Friday, November 13, 2015

Sadie Hartwell aka Susannah Hardy on Three Books in One Year #giveaway


Thanks, Lucy and the rest of the fabulous Reds, for having me here today.
So when is a debut author not a debut author? How about when she has a couple of pen names, and the first book in each series releases in the same year? Maybe that makes me a double-debut. Or maybe it just makes me a little crazy. Crazy. Yeah, let’s go with that one, LOL!
My first book, written as Susannah Hardy, released in January. Feta Attraction is the first book of the Greek to Me Mysteries, published by Berkley Prime Crime. Book 2, Olive and Let Die, released November 3.
Meanwhile, the first book in my new Tangled Web series, Yarned and Dangerous, releases November 24 from Kensington. New publisher equals new pen name, hence the middle-aged miracle birth of Sadie Hartwell.
And this is no secret: my real name is Jane.
What this all means is that, aside from going from unpublished in 2014, to having three novels out in 2015 (which, not gonna lie, is a pretty awesome feeling), I’ve had to get very organized. It’s not easy to keep all those projects straight, not to mention the web presence and social media for two different names. And don’t get me started on the general confusion of going to conferences and sporting multiple names on my badges! Further complicating matters is the fact that I am also a freelance editor so not only my own stories, but other people’s as well, are running through my head all the time. And I keep the financial books for my husband’s business.
I will say that spreadsheets are my new best friend. As long as I keep them and my calendar up to date I know where—and whom—I’m supposed to be on any given day. And an old-fashioned, hand-written to-do list helps for other life tasks. Crossing off something as simple as “thaw chicken for tomorrow’s dinner” is terribly satisfying.
How do you all keep your personal and professional lives organized? I have a copy of your choice of Yarned and Dangerous or Olive and Let Die for a randomly chosen commenter. Ends at midnight on November 14. US and Canadian addresses only please.





*****
Yarned and Dangerous: Josie Blair left Dorset Falls twelve years ago in hopes of making it big in New York City. But her great-uncle was injured in a car accident, and newly unemployed Josie is the only person available to take care of him. Uncle Eb’s wife didn’t survive the crash, so Josie is also tasked with selling the contents of her Aunt Cora’s yarn shop. But the needling ladies of the Charity Knitters Association pose a far bigger challenge than a shop full of scattered skeins. And when one of the town’s most persnickety knitters turns up dead in a pile of cashmere yarn, Josie realizes there’s something truly twisted lurking beneath the town’s decaying façade…
Links:
Twitter: @sadiehartwell

Olive and Let Die: Between her soon-to-be ex-husband Spiro coming out of the closet and her budding romance with Captain Jack Conway, Georgie’s life is beginning to feel like a soap opera.  And that’s before a surprise visit from her estranged mother Shirley, better known as soap star Melanie Ashley. But the dramatic family reunion takes a chilling turn when another long-lost relative turns up dead. Georgie begins to wonder if the dead-broke diva is capable of murder.  She’d better find out before someone adds a new twist to the family plot.
Links:
Feta Attraction: goo.gl/M7DutM
Facebook: goo.gl/cZKbC6
Twitter: @susannahhardy1

Bio: Susannah Hardy/Sadie Hartwell grew up near the Canadian border in northern New York State, where it’s cold, dark, and snowy almost half the year—a perfect environment for nurturing a simultaneous love of mystery fiction, cooking, and needlework. She attended St. Lawrence University, graduating with a degree in history, and has worked as a waitress, handbag designer/manufacturer, office person, and copy editor before turning to writing full time. Now she gets to play with recipes and yarn and make up stories whenever she wants, and wishes everyone had a job as much fun as hers.

65 comments:

  1. Three books in one year . . . congratulations, and wow!

    Organization is not one of my strong points. Usually I remember to write the important stuff on the whiteboard or on my calendar, but it's not a perfect system. I am in total awe of organized people . . . .

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  2. Wow, what an accomplishment. If I didn't have my calendar here on the computer I would be lost. I do have sticky notes around too!

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  3. I use my computer calendar too, which syncs to Iphone. and lots of scrawled lists. But still, 3 books in a year? boggles my mind. Good luck on this new series Sadie/Sarah/Jane!

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  4. You are one busy lady! I long gave up trying to be organized!!! Congratulations on all you have accomplished!

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  5. WOW ... you're busy!! I did a Read & Review on "Yarned and Dangerous" ... absolutely loved it.

    I use a printed calendar and alarms on my phone to keep me organized and on schedule.

    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

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  6. We use one of those magnetic boards on the refrigerator to help us keep track of appointments and other things we need to be aware of. Looking forward to reading Yarned and Dangerous. Happy Friday the 13th dbahn@iw.net

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  7. Jane/Susannah/Sadie amazes me with all she does.

    I find organization a moving target. Lists help me the most. A strict schedule frustrates me because I have to "put out fires" when they crop up.

    I keep my calendars low-tech because certain formats help me more, but do note the plural "calendars." One's a pocket calendar for my bag for appointments made while I'm out. Those, I transfer to a desk calendar that shows a week a page.

    The third calendar, a trick I learned in Weight Watchers for working around holiday meals, is a printed out plain single page for each month that gives me an overview of the month. Sometimes, I print out several months and staple them together. On the margins, I write goals for the month. I like seeing the lines through accomplishments, but sometimes I need to white-out the task to add another one.

    I'm often torn between spending time setting up a calendar list and just diving in, but I suspect time making a list is time well invested.

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  8. Calendars and spreadsheets, just as you do. It's the only way to fly. And the calendar is a very low tech At-A-Glance small enough to lug everywhere. Congratulations on a stellar year. The books sound great.

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  9. Welcome Sadie/Susannah,

    What an exciting year this is for you! More books for me to read!!

    If I didn't have my Outlook calendar, I'd be frozen in time. EVERYTHING goes on it, whether work-related or not. At home there are notes all over the place. I guess I'm just visually oriented. Sometimes a friend at work will tell me "don't forget to do whatever" and I respond that I already have it in writing because being told not to forget something probably won't help. I want it in writing; therefore, the numerous notes popping up throughout the day. At home my notes to myself are often color-coded. My grocery list is in a notebook that I refer to throughout the week, and review. This all works for me, although some people laugh at my insistence on having everything in writing.

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  10. LOL: "And this is no secret: my real name is Jane." Sounds like a great opening line to a hardboiled mystery novel! When of course we're walking on the cozy side here. Welcome to Jungle Red! The books sound like great fun... and congratulations on your un-debut!

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  11. Welcome Sadie/Susannah! Three books in one year? Seriously? I bow down to your talent, organisational skills, and work ethic! (Also, I grew up in Buffalo, also on the NYS/Canada border -- know exactly what you're talking about re: weather!)

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  12. I know the feeling, Jane/Sadie/Susannah - as you are aware! Lists save my ass every time. And my guest-blog spreadsheet. I'm delighted for all your debuts and successes.

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  13. I didn't realize you were both of those authors. What an exciting year for you! I am a calendar gal, with colored pens for different reasons and family members! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I don't know how you multi-name authors keep it all straight! Just writing the stories seems like more than enough to deal with.

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  15. To keep organized, I keep lists. Separate ones for the house, my businesses and what I need my employees to do this week. The list is sort of divided by days, but I keep it fluid. That way, too, I don't have to micromanage my employees.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This may be squeaky new news, but both Susannah/Jane/Sadie and Hank have been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. Other quite familiar names are on this list, too. If your name is too but I missed it, my apologies in advance:

    http://www.rtbookreviews.com/blog/86292/2015-rt-reviewers-choice-award-nominees-mysterysuspensethriller-and-romantic-suspense

    ReplyDelete
  17. I often say that if it doesn't exist on the calendar on my phone, it doesn't exist. There have been a couple times I've booked myself in multiple places because I didn't put the first commitment on my calendar.

    We live by the lists on our whiteboard in the dining room. Wouldn't be able to get the kids to do anything without that.

    Now if only lists and calendars could explain why my house seems to eat headphones...

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  18. I have lists of every thing I am going to do ...shopping...baking...books. Trouble is finding them when I need them. LOL

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  19. Retirement is a wonderful thing. I use a wall calendar to jot appointments(maybe 2 or 3 in a year) when I need to turn in or pickup library books and vacation times for family members who I share a home with. Other than that, I mostly putter around doing house chores with lots of reading time.

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  20. I think I need Susannah to come to my house and organize me. In fact, I'm sure of it.

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  21. congrats! When I used to work as a CPA I had to keep lists. I had monthly due date lists for everything. I even "trained" my coworkers and boss to give me a list of what needed doing and priortize it. Now I live in chaos, but it's of my own making. I will make grocery lists. I do write down book titles and authors I want to check into. I have a notebook where I list who I send Xmas cards to, what I bought for whom for birthdays and Xmas, and who is responsible for what at Thanksgiving. Each year. Or else, chaos!

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  22. Oh, no no no…HOW do you do this?? I consider myself a pretty good juggler,but this is making my brain fry. You are my hero! And congratulations!

    I have three calendars. One a little book. One pages printed from Outlook. ANd my phone. I don't trust any of them, and I am constantly syncing them.

    And I have a spiral notebook where I just write a constantly evolving list. Sometimes that works.

    Yeah, I agree, Julia. Jane, do you you make house calls? Maybe in your spare time?

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  23. My lists are never ending and always on sheets of lined paper. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I don't know how you do it. I truly don't. Of course, I find the idea of writing one novel a year daunting. My hat is off to you.

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  25. Congrats on the novels. I try to write things down to keep things straight. Bills are written in a small calendar and logged in my Money software on my computer. Most especially a list and chart is done when starting a knitting project.
    b5sycop@nefcom.net

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  26. Congrats on your publishing success! I know one of your books, Olive and Let Die, is wonderful. I'm getting ready to start Feta Attraction. If I was accomplished at calendars and lists, I would have read Feta Attraction first, but I'm not so organized. Maybe one of these days...

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  27. Congratulations on all of your publications. They all sound like so much fun. Adding them to my ever growing TO READ list. And as for keeping things organized...wow! I get stressed when I have more than one thing to do each day, and check my calendar religiously because I am pretty sure I have the wrong date and time for whatever it is I have to do. (I blame all this on my toddler, but I was the same way before she came along.)

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  28. Wow way to go on having 3 books out there.
    Not real organized except when I am dealing with books I have 3 ring binders to keep track of books I have and ones I want to read. Then I have list in my library account to keep track of what I am reading next.

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  29. Wow way to go on having 3 books out there.
    Not real organized except when I am dealing with books I have 3 ring binders to keep track of books I have and ones I want to read. Then I have list in my library account to keep track of what I am reading next.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've found several items to help keep me organized. As a beginning teacher my lesson plan book was my life's connection, but when technology entered the picture, I had my laptop calendar alerting me to every meeting, project due date, vacation day! and personal responsibility. I used folders, datebooks, and bulletin boards to be known as a very organized teacher. As a retiree, living in a perpetual Saturday, I still use my iPad, but a hard copy calendar makes it easier to see upcoming events, bills due, Dr. appointments, med schedule...everything. I am still an organized person. I have both books on my "must read" list...another way I stay organized.

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  31. I am fairly organized. My problem is procrastination. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  32. Hmm, for some reason I don't see a way to reply to everyone individually. But here goes!

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  33. Three books in one year . . . congratulations, and wow!

    Organization is not one of my strong points. Usually I remember to write the important stuff on the whiteboard or on my calendar, but it's not a perfect system. I am in total awe of organized people . .
    ______
    Joan, I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm usually NOT all that organized. But I'm working on getting better, and this exercise this year has forced me to adopt some techniques :) I'm in awe of organized people too!

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  34. Wow, what an accomplishment. If I didn't have my calendar here on the computer I would be lost. I do have sticky notes around too!

    ______

    Gram, I'm a sticky note junkie. Periodically I collect them all up and rewrite anything I haven't done yet on a To-Do list.

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  35. I use my computer calendar too, which syncs to Iphone. and lots of scrawled lists. But still, 3 books in a year? boggles my mind. Good luck on this new series Sadie/Sarah/Jane!
    ________

    Lucy/Roberta, you know a thing or two about having more than one pen name, I'd say! Of course the three I wrote this year are not the three that released this year. But starting next year I hope to be on a two-book-a-year schedule :)

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  36. You are one busy lady! I long gave up trying to be organized!!! Congratulations on all you have accomplished!
    _____________________

    Thanks, Jody! At least you get the critical stuff done, right? That's all that matters.

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  37. WOW ... you're busy!! I did a Read & Review on "Yarned and Dangerous" ... absolutely loved it.

    I use a printed calendar and alarms on my phone to keep me organized and on schedule.

    ____________

    I loved your review, Peggy! Thanks!

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  38. We use one of those magnetic boards on the refrigerator to help us keep track of appointments and other things we need to be aware of. Looking forward to reading Yarned and Dangerous. Happy Friday the 13th
    _______________

    Thanks, Dianne! Let me know what you think of Y&D. Those magnetic boards are super handy.

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  39. Jane/Susannah/Sadie amazes me with all she does.

    I find organization a moving target. Lists help me the most. A strict schedule frustrates me because I have to "put out fires" when they crop up.

    ____

    Thanks, my dear friend Rhonda! I also keep a paper calendar. The act of writing stuff down rather than inputting into a phone helps imprint the task on my brain.

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  40. Calendars and spreadsheets, just as you do. It's the only way to fly. And the calendar is a very low tech At-A-Glance small enough to lug everywhere. Congratulations on a stellar year. The books sound great.

    ________

    Thanks, Kait! You and I are spreadsheet sisters!

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  41. LOL: "And this is no secret: my real name is Jane." Sounds like a great opening line to a hardboiled mystery novel! When of course we're walking on the cozy side here. Welcome to Jungle Red! The books sound like great fun... and congratulations on your un-debut!
    _______________

    Hallie, take that line and do with it what you will! Or maybe Hank wants it, since her heroine is named Jane :) And thanks!

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  42. Welcome Sadie/Susannah! Three books in one year? Seriously? I bow down to your talent, organisational skills, and work ethic! (Also, I grew up in Buffalo, also on the NYS/Canada border -- know exactly what you're talking about re: weather!)
    _______________

    Susan, I had a long-distance sort-of boyfriend from Buffalo! My sister lives on the tip of Lake Ontario, so at the other end of Lake Effect Alley. I grew up farther north where the snowfall is generally less. But still COLD! Thanks for the nice words, and for having me here today.

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  43. I know the feeling, Jane/Sadie/Susannah - as you are aware! Lists save my ass every time. And my guest-blog spreadsheet. I'm delighted for all your debuts and successes.

    _______________
    Edith, you and Sheila Connolly are my Getting-It-Done Inspirations!

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  44. I didn't realize you were both of those authors. What an exciting year for you! I am a calendar gal, with colored pens for different reasons and family members! Thanks!
    _________________

    Color coding! Excellent idea, holdenj!

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  45. I don't know how you multi-name authors keep it all straight! Just writing the stories seems like more than enough to deal with

    _________________

    Libby, ya do whatcha gotta do. And I'm doing what I love! Thanks for dropping by.

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  46. To keep organized, I keep lists. Separate ones for the house, my businesses and what I need my employees to do this week. The list is sort of divided by days, but I keep it fluid. That way, too, I don't have to micromanage my employees.
    ___________

    Margo, I love your name! In fact, there is a character in Yarned and Dangerous with that name. Businesses and employees? You know what you're doing, I'd say.

    ReplyDelete
  47. What an exciting year this is for you! More books for me to read!! If I didn't have my Outlook calendar, I'd be frozen in time. EVERYTHING goes on it, whether work-related or not. At home there are notes all over the place. I guess I'm just visually oriented. Sometimes a friend at work will tell me "don't forget to do whatever" and I respond that I already have it in writing because being told not to forget something probably won't help. I want it in writing; therefore, the numerous notes popping up throughout the day. At home my notes to myself are often color-coded. My grocery list is in a notebook that I refer to throughout the week, and review. This all works for me, although some people laugh at my insistence on having everything in writing.
    ___________
    Deb, I have to put everything in writing too. And I hope you get to read one, two, or three of my 2015 books! Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This may be squeaky new news, but both Susannah/Jane/Sadie and Hank have been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. Other quite familiar names are on this list, too. If your name is too but I missed it, my apologies in advance:

    http://www.rtbookreviews.com/blog/86292/2015-rt-reviewers-choice-award-nominees-mysterysuspensethriller-and-romantic-suspense
    ____________________________

    I know! You cannot believe how excited I am, and how honored to be in such great company!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I often say that if it doesn't exist on the calendar on my phone, it doesn't exist. There have been a couple times I've booked myself in multiple places because I didn't put the first commitment on my calendar. We live by the lists on our whiteboard in the dining room. Wouldn't be able to get the kids to do anything without that.Now if only lists and calendars could explain why my house seems to eat headphones...
    _______________________

    Mary, my house eats socks!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I have lists of every thing I am going to do ...shopping...baking...books. Trouble is finding them when I need them. LOL!
    ____________________
    Jane! That's your real name, right? LOL! And yes, I too have multiple lists at any one time. Like the sticky notes, I have to gather them together occasionally and ... make a new list!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Retirement is a wonderful thing. I use a wall calendar to jot appointments(maybe 2 or 3 in a year) when I need to turn in or pickup library books and vacation times for family members who I share a home with. Other than that, I mostly putter around doing house chores with lots of reading time.
    ________________________
    Doward, you also give awesome book reviews! Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I think I need Susannah to come to my house and organize me. In fact, I'm sure of it.
    ______________________

    Julia, If you live in Florida, Hawaii, or Southern California, I'm your girl!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh, no no no…HOW do you do this?? I consider myself a pretty good juggler,but this is making my brain fry. You are my hero! And congratulations!I have three calendars. One a little book. One pages printed from Outlook. ANd my phone. I don't trust any of them, and I am constantly syncing them. And I have a spiral notebook where I just write a constantly evolving list. Sometimes that works.Yeah, I agree, Julia. Jane, do you you make house calls? Maybe in your spare time?
    ______________________
    Hank, I'm not even in the same universe with you, trust me! And congratulations on your nomination for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award! I'm just glad I'm in a different category from you! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  54. My lists are never ending and always on sheets of lined paper.
    __________________

    traveler, I agree with you on the lined paper. I'm a big fan of old-fashioned steno pads for list making. Now there are even sticky notes that come lined!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I don't know how you do it. I truly don't. Of course, I find the idea of writing one novel a year daunting. My hat is off to you.
    _____________________
    Mark, are you all recovered from your whirlwind trip to Crime Bake? You were the life of the party!

    ReplyDelete
  56. congrats! When I used to work as a CPA I had to keep lists. I had monthly due date lists for everything. I even "trained" my coworkers and boss to give me a list of what needed doing and priortize it. Now I live in chaos, but it's of my own making. I will make grocery lists. I do write down book titles and authors I want to check into. I have a notebook where I list who I send Xmas cards to, what I bought for whom for birthdays and Xmas, and who is responsible for what at Thanksgiving. Each year. Or else, chaos!
    ________________________________
    Pat, that doesn't sound like any kind of chaos I know. That sounds pretty organized!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Congrats on the novels. I try to write things down to keep things straight. Bills are written in a small calendar and logged in my Money software on my computer. Most especially a list and chart is done when starting a knitting project.
    ________________
    Patty! Knitting? Did you say knitting? Come post pictures of your knitting projects over at my Yarned and Dangerous Gang Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/172502263092743/

    Everyone is welcome to talk crafts and books, so invite your friends!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Congrats on your publishing success! I know one of your books, Olive and Let Die, is wonderful. I'm getting ready to start Feta Attraction. If I was accomplished at calendars and lists, I would have read Feta Attraction first, but I'm not so organized. Maybe one of these days...
    ________________
    Thanks so much, Celia!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Congratulations on all of your publications. They all sound like so much fun. Adding them to my ever growing TO READ list. And as for keeping things organized...wow! I get stressed when I have more than one thing to do each day, and check my calendar religiously because I am pretty sure I have the wrong date and time for whatever it is I have to do. (I blame all this on my toddler, but I was the same way before she came along.)
    ___________________________
    Celia, if you have a toddler, you are forgiven anything you've forgotten! Enjoy her to the max and just do the most critical stuff. My son is a senior in high school and I am getting all misty wondering where the last 17.5 years have gone.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Oops, it's Nina who has the toddler Nina, the above comment is directed to you.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Wow way to go on having 3 books out there.
    Not real organized except when I am dealing with books I have 3 ring binders to keep track of books I have and ones I want to read. Then I have list in my library account to keep track of what I am reading next.
    _____________________
    Julie, I LOVE 3 ring binders. I keep notes about my plots and characters for each series in a separate notebook, plus I have them for all sorts of other things. I just got a new one from Staples yesterday, complete with those cute dividers!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I've found several items to help keep me organized. As a beginning teacher my lesson plan book was my life's connection, but when technology entered the picture, I had my laptop calendar alerting me to every meeting, project due date, vacation day! and personal responsibility. I used folders, datebooks, and bulletin boards to be known as a very organized teacher. As a retiree, living in a perpetual Saturday, I still use my iPad, but a hard copy calendar makes it easier to see upcoming events, bills due, Dr. appointments, med schedule...everything. I am still an organized person. I have both books on my "must read" list...another way I stay organized.
    __________________
    Kathleen, I love the term Perpetual Saturday! And thanks--I hope you like my books!

    ReplyDelete
  63. I am fairly organized. My problem is procrastination. Thanks for the giveaway.
    ______________________________
    Elaine, confession time: I also have a procrastination problem at times. But I find that keeping a list actually helps me with that. Because sometimes procrastination is just about not knowing what to do next. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Congrats on keeping everything straight. Pen and Paper still help me stay organized. I procrastinate too. I always seem to leave things until the last minute.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Congrats on all of your debuts! I love starting out a new series & I love needlework. Thanks for the opportunity!

    ReplyDelete