Diary of Romance Author Jodi Lynn Copeland

Dear Diary,

Where have you been? Seriously, how could have you gone missing for almost two months? And more importantly, where on earth did those two months go? I feel like this is a new rendition of who moved the cheese, but in this case it’s who stole my time?

Well diary, I would love to report writing progress and scads of it, but the truth is I’ve had to focus on the day job work and scads of that instead. It doesn’t necessarily a happy author make, but it does pay the bills and keep the boss happy. Then, too, is the reality that I always struggle to find writing time during the summer.

The good news is I do have editors eager to see new material from me and so when I have a moment to get it out, perhaps I will be able to follow it up with a new sale or two. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the release of Wrapped In Seduction and Men On Fire. I adore both of their covers and the storylines for both are quite fun as well as feisty and full of heat.

On a not so fun note, I had to take the dreaded step of moving the cats out of the house. The one was just too old and ailing, and I hate to say he had to be euthanized. The other is with an adoption center and I will believe with all my heart he will find a great new home very soon.

And now diary, I know we haven’t shared much time as of late, but I woke up at 4:30 this morning and I am quite certain my pillow is serenading.

Hugs, and let’s not be so quiet these next months, eh?

~ jodi

Dear Diary,

First, I am sorry I haven’t written in a few days. Another hectic week ensued, complete with the 3 year old’s last day of preschool. Wow, the school year flew past! She loves school and was sad to see it end, but she will have a lot of the same classmates next year and throughout her schooling.

Tomorrow is the first day of a much-needed week of vacation and I am overjoyed…mainly because I am overtired. I feel like I haven’t slept in about a month due to all the various obligations.  What I really hope to accomplish as much, maybe more than, sleep is writing. I finally got to spend some time reworking a prologue the other day, but outside of that it’s been way too long since I had time to be an author. I really need to find a way to remedy this soon, which also means not losing any time with my girls and the rest of the family. Such a thing possible? Let’s hope!

Oooh…and I did get some awesome cover flats in the mail this week! They are for what I fear could be my last book. My CP told me it’s not going to be and that I shouldn’t say such silly things, but really I must find time to write again. Anyway, the cover flats are for Men On Fire and the guy on the cover is totally smoking! I have to send out more contest prize packets, and I can’t wait to share some of these covers with the recepients.

Off to contemplate sleep soon. Mmm…sleep… Sounds just incredible…

~ jodi

Dear Diary,

What a long bunch of days. We were hit with a nasty cold/sinus bug and the girls and I have been sick for about two weeks now. And, wouldn’t you know it, grandma (mom) came to visit and now she is sick too. Sick enough she actually had to use a sick day for being sick. Just no fun!

So I haven’t gotten to do any writing or much else aside from blow my nose, pop meds, and take care of the little ones. I am really eager to get back to my suspense proposal though, and am hoping and praying that happens tonight. Still not sure how I feel about the opening scene, but I am anxious to make it super shiny. And I owe that anxious to a reader.

I haven’t had time for much of anything in a long while. I considered it might be that I just had to put my writing aside for the time being, perhaps no one would even notice, in which case maybe I should make that aside permanently. Now I know in my heart I could never just quit–authorship chose me and I need an outlet for the voices in my head and all that excess love in my heart. Still, I have been floundering…

Well today I got a wonderful reader email telling me how much she loves my books and to please keep them coming. I do get this type of email every couple weeks or so, and I have to say each time they do wonders for my outlook on writing and life in general. They give me the drive to keep going, writing, find more time in a day, don’t forget the love that started me into the writing process in the first place. I am truly thankful for the readers. God bless you all! And, too, I am thankful for the authors.  With a free hand as I hold sick babies and feed the same the last while, I have actually gotten to read. I am eating up the suspense novels as fast I get them in my hot little hands. Lisa Gardner is my fav author of the moment. Now if only her novel supply endless…

Hugs,

~ Me

Dear Diary,

I am up against a very tough decision. I have to get rid of my cats for various reasons. One has gotten very skinny as of late and so I am taking him to the vet soon. He is quite advanced in age, so it may be that his time is just up. The problem is the other cat. This cat is on the older side too, but still such a pretty kitty, loves attention, purrs like a newbie, and, well, I finally broke down and contacted the Humane Society, thinking maybe they could help me find him a new home. Instead I learned he is too old for them, they won’t take him. They told me the best approach is to have him euthanized.

I can take my cat to the Humane Society under the belief he will find another home, or give him to someone else, but the thought of having him put down when he’s still so often spry and always so pretty is a hard pill to swallow. I just don’t know what to do. I have to get rid of him, but how?  I tried the free kitty sign route without success. I don’t think this one is going to end well no matter what happens.