I had a glorious weekend filled with warm weather, lawn games with friends, happy little people, and no work. The last of these elements is rather a new one to me. I’ve always worked on weekends (feeling much like a squirrel on a treadmill – ie., that I just can’t go fast enough) which I think is a hazard for all those who are self-employed, regardless of profession.

But Kim Harrison long ago recommended weekends off – she said she not only came back to the page fresher on Monday, but practically chomping at the bit (forgive the cliché – it’s mine, not hers) to get back to the WiP. After years of not listening, and admittedly not really believing this – and after mere weeks of about-facing and taking her advice – I can honestly say she’s right.

Hear that, Kim? You’re right.

(Ick. Pains me to say it.)

So today I’m more than ready to progress on this second draft, the goal being another hundred pages of corrected text by week’s end. Every other writer in the Urban Fantasy realm seems to be headed to the RT convention in LA this week, but I’m pleased to have the time and mental space to myself just now. This book will be on my editor’s desk by the month’s end at the latest, so now’s the time to lose myself completely.

Right now it looks entirely doable … even with restive weekends off.

Meanwhile, the infinitely supportive Publicity Mgr. at Houston’s Murder by the Book in Houston posted this while I was off playing. It’s entitled: Six Reasons To Read Vicki Pettersson, and I’m impossibly gratified by his humbling remarks. Remember, I’m signing at this bookstore on June 4 – only five day after THE NEON GRAVEYARD is released – so it’s a relief to know that the series is so well received there.

If you’re in the Houston area, please come out to see me that afternoon, 1 p.m. My signings are notoriously informal, and often end up being more exchanges between my readers and me than any sort of structured events. I like it that way. After all, that sort of communication, and deliberate touching of minds, is exactly why I write.

  • Adventurebob1

    Kim is right. Rest two days, work five. We want you to take care of yourself correctly because we care about you.

    • http://www.vickipettersson.com Vicki Pettersson

      That’s so sweet of you to say — thank you!

  • Raven

    I loved that article about you. Even though it was all true, I’m amazed he was able to narrow it down to just 6 reasons.
    I guess he wanted the number to math the books in your Zodiac series.

    • http://www.vickipettersson.com Vicki Pettersson

      Okay, duh. I didn’t even catch that. Guess I was too busy blushing. ;-)

  • Linda Grimes

    Glad you’re finally taking weekends off. You can’t expect those creative batteries to keep working at full power if you don’t take the time to recharge them. (Uh…in case you were looking for another cliche.) And that article is GREAT! As if we needed six more reasons to read you. But, still, it was nice to see them listed. :)

    • http://www.vickipettersson.com Vicki Pettersson

      Aw, thanks Linda!
      And the weekend thing has been a real eye-opener. I thought I would lose so much time, but it has been the opposite. I’m so revved by Monday that I just dive in. Could this be the infamous … balance?

  • Kelly Golden

    I totally agree with Kim as well but in my line of work only weekends off are about once a month, maybe I need to rethink my approach. Can’t wait until NG, itching to see how it plays out.

    • http://www.vickipettersson.com Vicki Pettersson

      Kelly – it’s hard to get over the feeling of “must-do” all the time. I still get an itching between my shoulder blades, thinking of all the work waiting, and all the work I’ve yet to do. But gaining blocks of time for yourself in whatever way works for you – and everyone’s different – is, I now believe, imperative. A twist on the adage, “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Ya know?

      NG = closer than ever! ;-)

  • Kimharrison

    -grin-

    • http://www.vickipettersson.com Vicki Pettersson

      A *leetle* self-satisfaction in that grin … but I guess you earned it. ;-)
      Thanks.