Hi friends,
Today is Sunday, time to write what happened in my life this week out of and on the blog. As usual, I am linking it to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @caffeinatedreviewer
But first, I’d like to apologize because my blog hoping was strong till… Thursday! Since I have not been able to blog hop or comment and I am sorry. Never think that it’s because your blogs and posts don’t interest me but rather that real life can be hard AND I also go into self preservation mode as in: sleeping enough. So it means less time to visit your blogs, I am sorry!
I’ll try to catch up with everyone as soon as I can.
In my private life first
As I hinted above real life can be intense and this week, I have worked long hours, coming back home late. I was tired and had to choose between reading and resting or pushing through my tiredness and blog hop/reply to comments.
As it’s been months since I began having migraines and health problems, I chose to be reasonable and do the right thing for my health hence: sleep!
I have also begun seeing a specialist for burn out as I am on the verge of it.
She told me some true things about myself, among others that other (family, colleagues …) see me as a pillar they can rely on. Always. For everything.
And that’s so right. That’s also a big part of the problem why I am exhausted for months now. After years and years of family crisis (hubs depression and several burn out; kids problems at school, my daughter’s health problems, my dad’s cancer) and economic depression leading many companies, mine included, to cut down on staff and overburden the remaining workforce the mortar of the pillar is crumbling.
Now, I need to take trowel and fresh cement to repair the cracks and make it strong again.
Meaning: take some time for me, for looking at what I want to do for the rest of my life. Think about the dreams that I had and how to make some of them become true. All while having balance between doing the numerous things that I love like blogging, bookstagramming etc. AND having enough sleep.
But enough with the gloom! The good news is that I am taking actions and going in the right direction. And hey, in some months I’ll be as good as a newborn. New me baby!
And now ladies and gents, to get to my title of the day: I am helping a friend “in real life” to write her first book!
She wrote it as first draft three years ago and I had done a first review at the time. There was a lot of work that needed to be done so I gave her a few pointers. But her idea and her plot is brilliant so it’s worth going on and taking the necessary hours to polish it.
She sent me her second draft one month ago. Again work needed to be done and we went on for a second batch of reviews.
In the meantime, she’s got an offer from a publisher!!!!!
But as I told her there was still room for improvement, on we went and I am currently busy with the third revision. It’s time consuming as it’s in the “polishing” phase. How to make her prose stronger. How to make it deeper. How to describe a character without “describing it” in the true sense. That’s an art! And I may have sent her a link to one of our fellow bloggers (Alexandra Wolfe) who also is a writer and a damn good at that judging by the small works she shares on her blog. I am talking about sending my friend to Alexandra’s blog. Go read her post HERE and tell me if she does not know how to write!
My friend sent me her word doc and that’s easier for me as I can write in the file self and change, move some things. Cut some sentences here and there or add others. All knowing that it is her work, not mine and that she is free to discard my suggestions!
What’s thrilling though is that she will be traditionally published!
That’s so unusual for a first work!
But as I told her right from the start, her plot, her storyline is brilliant and had to be told.
But yes, that’s one more reason why I can’t blog hop all my content right now but rather in “spurts” of blog hopping 😀
On the blog this week (click on the graphic to read the post)
One of my good resolution was to take it easy so I am posting less. This week I have reviewed two books but read one more. Hopefully, you’ll get two more reviews next week!
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo was a sound 4,5 stars. Not as emotional as Birthday but very interesting because we get to see the “after”.
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep is an audiobook and was a 4,25 stars, knowing that the next one is already read and ready to be reviewed bacause…that series is addictive! It’s part of my #2020AudiobookChallenge. This month, I have already listened to …4 audiobooks! My plan was to go for Stenographer in the challenge as in between 10 and 15 a year but I think I will explode that goal!
And today’s Top 5 Tuesday’s topic was really interesting as we got to talk about the reasons why we give 5 stars to a book!
I loved reading the other participants’s reasons as I could “feel” the reader behind 😀
On the blogosphere and literary world
A quiz to begin with! Epic Read talks about how your favorite book cover will reveal a deep truth about you! Click on the graphic to take the quiz.
My truth is: “You are a natural born leader, BUT you’re not one to take charge. Throw those doubts away, because you were meant to pave the road ahead!” 😀
And if my blog hopping went downhill after Thursday I still spotted very interesting posts to share with you!
Nati writes about the good, the bad and the ugly of book blogging!
https://natysbookshelf.wordpress.com/2020/01/23/book-blogging-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Dani about GIFs every booknerd can relate to (so funny!)
https://prettymessreading.com/18994-2/
That’s it! Now do share your week with me and I’ll go answer and visit your blog as soon as I can. Anything that I must know?
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
I too have missed blog hopping so far this week, life has kicked me in the bum this week!!!
I’ve learned that Life’s too short Sophie, you gotta take care of you my friend! Rest up!
Thank you so much Trisy!!!
You definitely should rest as soon as you need it and never let blogging take control of your health care! 😉 I’m sure everyone can understand such a decision. Take care of yourself, Sophie! 😀
Thank you Lashaan!
I think it’s a universal struggle to keep up with visiting blogs we want to see. I had the freezing computer yesterday so I am not getting here until Monday. I am so happy to hear you will take care of yourself. Having a restful week and enjoy some reads! I loved Kill the Queen.
Thank you so much Anne!
You definitely have to take care of yourself. I’m the same way. I’m a people pleaser and a problem solver. So I tend to take on more than I should. I also struggle with headaches/migraines which are the worst.Definitely take it easy and listen to your body <3
Thank you so much Jessica!!!
You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others, Sophie – get some rest. A big congrats to your friend for being published!
Thank you so much Teri!!!
I’ve been there, and just returned from a 2 year hiatus. You have to take care of yourself first. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot lately, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be good to anyone else. That’s a hard truth to realize when you’re so focused on taking care of others. I hope you get free of your migraines, and get your health back under control. Take care!
Thank you so much!!! And I hope your migraines get better too!
Good for you for choosing rest and taking care of yourself first. That’s so important! I can also relate to be the one others turn to and I’ve had to learn the subtle art of saying No. I don’t enjoy doing it, but I have to. I can’t do it all (for everyone or myself) so sometimes there just have to be limits. How exciting that you friend is being published… and that you have a hand in it!
I know Tanya! We should publish a book “The subtle art of saying no” 🙂
I completely understand the burn out. I have been seeing a counselor to help me identify how to put myself first. I’m useless to everyone else if I’m not taking care of me. I’m sure you will be shoring yourself up to max pillar strength in no time!
Thank you Samantha! I hope you’ll get better too!
Oh, Sophie, I am so sorry to hear you have, or are on the verge of burn out. So please, above all else, take the time to look after your health your online friends will understand if you are not about every single day. It’s important to make priorities, and set an agenda that’s right for you. And another thing, start delegating more if you can and use that powerful word: no!
Also, thanks for the shoutout, you are an angel!
Thank you Alexandra! I swear that I am already delegating for years LOL
I’m sorry you’ve been so close to crashing, Sophie, and I’m glad you’re prioritising your sleep to enable your mind & body to heal.
It’s very exciting helping someone with their manuscript: I’m lucky enough to work with four authors who have become dear friends because of the process. Exciting news that your friend already has a publisher interested in their book!
You work with four authors? Wow I am impressed!
I love it, luckily each one writes in different sub-genres within the paranormal genre and their writing styles vary too. They’re all British like me and publish their own books.
It’s important that you prioritise your well-being. As a lifelong insomniac (I’m blog hopping at 4am) I know that a lack of sleep can be very detrimental to your physical and mental health.
Wishing you a great reading week, and plenty of sleep!
Thank you so much Shelley !!!
Keeping up with blog hopping is tough, don’t feel bad! I’ll do really good one day and then fall off the wagon haha, a couple days go by and I feel like I am totally out of the loop. 🙂 Oh well…
You definitely have to take care of yourself and life can be so stressful, sounds like you have lots going on! Sending you lots of supportive vibes as you figure out what works for you and what you want to do. Take care my friend!
Good luck to your friend and congrats on her getting a publisher! That’s awesome and I hope the revisions and book progress go well.
Thanks a lot Greg!!! And as you said…oh well…LOL
aww Sophie…..sorry to hear its been such a struggling week. Take care of yourself, get refreshed and renewed ….you deserve it!!! I have been bad about commenting this week too. I just need to get more sleep so I have more energy. Hope this week is better for you.
Thank you so much! I hope you’ll get some rest too!
Sophie, you take care of you. I would wait months to get a reply from you, if I knew it was Sophie feeling her best. There is only so much time in each day, and you are priority number one. ((HUGS)) Sounds like quite an undertaking, but such an amazing experience, helping your friend with her work.
Thank you SO MUCH Sam!!!!
I’m glad you’re prioritising yourself Sophie but I’m sorry to hear you’ve reached this rough patch. For what it’s worth, you’re not alone! You’re not alone in hitting this point and I’m so glad you’re looking at what you can do to not paper over the cracks but to properly repair them! Good luck on working through it all and to making those dreams of yours come true.
I have seen that you are struggling too Nicci and it pains me! I hope both of us will get better quickly and kick some behinds 😉