Thursday, January 28, 2010

Crunch Time

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I have a book due in a few months and I am so far behind it’s not funny.

My mother fell down the stairs and broke her right arm a few weeks ago, and that has complicated things. She’s doing great and will hopefully make a full recovery. But she needs constant help, which means that I won’t be able to go to the lake for the sessions of intensive writing that normally help me get through these crunches.

I’m trying not to panic. I’m trying really, really hard not to panic…

25 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

A few deep breaths and a shot of whiskey might help! Good luck.

Lainey said...

A difficult situation. So many people I know I are dealing with a declining parent. I had a harrowing 2 years of it myself. And you only have the one sibling?

Steve Malley said...

You can do it! The words are there waiting for you...

Anonymous said...

I'm looking for the third book in your thriller series. Would that be the book you're working on?

Keep it up and best wishes!

Susan/DC said...

Follow Charles advice and add the occasional chocolate and pedicure to the mix.

Best wishes to your mom for a speedy recovery for both your sakes.

cs harris said...

Charles, don't tempt me!

Lainey, I've had my mom living with me for 1 1/2 yrs now. And yes, only the one sister, and she lives in San Francisco. It is tough.

Steve, thanks! Now if I can only find them...

Anon, The third book in the series is Why Mermaids Sing, published in 2007; #4 is Where Serpents Sleep, 2008, and #5 is What Remains of Heaven, published Nov 09. I'm working on #6, Where Shadows Dance

Susan, more temptations! But thanks.

orannia said...

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother, but glad to hear that she is on the mend.

There's only so far that you can spread yourself...don't forget that you need time to recharge. All the best!

Anonymous said...

Hi Candy ~ I was thinking about the third in the C.S.Graham series. I hope you folks are going to continue that series. I'm reading both series.

Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

Good Luck! and I hope your mom gets better. Take it one day at a time.

Anonymous said...

Would it help to know that I and many other readers around the world are eagerly awaiting the next book? Oh, wait, that might make it worse! Take a deep breath and go with the flow, good luck!

Anonymous said...
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cs harris said...

Orannia, thanks. You're right, I'm feeling spread very thin at the moment.

Anon, yes I see you did ask about the third in the THRILLER series! I am so focused on the other series right not that I skimmed right over that. The third thriller, The Babylonian Codex, is supposed to be out early in 2011. They're cover conferencing it right now. I'm not sure on the exact date.

K. Bailey, thank you.

anjabart, I think my fears of disappointing people are indeed part of the problem. I'm considering doing a post on writers block!

Kalliope said...

Hi Candy -- thanks for updating me (formerly 'anon') on your third thriller. I loved the other two, and value your social/political consciousness.

Don't be too hard on yourself if life is getting a bit in the way right now. Think of all the good books you've written in such a short period of time! (And, yes, I'm reading them all!)

What is happening now is only temporary, but I can really understand how you must feel. I have similar issues. As do a lot of folks because it is a hard time for many right now and struggle is 'in the air.'

Anonymous said...

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cs harris said...

Kalliope, thank you. Although in some ways I suspect I'm my own worst enemy.

Rick said...

The fact that you know you're getting ready to panic is a really great thing! You're steeling for the race, and we all know you will beat that deadline. In fact, we've all been there and are rooting for you.

So sorry about your mom, though, and I wish her a speedy recovery.

Anonymous said...

I truly believe that we have reached the point where technology has become one with our world, and I am fairly certain that we have passed the point of no return in our relationship with technology.


I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside... I just hope that as technology further develops, the possibility of uploading our brains onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's one of the things I really wish I could experience in my lifetime.


(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978023679]R4i SDHC[/url] DS SysBro)

Kathy said...

I know publishers run on strict schedules, but you'll finish when you finish. Of course, like others, I can't wait for the next book in the series (love, love, love Hero...never liked Kat). I'm dying to know what happens next. But, I'll be patient. I want you to take your time and write the best book you can. So, care for your poor mom right now, and don't worry about the deadlines. Your readers are patient...at least this one is.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

My friend and I were recently discussing about technology, and how integrated it has become to our daily lives. Reading this post makes me think back to that discussion we had, and just how inseparable from electronics we have all become.


I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Ethical concerns aside... I just hope that as the price of memory decreases, the possibility of copying our memories onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's a fantasy that I dream about every once in a while.


(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://does-the-r4-r4i-work-with-the-new-ds.onsugar.com/Does-R4i-R4-actually-work-7232282]R4[/url] DS BB)

Chen said...

My dad suffered a stroke 6mos back and is on a similar recovery road as your mum. I'm also very involved in his daily therapies and assumed a lot of his household responsibilites. So I completely understand the host of emotions of wanting to get on with your work vs wanting to take care of a loved one.

I also know that situations such as this temper our strength and ability to accomplish those goals that is most dear to us. I can't offer any words of significant consolation to you, but take heart in knowing that your mom is much comforted to have you so close and your readers believe in you very much.

cs harris said...

Thanks, Rick. There's nothing like panic to make me knuckle down.

Thanks, Kathy; I THINK I'm going to make that deadline, baring in more disasters.

Anonymous, since I have a lousy memory for my own life, that sounds wonderful!

Chen, glad to hear your dad in on the road to recovery. I've always put my family before my writing, and never regretted it.

Keira Soleore said...

Candy, it's always so difficult when bad things happens to the ones closest to us. Hope you're able to get more and more work done as she gets better and thus feel less stressed yourself.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful!!! I cannot wait for your next book in the Sy Cyr series. I enjoy them immensley. Cheers

Kath' Aama said...

Sorry about your mother. I lost mine to cancer 5 years ago. I wasn't her primary caregiver during those last 6 months, but the "babysitter". It's hard when the roles of parent and child flip.

On the other hand, after a marathon session of reading your St. Cyr series (gobbled them all up in a compulsive 2-week period that ended an hour ago), I'm delighted to hear the #6 is brewing. Not sure which situation in serial novels is worse: finding a series that has already ended, or finding a series that is still in the middle of its journey. Nice being able to look forward to (hopefully) resolutions or new twists, but dreadfully hard to wait!