Although my professional life is a dream come true, I've found myself in a personal life slump recently. Without boring anyone with the mundane yucky details, lets just say over the past year, I swear a witch cast a spell on my family. In fact, I even asked someone recently who knows a real witch if she could check with her to see if I'm on some witch list or something. Seriously, it's been that bad.
Besides an enormous amount of chocolate, hearing from SCREWBALL series readers completely brightens my day and makes me realize how lucky I am to do what I do. Last week, a reader sent me an amazing message. She won a writing contest and she wrote about me. :) And another reader sent me an email a couple of days ago. She read SCREWBALL nine times while she was recovering from surgery and can't wait to read CHANGE UP because she has another surgery scheduled in two weeks. Then, she even detailed every scene she loved. Words cannot express how much these notes mean to me and I'm sooo grateful to do what I do everyday. :) Thanks bunches!!
When I find myself in a slump, I go back to my playing days and switch things up. I switched the furniture in my house. That didn't work. I cut my hair. Still more bad news. I even switched my handbags. Another funeral. But, it's been a quiet week and so far, so good. Without jinxing myself, I think this time my switch worked. And I'm still eating a ton of chocolate. Thank you, Cadbury Creme Egg inventor. Yummy.
What do you do when you're in the midst of a personal or professional slump? Or what's your fave Easter candy?
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Have a fabulous day, everyone!
34 comments:
Favorite Easter candy? Almond M&Ms in pastel colors!
Yummy, Lenore! Gotta love the pastel colors. :)
Oh, Keri, I hope things look up for your family soon!!
I loved reading about the responses from your teen readers. That must just make your day!
I love Cadbury eggs too and chocolate covered marshmallow eggs. Yum!
Keri--those are amazing letters. Isn't it great to know you're touching people's lives?
I know things will look up! Easter, and of course post easter chocolate sales, are just around the corner.
Me, I like anything Lindt.
Oh, Keri, I'm sorry you've had a rough year.
I'm right there with you on Creme eggs. Love those things! So I'm going with them as my favs.
And fan mail does make everything so much better. This is one aspect of a published book I totally underestimated.
Hi, Kelly! Thanks. :) It's amazing to receive letters from readers. It's the absolute best part of writing - connecting with readers. :) Yum.. Marshmallow eggs. :)
Hi, Angela! Absolutely. To be able to give someone entertainment during a difficult time is absolutely amazing. :) Some stores are already posting sales. Yum.
Thanks, PJ.. I'm hoping everything will calm down. Boring is good. Kaci and I just shared another egg. :)
Sorry about the rough patch you're going through.
My favorite Easter candy is jelly beans and I love the black licorice and the spicy ones.
I will let you have my baby Derek for the rest of the week.
Yikes on the rough year, Keri! Hope this switch sticks!
Thanks, Dru!! He would certainly be a pick me up. He looked good yesterday. :)
Thanks, Amy! Me too. :)
Oh goodness ... so sorry to hear about the troubles ... I hope things change course pronto!!! On the other hand ... congrats on CHANGE UP being ready to go ... that is so exciting!!! Hmmmm ... favorite Easter candy ... probably the dark chocolate Dove eggs.
The things you said about connecting with readers -- absolutely inspiring. Thanks for that, Keri. You've made me want to writer harder so I can be like you.
(hope that cheers you up)
Sorry to hear things have been hard lately. Wishing you better days ahead!
As for Easter candy, my fave is Cadbury mini-eggs, which I only discovered last year and am totally addicted to. ;)
Oh Keri, I'm so sorry to hear things have been tough for you. I hope it all gets better soon. :)
I think you're on the right track with the chocolate. Definitely. It always makes me feel better!
It's a toss up between high-functioning and non-functioning. When I'm high functioning, it's yoga. When I'm nonfunctioning, well, there a panoply of options: chocolate, Bailey's, nachos. Sometimes, all of the above!
Hi, Kelly! Thanks.. Dark chocolate is the best and it's good for you. :)
Awe.. Thanks, Big Plain V! It is amazing to hear from readers. The absolute best part of the job. And believe me, you'll have plenty of readers very soon. Love your voice! ;)
Thanks, Shari! I didn't know Cadbury had minis.. I'm going to Target later today and definitely picking some up! ;)
Hi, Stacy! I love the non-functioning and functioning.. So true! :)
When I'm in a slump I don't want to do anything but the cure is to do everything.
Sounds weird, I know, but if I make myself a huge list of everything that is weighing on me that I CAN control and then go about dong it/changing it, there is an insane sense of satisfaction as I cross things off the list and imagine those layers lifting off of me.
I can't imagine how amazing it is hearing from readers - I'm glad you have those readers to brighten you days!
Congratulations on Change Up! Sorry to hear the news is less sunny at home. In a crisis talking to friends and family, escaping into a good book, getting a massage and regular exercise all help. Chocolate too!
Hi Keri -- I hope things definitely start turning around for you. I find blogging itself is very encouraging. As is reading others' blogs. In fact, thanks for the encouraging post!
So sorry things haven't been going so well lately personally. Glad to hear the Easter candy is helping you bounce back! ;)
I love the jellybeans.
Awww. Sorry things have been so rough. When I'm in a slump, I get some alone time, put on bad 80s music, and sing at the top of my lungs. It's tough to be down when you're singing Culture Club. ;)
Hope things get better for you!
Eep! I left this page up on my iTouch to remind myself to comment on it later, but then I forgot to look at my iTouch and didn't remember to come back and comment!!
Anyway, I just wanted to chime in and say that I hope things are looking up for you and your family and that you get more chocolate soon!!!
Oh, Keri, I'm so sorry that you've been going through such a rough time. It sounds like life is coming at you all at once. I'm hoping the bad luck streak is all over now. As for what I do, I read lots of feel-good books and watch lots of feel-good movies. A good romantic comedy can really help me get through a slump, or at least forget my problems for a while.
ive known quite a bit of people who have been having a hard time lately, especially this past winter, with medical problems mostly... seemed like some sort of weird epidemic for a while. ur not alone with the rough patches, tho i hope things look up soon...
when im feeling down, i listen to music. or just rant to my friends- that always helps if its some internal dilemma that doesnt really exist outside my mind. dont know how it would work for things that are very serious, tho i suppose sharing thoughts for the most part wont hurt.
i actually asked not to have any easter candy this year...we still have some from halloween, xmas, and valentines day. tho i do like the easter egg malty balls.
Hi, Keri :)
I like Cadbury Eggs :) They are my all time favorite!
I hope everything starts looking up soon! =) When life gives you a thousand reasons to cry, show life you have a million reasons to smile is what my mom has been saying lately. I think it is a very good saying. :)
Have a wonderful Easter!!! :)
Lauren :)
Favorite Easter candy:
Italian chocolate eggs with toys (or jewels) inside.
When things seem to be going wrong: I take time to think things over. I like to remember times when I thought things were really bad (or unfair) and how that led to something even better. This gives me hope that the next challenge will work out too!
HUGS! Hope you've paid your dues and the witches take your family off the list for good!
Hi, Casey!! It's amazing to hear from readers.. :) I love it! I'm seriously going to do what you suggested right now! Thanks so much. :)
Hi, Sarah! Definitely helping.. ;) Especially the Easter candy. :)
Hi, D.A.! I'm glad the post was encouraging. Thanks to you too.. Sometimes I find myself smiling after reading other people's posts. You're right. Blogging is encouraging. :)
Hi, Alyssa! Thanks. Me too. Especially Starburst. :)
Hi, Carrie!! I'm definitely going to try that later today. Sounds too fun!! ;)
Thanks, Beth! ;)
Hi, Caryn! You're soooo right. :) In fact, I'm about to dive into a fun romance novel later tonight. :)
Hi, Beth! Yikes.. It does seem the bad news is all over this year.. No Easter candy?? And you still have some left from other holidays. :) That doesn't happen here. :) Have a wonderful break and Happy Easter, Beth! :) Sending hugs.
Hi, Lauren!!!!! What a wonderful way to look at things.. Give your mom a hug from me. :) Happy Easter.
Hi, Angela!! So true.. There is a reason for everything. :) Italian eggs.. Sounds interesting. Have a wonderful week. :)
I hope you and your family are well!
My favorite Easter candy these days seems to be the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs. I just can't get enough of them.
Keri,
I nominated you for a Lemonade Stand Award (to wash down all that chocolate :-) When you get a sec, please stop by my site to "pick it up"!
I hope things turn around for your family soon.
I enjoyed hearing about the letters from your readers - that must be a wonderful feeling.
Licorice. Ahhhhh....
Yummy PB eggs. Enjoy, Justin and thanks!! ;)
Thanks, Stacy!! I will. :)
It's amazing, Adrienne! The best. In fact, I print each one out and place them in a 'happy folder'. :)
Yummy.. Barrie. :)
I ate a dark chocolate bunny and thought of you :)
I am a chocolate fiend myself. It's such a good and steady friend. But what a glory — to have a young writer writing about you. That's true beauty, too.
Yummy, Lenore!! ;)
Thanks, Beth! It's amazing. :) The best. :)
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