So here we are...8 weeks and 4 days until school starts again. I'll have two 8th graders, two 9th graders, and one senior. Let's keep our fingers crossed that one year from now the senior will be off at college... and we'll have 4 boys in the house. What do they have planned (you didn't ask) for them this summer? Camps. But not the expensive kind that cost $250 a week ...a week that consists of Monday - Thursday from 9-3 (and you know parents work 8-5 Mondays through Fridays, right) UGH... wooosahhhhh... 8 weeks... 4 days... 8 weeks...4 days. My last few days of school I can admit. I checked out mentally. Hey! I was on a deadline!
A child may have gone to school wearing plaid shorts and a striped shirt.... but in his defense they were all in the blue-family. Dinner consisted of pizza and or frozen chicken (cooked of course) and a lot of salads.
I can do this!
I keep failing with my oldest by letting him make his own decisions....such as.. what day he'll take the SATs. By doing so, he didn't take them sophomore and junior year and it's not being offered this summer. Now he wants to do a wrestling camp. My son wants to go to football camp all summer long. My other 15 year would like to go to the same football camp but he is under a hundred pounds and barely 5'4". Decisions Decisions. Another kiddo is in basketball camp and the other is in a academic camp. Whatever happens, the boys will do their summer reading & summer math, chores before games, and deodorant before going outside for basketball & football!
It'd be nice to win the lottery and be able to take the kids anywhere for the summer or let them do whatever they want to do for camps and it not costing an arm and a leg. Thank God for 21st Century Programs.
So why location! Location! Vacation?? I'm a writer, so my mind is always thinking about the next book. How does one fit in family vacation with writing? Am I turning into one of my phone-social media-fortnight addicted teens?
Two weeks ago I met the city-love of my life. I brought my 21-year old daughter and her friend. I was there for a girls' trip with some fantastic ladies. I Can I say it was WONDERFUL?!
I loved the city, food, and people so much...I want to set a book there. It is not a place I can bring my younger kids...unless you count the swamp tour. But the swamp tour did conjure up some story ideas for me. Let's see if they pan out over the next 12 months.
That brings me to my train of thought. Writers...when you set your books...how do you pick your location? Do you go on a vacation or a staycation (researching from your desk and the library)? Do you look up city maps? Check out the local real-estate agents and see what homes are for sale? Since I never know about legal issues, I like to make up my own towns. Weird? Maybe. I did write two books set in Tallahassee, with made-neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Rossi was set in Tallahassee-ish and then moved to my fictional island city, Villa San Juan. Then there's my feel-good Christmas story, The Magic of Mistletoe. I guess if you write fantasy,
you have to create your own location, huh. lol.
Readers, do you prefer a made up town or some place you can visit?
Given the fact that I'm literally the old lady in the shoe right now, a vacation to get away and write is not easy.
My folks have a place at Lake Martin...buuut it's a family setting and it's hard to write the bowchicawowow when I'm constantly hearing.... "stop'... "no, you stop".. "I'm hungry" "I'm bored".
So what's a gal to do? I'll just daydream about the day I can bring the kids on a scouted location that gives me plenty of plot bunnies for my future books.
The latest beauty queen book has been installed. I've said it once and I'll say it a million times again. ... you do not have to be a beauty queen in order to love these books. These ladies are flawed and driven.. and paired with sexy men (but of course). Have you seen my Once Upon a Tiara series?
Book 6 comes out later. You can pre-order it now.
I'm currently working on book 8. Book 7 was just turned in (whew)!
What are your summer plans? I'd love to hear from you. Check me out on FaceBook or Instagram or even on twitter.
Happy Summer!
XOXO
I like to make up the name of the town because then no one can say a certain building or street isn't there. I can put the businesses I want in the fictional town. I always loved having my kids home for summer--but I have two girls. I wanted six children, but cervical cancer meant an early hysterectomy. I think that falls under TMI. Anyway, I admire you for being able to raise your nephews as well as your children. I also admire you for being able to squeeze in writing time! Go, Carolyn! ♥
ReplyDeleteOh, Carolyn, I don't know how you survive with that much male testosterone flying around your household. When my sons were in high school, there were time I wanted to shake them silly. Luckily, they all became well-educated, productive adults with great jobs and truly wonderful wives. Hang in there, girl. It will happen. All I can offer is "Write On!"
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