I told you about last month. Well, I'm sending out queries to literary agents right now, which means I kind of feel like the persistent widow playing a slot machine. In an effort to not feel like everything is a matter of luck, I am doing what I can on my end.

First off, I took what feels like an overwhelming step (but probably isn't) and joined an online writing community. Hopefully, that effort pays off. We shall see.

Second, I'm trying to fine tune my query and practice talking about my book so I don't sound like a complete idiot, and I'm sending it out to beta readers (who aren't related or married to me) to I can get feedback and make some improvements. And they are giving some pretty decent feedback--by which I mean, heart emojis and telling me that they blowing through the chapters in between basketball practice and games. 

Third, and this may affect you as a reader, I'm working on revamping my blog. It's been a few years, and it's time for a spruce up. Don't expect any huge changes yet, because I work like I'm swimming through molasses most days (five kids! teaching! still writing! where does all the time go!) but know that's in the works. 

Fourth, I'm also working on setting up a newsletter to better serve you guys. I know many of you currently get my blog in your email, which is awesome, but the way blogger has that set up, I have no idea how many of you are on that list or who you are (I kid you not--this is a legit problem). However, again, I am a turtle, swimming slowly upstream against a relentlessly punishing current. Even better, I am a slug, inching my way--no!--millimetering my way up the side of Mount Everest. I will get there when I get there. And when I do, my sanity will still be intact. Well, intact-ish.

In the process, I'm spending a lot of time thinking about who you are, oh favorite of readers, and what you need to hear, what I'm passionate about and what I'm already writing about and where those intersect, what I'm capable of offering that you're not going to get anywhere else and how I can make that fun to read about. I'm also figuring out instagram (thank you to all who found me there--you are the best), and I actually got on goodreads, though it will take me longer than life to actually update all the books I've read. And I'm continuing to read good books that help me think and engage in good conversations that help me think and process and grow. Because that makes me happy. And because then I have good book suggestions to hand out when you guys tell me you need something new to read.

But while I am still in this (long) moment of transition, feel free to weigh in and be a part of this process. If you have something you need me to know or remember, get on your loudsystem soundspeaker (that would be the comment section or a quick email or phone call) and let me know. We don't write into a black hole of nothing, and no one exists in a vacuum, etc., etc., etc.  Also, I kind of like you guys. And I like hearing what you have to say.

So that is the update for that. I'm not promising that the next post will be coming from the new blog, although that would be exciting, but I am telling you--don't go poking around in the nether regions of the internet trying to find what I'm working on. It's not done yet! And I'm hoping it'll be worth the wait!