Lynn Raye Harris

Wow, she’s back again! Yep, somehow I’ve managed to come back again when I’m pushing hard toward deadline — maybe it’s because writing so much requires an outlet of unrelated writing. I don’t know.

But I was thinking today, as I was rereading a portion of the WIP to remember where I was and what I was doing, about how easy it would be to let all those writerly fears and doubts crash down on top of me and grind me to a halt. I’ve certainly done it in the past, when I had no date set in stone on a legally binding document that I signed. I’ve let the doubt and uncertainty stop me and send me off into self-pitying mental gymnastics where I wondered if I would ever be published.

You might think, once you’re published, that these doubts and fears go away. They do not, unfortunately. That fear will probably always be there.

Another thing I do when I get slammed with work is compare my career to others. Never a good idea, I assure you. We know we shouldn’t do it, and yet we do. So-and-so writes six books a year, or so-and-so makes it look so easy, etc. If so-and-so were writing this book, she’d be done already and it’d be brilliant!

What’s really bad is when you start thinking that someone has it better than you do, not only career wise, but life wise. A big house, a fancy car, lots of friends. But you don’t really know what goes on behind the scenes of Jane Author’s successful and fabulous life. Maybe she’s lonely, or maybe her fears are as big as yours. Maybe the perfect looking life is a shield she wears that hides the truth. Maybe her life is every bit as crazy as yours, and maybe she wishes she could be you.

You just never know. Which is why you must learn to keep it together when these fears and doubts assail you. You have to look at what you DO have and know that it’s good. My life isn’t your life isn’t Jane Author’s life. I think it’s very normal for women to do this sort of comparison. And we have to learn to stop ourselves when it happens. Because the life you have is full of blessings and richness. You just have to stop and take a good look sometimes.

Keep it together, y’all. Keep it real. You are you, and that’s a mighty fine thing to be.

As a writer, I often daydream. Sometimes, I daydream at the computer when the words aren’t flowing and I need to figure out what happens next. Sometimes, I take a shower and the thoughts just start to happen. Getting unstuck, finding a new path, whatever I need, often happens when I take that mental break and stop trying to force things to happen. I’ve even had breakthroughs on the treadmill while making deals with myself that I’ll get to that next mile mark. Whatever it takes.

But on Saturday, I found a new place to think. My RWA chapter went on a field trip where we learned about labyrinths. After the presentation, we walked a labyrinth. It’s not as complicated as you might think. Labyrinths can be quite simple. They aren’t mazes, first of all. There is one path in and one path out and you walk the path with a clear site of the center. There are no tall hedges to get lost in.

I was surprised at how simple the labyrinth looked. We walked one that was patterned after the one here, which is a medieval labyrinth. Specifically, this is the one that’s in the Chartres Cathedral in France. The path we walked was grassy, with bricks to mark out the way. It’s meant to be walked barefoot, though as our teacher stressed, there is no right or wrong way to do it. I walked in wearing shoes, then took them off for the walk out.

And it was different each time. It’s a surprising experience, in fact. Our group of writers, who are normally quite boisterous and talkative, got very meditative as we walked. I found that I was a bit bored and distracted at first. And then I had a moment where a recent painful memory crashed in on me and had me on the verge of tears. It was surprising how it came out of nowhere when I wasn’t expecting it. Then the memory went away and the knowledge that things happen as they are meant to happen gave me comfort.

Then I settled into the experience and started to think of many things. I can’t even remember everything, though some of it was writing oriented. As I got closer to the center, I felt calmer. And then I was in the center, watching others walk the path, and feeling very peaceful and content. When I was finally ready to leave the center, I took my shoes off and began the walk back out. Oddly, I felt as if I’d left any baggage I was carrying in the center. I felt lighter, relieved in some way.

The farther I went, the less light I felt. It was almost like picking up the worries I’d left behind as I walked out. By the time I got out, I felt the same as when I’d entered. I felt like me, with all the worries and cares and joys that I have. It was a very interesting experience, and it’s one I intend to repeat. Because, as our teacher said, each experience in the labyrinth can be different. You won’t always get the same thing out of it.

I wouldn’t always anticipate having an experience where grief hit me out of the blue. But I definitely see the advantages to working out those thorny plot problems while walking the labyrinth. When I went in this time, I had no expectations, which is why so many things hit me. But if I went in thinking of my plot and characters, I know I would get answers to my questions. Just like standing in the shower or daydreaming on the computer.

I highly recommend the experience if you’re looking for a new place to think. You can learn more about labyrinths, including whether there are any in your town, here. If you’ve ever had the labyrinth experience, what did you think of it?

Hey, y’all! Life has sure been busy the last few days, let me tell you. Yesterday, I had wonderful intentions to write all day. Didn’t happen. First, there was the emergency trip to Sherwin Williams to buy paint samples. Then there was the curtain lady from JCP who came to try and sell me custom curtains (this is what happens when you go to a home show and sign up for stuff without thinking about it too much). The curtain appointment took 3 hours — and we were only talking about TWO windows!

After she left, it was back to Sherwin Williams for more samples. Then I had to wait at home in case the painter came by to see what I’d chosen (but I still hadn’t chosen!). Once my hubby got home, it was back to Sherwin Williams a third time for more paint. I bought 7 samples yesterday, and finally made a decision. The painter is relieved, I’m sure. Tomorrow, he starts painting. Whew, who knew choosing paint was so hard?

This morning, as if yesterday wasn’t busy enough, another guy from the Home Show came by. This was for a yard service and termite control. Since Hubby and I suck at yard care (weeds, fertilizing, etc), we really wanted to see what this would cost. Totally reasonable, so I signed us up. And for the termite control too.

(I didn’t buy the curtains, however, if you were wondering. Though the fabric was beautiful, I have a hard time with $2500 for curtains for two windows — tall windows, to be sure, but still.)

This afternoon, I have to go pick up the paint that the painter is ordering this morning. And somewhere in all this mess, I have a book to finish. I’m seriously getting cranky about it too. Because I figured out a plot problem and fixed it, and now it’s time to move forward. But my motion was on hold for household things, which has really frustrated me.

The best part of yesterday, however, was getting my North American author copies of The Prince’s Royal Concubine. I wasn’t expecting them so early, but when I saw the UPS man, I knew that’s what it had to be because I hadn’t ordered anything recently. So you know what this means! To celebrate, I’m giving away a copy today on the blog. Leave a comment and tell me about the best book you read recently. (Does not have to be mine, btw.) Or you can tell me about how life got in the way of something you were doing.

Update: using the handy dandy Random Number Generator, the winner is Jayme! Jayme, please email me your contact info and I’ll get the book out to you ASAP! Thanks for all the comments, y’all! I enjoyed hearing about the books you like, and about your little life detours.

It’s snowing again in Alabama. It’s March, people. Snow does not fall in Alabama in March. Did someone upstairs not get the memo? I’d have loved this snow, scant though it is, in December. That’s when it’s supposed to snow. But this is Alabama, and it doesn’t really snow here.

Except now. Why now? Why, when I want warmth and sunshine, do I have to put up with more snow? At least the weekend forecast is supposed to be sunny and 60s. That’s more like it! We’re accustomed to 60s in March. (We’re accustomed to them in December too.) Can I please have my normal weather pattern back, dear El Nino?

Aside from the snow making me grumpy, I’m working on the latest book. Yes, it takes place in Russia. Yes, there is snow. I’m rather sick of snow.

In other Chez Harris news, I believe I’m going to have to track down and terrorize a misbehaving cat any minute. Nimitz, the evil beast, is yowling. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing, if he were a normal cat. But destruction usually follows on the heels of the yowling. He likes to get on my hall table and knock over pictures. Or he’ll open cabinets and crash around through the pots and pans. Then there’s his fascination with the fireplace. And yes, he’s actually tried to get into it while the fire was on. That’s why I keep a handy dandy squirt bottle available. It’ll either keep him out of the fire, or douse him once he’s set himself ablaze.

So, today it’s snow, writing, and flaming cats. What about you? Anything interesting going on?

Clearly, it isn’t spring yet. But a recent “What Not to Wear” binge sent me to my closet, brimming with determination. Time to get rid of stuff. I have a bad habit of keeping things that no longer fit in the belief that if I just lose that last five or ten pounds, they’ll fit again. Clinton and Stacy have made me realize that’s not very good in practice.

I’m not done yet, but I’ve gotten rid of several things. Truthfully, I think more than half of the closet will go. And that’s not because it’s all too small, but because I don’t actually wear most of it. I keep stuff thinking I’ll wear it, but I somehow never do.

The beauty of this process is that it gives me a fabulous excuse to go shopping for new clothes. I wish I had that 5K that Clinton and Stacy hand over every episode, but if I spend that much on clothes, my husband will probably kill me. Guess I’ll have to be reasonable.

Presents heroines often end up going on fabulous shopping sprees, don’t they? I know I’ve written one spree, when Nico takes Lily to Paris, but my editor made me cut most of the shopping detail (darn it). But I love to read those sprees. Jennie Lucas wrote a great one not too long ago, and one of my favorites is in one of Jane Porter’s sheikh books. I love the parade of clothes, the handbags, the shoes, the super-expensive price tags, and the enigmatic hero who stands by and basically says that money is no object.

It’s not the money, though, it’s the way he wants to clothe the heroine in beautiful things. It just gives me that little catch in my heart. Like the shopping scene in “Pretty Woman” when Richard Gere goes to the stores with Julia Roberts, after the shop girls wouldn’t wait on her, and buys her all those gorgeous and swanky clothes. Oh swoon.

I know my hubby would buy me whatever I wanted if a) we could afford it and b) he didn’t have to go shopping with me. But of course he’s not a billionaire and I’m not a 20-something Twiggy who can wear anything and look fabulous in it.

*If* I could go on that fantasy shopping trip, I’d hit the Christian Louboutin store for shoes, and then I’d go to Prada, Hermes, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Vera Wang, and etc. I’m not sure I’d know how to act when faced with those price tags, though.

So if you could go on a fantasy shopping trip, what would you buy? Doesn’t have to be clothes, btw. Cars, vacations, homes, whatever. What is your fantasy?

There’s simply too much to do, and I’m failing at thinking up interesting and witty blog posts these days. When I realize it’s been a week since my last post, I’m surprised. Where did the time go?

It would be nice to have a clone, wouldn’t it? Or maybe just an intelligent robot who could do some things for you. I DO have a robot to vacuum for me, and I love it very much. My hubby insisted on getting a Roomba a few months ago; I resisted, as I often do, thinking there was no way a little, round robotic vacuum could do that good a job.

The Roomba (we call him Jeeves in this house, even though he speaks with a lady’s voice) ROCKS. I have officially eaten my words and I could not live without Jeeves. Jeeves is so fabulous, in fact, that he has accomplished something quite miraculous: my husband now does most of the vacuuming. Seriously, how could I not be pleased?

Now I need a robot who will do laundry, shop for groceries, cook, and run errands for me. Hubby says I need to hire a maid, but I don’t begin to know how to find one. Not to mention I’d have to clean the house before I could let someone else clean the house.

The other thing I need is a vacation. Not a vacation from writing, but a vacation from the gray, cold, rainy place where I live. I am so missing Hawaii right about now. *sigh* If I could take my computer and go to a sunny place, I’d happily do it. But, the hubby has to work and the cats need food and water on a daily basis, and going away alone is no fun. So I’m staying home.

I guess I could get out the Hawaiian CDs and the Aloha wear, and pretend I’m enjoying balmy temps and tropical flowers. It might work. (The South is not supposed to be this cold!) If you’re living somewhere gray and cold, what do you do to cope with the winter blues? And if you know where to get one of those house-cleaning, errand-running robots, I’d like to know that too.

The day after Christmas, Hubby and I decided we were going to clean our garage. Apparently, everyone has the same idea after Christmas. Not necessarily the garage, but home organization. Lowe’s and Home Depot both had sales on storage containers and shelves, and people were loading their carts up. Since this is my first time having the organization urge immediately after the holiday, I was a bit surprised.

Still, we loaded up with shelves and containers and came home to begin the garage project. It’s not done, but we’ve made good progress. And now I have my eye on a inside projects. I even cleaned out my pantry! I won’t tell you how many expired things were in there.

Of course all this has me thinking about counting down to the New Year and planning goals for 2010. Some years, I fail; other years, I hit the goals. I’m thinking this is a goal hitting year coming up. I have several, and I think they are reasonable. They aren’t all related to writing. Some are definitely along the lines of “Get Organized!” Since I have a head start, I think it’s possible. (No, I won’t do a 180 and suddenly become super-organized. Wish it were so, but I know me.)

What kinds of goals are you setting for the coming year? Did you go buy organization supplies recently too? And what kind of New Year’s celebration are you planning? Low key at home? Party hearty at some swanky joint? I will definitely be at home, and I’ll probably be in bed long before midnight.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas! Last night, we had our hot cocoa, watched our Christmas programs, and went to bed at a decent hour. This morning, we’re looking forward to getting together with family later. Our present to each other was indeed the built-ins in our living room, so nothing to open when we woke up. But we’ll have things to open at my parents’ house.

And I believe we’re planning to see a movie later today — probably Sherlock Holmes since the whole family seems excited by that one.

Thanks to all my readers who keep buying my books and telling me how much they enjoy my stories! I appreciate you all, believe me. You’ve made this new author very happy this year. You’ve kept me on the eHarlequin paperback bestseller list for over 10 days, and the ebook bestseller list for a whopping 18 days. Thank you so much! I look forward to all next year will bring, and I’m excited about the stories that I’ll be sharing with you in the upcoming months!

Because I used to live in Hawaii, I can’t help but wish you all a Mele Kalikimaka and lots of aloha today and always.

Yikes! It’s only a week until Christmas! Are you ready? I almost am. I actually mailed Christmas cards yesterday, which was a weight off my mind. And, I have to admit, I cut my list down this year. I’ve had people on there for years to whom I mail cards — and never get one in return. I’ve decided I just don’t have time for that anymore. This year, I kept a couple of those people on the list, but mostly I mailed cards to people who mailed them to me. And people who I know will mail them (or would) when they have time.

As far as gifts, I’m almost done there. Hubby and I may not be shopping for each other, though we won’t know that until tomorrow. See, we have this big wall in our great room where we’ve been wanting built-ins. So we have a contractor coming to give us an estimate. That may be our present to each other — which, I have to say, is fine with me. I’d rather get something I want than turn the man loose with a few ideas and hope for the best.

If the estimate is too large, then we may be doing some last minute shopping for each other. We tend to buy what we want when we want it, or plan for bigger purchases, so it gets difficult to find things the other person doesn’t already have. I really, really hope the built-ins are within the budget. I know we won’t have them before Christmas, but knowing they’re coming would be awesome.

What do you want for Christmas? Do you like things for the house? Or do you prefer personal items like jewelry and perfume, etc?

I’m feeling pretty happy today! Not only did I turn the novella in with 3 days to spare, but I managed to actually do a little Christmas shopping. Oh, not enough, that’s for sure! I have much to do. But it was so nice to be able to leave the house, to actually wear makeup and put on real clothes, that it made me giddy.

Silly, huh?

But I’ve been cooped up in the house, slaving at the computer (while streaming Pandora Belly Dance radio, I might add!), and occasionally staring out the window wistfully. Getting out for something as exciting as a post office run and a trip to the mall was big news for me.

I know there could be novella revisions any day, but I’m forging ahead with my holiday cheer until then! Today, I have fudge to make for a party tonight. Tomorrow, I have my RWA chapter Christmas party in the morning, and a tour of homes with my mom in the afternoon. Lots of Christmas activities to get my spirit going! And it’s cold in Alabama, like really really cold, which it typically isn’t this time of year. While I don’t appreciate cold, it does mean I get to wear my gorgeous German Loden coat to my events instead of a light jacket. Since my coat is red, it puts me in the holiday mood!

And now I’m going to go turn on the local radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7, start the fudge, and wrap a package or two to take to the PO later. Are you in the holiday mood? What sort of things get you in the spirit?