As my recent surgery came nearer last week, I reflected on how wonderful it was not to be worried. My doctor assured me, that from him past experience with me, this would be a piece of cake—I would be walking within three days at which time I would be discharged.
I proceeded to make plans based on the information that I would surely be well enough to make an extensive signing trip through the months of June, part of July and part of August. Then I would take my research trip to Tuscany in September.
The day I came out of surgery, I knew that I should have worried. Things did not go as I had planned. Anesthetic and I do not mix well. Besides the complications in that quarter, which required putting me on oxygen and a face mask, there was the fact that I had absolutely never experienced such pain. I couldn’t foresee myself ever being discharged.
Then they mentioned a nursing home. That totally freaked me out. I pushed myself to overcome the pain no matter how difficult it was. I ordered diapers! I did my breathing exercises, coughing and sputtering from which only increased my pain.
Well. I’m home. But all signings for the summer will have to be postponed until September. And who knows when I’ll be able to see lovely Tuscany? I am now rethinking my writing schedule. Except for a few scattered local signings and two big family committments, I have three months to begin or plan a new project. How strange! Being the goal-oreiented person that I am, I wonder if the Lord is trying to tell me something? Like maybe let him do the scheduling?
My wizard is, of course, my grandson Jack. He exercises tremendous recuperative and restorative powers upon my soul, which is battered from working far too hard. For instance, in a recent blog post, my daughter Buffy reported that Jack has, for reasons known only to himself, decided that his name is Tyrone. He tells this to everyone he meets. When I read that, I had my first belly laugh in weeks!
We are going to do all manner of crafts I have sent ahead in a huge box. I intend to bring home some of his artwork for display in my office. If I haven’t mentioned it before, I am writing a book about our adventures called: The Extraordinary Adventures of Jack and His Nana.
In other news, I am in the process of determining my future plans. My product director and I met last week, and definitely nixed the idea of a sequel to Waltz. That is the kind of effort one puts forth once in a lifetime, I think. The years it would take me to match it with a sequel are years I just don’t have. (I am reminded of this continually, as I am about to undergo my third orthopedic surgery in a year. This week I got the disheartening news that a fourth one will be necessary.) So! It is time to explore new paths. I left a proposal and a finished manuscript, written long ago and recently refurbished, with her and she is going to let me know what she thinks.
She already likes the proposal, which is good since it entails traveling to Tuscany for local color. I am tentatively planning a trip there in September. My husband is iffy about accompanying me. Anybody up for a boondoggle to Sienna? We could make it a group trip! (Like Enchanted April).
Many of you have asked about a sequel to Waltz. I realize that the book cries out for one, and I have a loose plot—Amalia working for the SOE (Special Operations Executive, one of Britain’s World War II spy organizations that used female agents) undercover in France, Andrzej doing the same thing in Poland, Rudi with the RAF, and Chris decoding German messages at Bletchley. Told from all four points of view. However, as you may have noticed, I am a slow writer. I can’t take 33 years to do this one, but it will be another epic. Hermann Wouk took ten years to write his sequel to Winds of War! My crazy friend, Alana has suggested a hilarious title: “And the Band Played On!” Isn’t that a completely nutty way to describe WWII?
I have a completed ms The Only Bright Thing that is an allegory of the fall. It is quite literary and I was going to try to sell it in NYC, but after the wonderful job Shadow Mountain is doing with publicity and financing a signing tour for Waltz, I think I am going to hand it in to my product director tomorrow and see if she thinks it would be right for Shadow Mountain. It is another manuscript that has been years in the making. Five years to write, and another fifteen to work over and refine. So, I am hoping that can be next year’s offering.
This fall, The Hidden Branch, my latest and probably last Alex and Briggie will be published. For those of you who haven’t read my mystery series, it’s much different than Waltz, but it is funny and entertaining. Briggie is especially outrageous in this one where she and Richard (her sixty-something swain) have several brushes with the law. For those of you who thought Alex’s fiancé Charles was too good to be true, you will see how right you were! Plus, you will find everything you wanted to know about Armenians and take a nice visit to Huntington Beach, California. Now, I just need to layer one more time before I send it off tomorrow. Nothing like barely making your deadline!
These are questions people are asking as they read The Last Waltz.
To my great surprise, David looked it up and said Andrzej was pronounced On-zhay. No r! I’ve been saying it wrong for 33 years. I don’t know if I can change it!
As far as a sequel goes, that’s up to my fans. If there is sufficient outcry, I will embark upon one, but you must all realize that it will take at least a couple of years, plus a trip to Europe for background. I would love to write a sequel, because I love that period, I studied it in detail, and I’m very attached to my characters.
Chocolates are ready to be sent to my volunteer bloggers! Hope you’re not finding the read too onerous!
Just had one of those experiences where one of my characters in my latest mystery rises up and slaps me silly, “That’s NOT what I would do!!!” Since this is a main character, it means a major rewrite. And the dang book is due Apr. 15! So back to the drawing board.
The Last Waltz should be in stores by this weekend.
