5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Well, this is my big week! Mother's Day is, of course, prime time for my new release, Mom Needs Chocolate, and we're in the final countdown.

But before I say anything further, I want to stop right here and put in a sincere plug for Suzanne Fisher's new book, For the Love of Dogs. I've just finished reading it for the second time, and it just gets better every sitting. The characters spring to life and you find yourself feeling their elation, victories, frustrations and grief. I've learned sooo much about guide dogs and the day-to-day challenges faced by the visually impaired that I never knew existed. So if you haven't yet ordered your copy from Amazon.com, do it this very day!

As for my own writing journey, during the last three weeks, I've lived through three large speaking events, four Choc-OUT Parties (privately hosted parties featuring Mom Needs Chocolate, a chocolate fountain, chick chat, and lots of sweet treats), one television interview, five phone interviews (radio and newspaper reporters) and still have three Choc-OUT's, one radio interview, and a LifeWay Choc-Tastic book Signing yet to come before Mother's Day.

And a partridge in a pear tree!

It's been fun but hectic. I ran out of books (had to run to Family Christian and LifeWay to buy my own books for two events), was slammed with a nasty migraine (complete with nausea and vomiting) right in the middle of a live radio interview, and accidentally left a bushel of chocolate bars in my scalding car while I was at work (yep - still working as a hand therapist two days a week).

I'm planning to drape across a hammock and stare with glazed eyes at the fluffy white clouds drifting by when it's all over. Happy Mother's Day to me!

So what project are YOU working on? Do you have a game plan? Have you set production deadlines? That's essential, you know.

Just yesterday I set August as my deadline for completing the first draft of my next, as yet title-less book. You have to take the first step, regardless of all the busy circumstances that surround you (which will ALWAYS be there), and keep taking a new step every day, no matter what. That's the only way to reach your final destination.

So fellow writing sojourner, let's keep plodding away together, and the journey won't seem so hard.