Mine? Not so good.
In the first week of January--in fact, it was the very next day after I posted here about the #JanPlan--I had to go to my local urgent care center because my left shoulder was in so much pain that my hand and forearm were going numb. I also couldn't move my head one way or the other without wanting to scream. Not gonna lie, this was quite scary.
Diagnosis: I tore my trapezius muscle. I've been (hugely) medicated ever since, and pretty much useless in the "doing anything physical" department.
Fortunately I haven't had to work much at my retail job this month (thank goodness the holidays are behind us now), so I actually have a chance to heal. But in the meantime, my original #JanPlan of completely redoing my son's bedroom has been nixed.
My new #JanPlan? Haven't decided yet, but I'm leaning toward either painting my kitchen (which has been on my to-do list for about 7 years), or finishing up a novella I started writing a few months ago. Okay, let's be realistic, writing is the least physical thing I can do right now--that's quite likely going to win.
Next on today's agenda...
This little blog (that used to be called The Sharp Angle) has been selected for The Power 100 - The Best 100 Blogs for the Modern Writer, under the "Writing Process" category.
I am EXTREMELY HONORED to be on this list, alongside such blogging greats as,
James Scott Bell's (and 10 others) The Kill Zone
Chuck Wendig's terribleminds
Larry Brooks' Storyfix
Elizabeth Craig's Mystery Writing is Murder
K.M. Weiland's Wordplay
LitReactor
Writer's Digest
Write to Done
The Bookshelf Muse
Romance University
(plus many many more!)
Thank you so much to everyone who follows this blog and shares the posts around the web! My posts about writing are for YOU and I am so glad and humbled that you all find them helpful and encourage others to read them too.
My next announcement is along those same lines...
I have been asked to conduct an online writing class. Perhaps several, even, over the course of 2013 and 2014, if the first one goes well. I'm still in a bit of shock from this.
!!!!!
Again, I'm extremely honored by this offer and couldn't refuse. My first class is tentatively scheduled for sometime in May and I'm putting together the course right now. Once I have more specifics I will share them with you.
Moving on to BOOK NEWS...
I've signed a new book contract with Musa Publishing for another single-title ebook short, like Twin Sense is, but this time for their adult fiction GLBT imprint, Erato. The book is titled Mismatched. It is both fantasy and romance, and... that's pretty much all I can tell you about it right now. I don't even have a release date yet.
But!
You can add it to your Goodreads shelf, if you so desire. And again, once I have more details on this, I'll let you know. In the meantime, YAY ANOTHER BOOK!
While I was putting together this post, I realized something slightly awesome. I'm sorry for sounding like a broken record today, but I am extremely honored that I can say this:
Once per year for the past four years, I have had a story published.
2009 - "The Keeper of Secrets", fantasy short story in an anthology
2010 - "The Blade of Tears", horror short story in a contest anthology, first place winner
2011 - "Spread Your Wings and Die", fantasy short story in an anthology
2012 - Twin Sense, YA contemp romance novella
(click HERE to see where each book is available)
I'm hoping Mismatched will be published in 2013 to keep this lovely trend going! Thanks to everyone who has read my stories--you have a very special place in my heart.
And now, for one final announcement (more like a request):
Since my writing workload is exponentially greater this year, I will have an ongoing open call for guest bloggers here. Who can be a guest blogger?
unpublished writers working toward publication
debut authors
veteran authors
publishing interns
agents
editors
marketing specialists
etc.
If you would like to be a guest blogger please email your topic idea to lydiasharp4sff (at) yahoo (dot) com. Put "guest blog" somewhere in the subject line. Thank you!
May you all have a wonderful and productive week!
~Lydia
Congrats on the Power 100 nod. And for someone who has a torn muscle, you sure are busy. Hope you're feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteCongratulations on both the Power 100 and your new book deal! A torn trapezium is a seriously nasty injury. Rest up!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's been a slow recovery, but I think I might be back to normal by the end of the month. ~fingers crossed~
DeleteZOMG so much good news over here, LADY (outside of your shoulder-ouch)!!!!!!!!! good.for.you. YOU DESERVE IT!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! ~hugs~
DeleteYou are a busy lady, Lydia. But how are you going to paint with your injury? Make sure you're fully healed first!
ReplyDeleteI was going to use my other arm, but yeah I think maybe I just shouldn't go that route at all. Writing it is, then!
DeleteSorry about your arm but wow, congratulations on everything else!! Crazy times for you, and well deserved!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Crazy can be good sometimes. :-)
DeleteCongrats on the book deal, blog honor, and class -- big week for you! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hoping it will be a good *year* too!
DeleteThat's a busy January! Congratulations on the new book. Also, best wishes for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThanks, sweetie! <3
DeleteWow! First how did you every tear a muscle? I hope it feels better soon. Such great news followed. Congrats on it all!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI'm actually not sure exactly how it tore, but I think it was an accumulation of working extra hours in December and pushing myself too hard while working those extra hours. It had been hurting for a couple of weeks prior, but not so much that I thought it was serious, just sore and achy. Then suddenly it was very very serious...
EEEP! Great news! So excited for you! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie! <3
DeleteYes! I am so, so excited you have a new book coming out. Musa is such a rad company. (I line edit for them.)
ReplyDeleteYay, I'm excited that you're excited! :-)
Delete