The Overdue Blog Post

As the title suggests, this blog post is overdue.  My last one was published on 18th April, which is like three weeks ago, and I’m sure I had an aspiration to blog every week when I started doing this.
 
Anyway, to the point.  I’m going to write some stuff which you may or may not find of interest.  But I like writing stuff, so let the waffle begin!!!
 
I’m going to talk about why this post is late; because it links into my life.  My crazy, manic life.  If you’ve read some of my previous posts you’ll know I quit my job working my ass off for Amazon in December, with a view to spending more time writing.  That was the theory, and to an extent it worked.  But then I did what good old Charlotte normally does when faced with a bit of free time.  I panicked and immediately took loads on!
 
It’s an odd personality trait I have, but I seem to be terrified of boredom.  If I see it as a possibility on the horizon, I will immediately seek to fill my time with ‘stuff’ to keep me busy.  In this case I took on the running of a rather admin-heavy overseas adventurous training exercise for my Army unit, plus the organisation of a weekend in Edinburgh for the division I command which ran just a few days after we got back.  I won’t bore you with the details, but lets just say that the Army somewhat took over my life, for a time.  And for those who aren’t aware, I’m an Army Reservist, I’m supposed to work part-time. 
 
So I came back from said adventurous training exercise, delivered my weekend in Edinburgh and have been playing catch up ever since; running around like a crazy lady getting everything I needed to do, done, in time to come on holiday.  Which is where I find myself now, on the island of Crete, in Greece, enjoying a bit of a break after another very busy year.
 
As a brief summary of what happened over the last 12 months, around this time last year I started writing The General’s Son.  Since then I’ve drafted, edited, and published not just that novel, but (almost) two others besides.  The third in the trilogy is due out in just under three weeks and until a couple days back, I was still madly trying to get through my editor’s notes for The Prince’s Nephew so it could go to my proof-reader and be ready in time to hit my publishing date.  It's now in her capable hands, and all is on track for things to be ready on time.  Happy Charlotte.
 
Concurrently, over the last year I’ve worked my way through a job or two.  This time last year I was employed on a full time contract working for the Army (basically filling a gap in the Regular Army work force).  I quit that in the summer to work for Amazon.  I was back in a civvy job, which meant I was back to being a part-time Army Reservist.  I also have two young kids and a never ending renovation project and did I mention I also write books?  Cue, Charlotte on the verge of breakdown.  Time to switch fire (to use an Army term) and change direction.  Hence quitting my job in December.
 
I’m on holiday for a day or two more, then it's back to the lovely grey-skied UK to continue with life.  So what will that look like?  Marketing, marketing and more marketing.  I need to learn how to do it.  I’ve blogged about it before, but now I really do need to crack it.  I got a couple of quotes from marketers to do it for me…then quickly decided to do it myself.  I can learn, I’ve taught myself lots of stuff before.  I’ll figure it.
 
Now my Army commitments have somewhat died down, I have a bit of time; not just for marketing but for writing.  Yey!!! It’s what I love to do the most.  It's why I’m sat on holiday with my laptop, writing by the pool (see photo above).  As well as finishing off reviewing my editor’s notes while I’ve been here, I’ve also written two and a half short stories and edited another (this story is now with my newsletter subscribers, you should totally subscribe if you want free stuff).  And soon, when I get back, I’m going to start work on book 1…not The General’s Son, the real book 1.  The Queen of Vorn (see my books page for details).  It needs some work, it will get some, then it will be polished by me until it shines.  I’ve run out of money to pay editors.  After, I might go back on my previous posts and try to get an agent.  I might try the traditional publishing route.  I’m undecided on that one, watch this space to see what happens.
 
Happy reading!
 
Charlotte

subscribe to my newsletter here