LUCY BURDETTE: The very biggest news for me was turning in my draft of Key West book number 16 last week! As you can imagine, my favorite words written were these:
I wrote about the opening of the story back in December. I’m having trouble figuring out what else I could share that wouldn’t result in unwelcome spoilers. So I’ll skip that snippet for the moment and tell you what I’m working on now. (I know I will see book 16 circle back to me for edits, but I’m not worrying about that until it hits my inbox.) I have four projects on my to do list, a murder mystery event for the Key West library, a possible murder mystery dinner for Williams Hall, a Key West noir short story, and my Paris novel. Yikes! What was I thinking?
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| Feb 2025, Ann Cleeves's Shetland murder mystery in Key West |
The second annual murder mystery for the Key West Friends, taking place February 7, 2026, will be something like the one we performed with Ann Cleeves last winter. This time, the reading will be based on a fictional contest between pastry chefs, who’ve all been asked to prepare desserts from the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook. (The Friends of the Key West Library and the Key West Woman’s Club are co-sponsoring this event along with our wonderful library staff.) I’m the playwright (ulp) and it will begin with a moderator and four or five baker suspects. I’m imagining the event will open with something like this:
Moderator: Imagine that you are sitting in an auditorium at the Key West library, a room very much like this one. You see the pea green walls and old-fashioned photos of the island, and you can almost smell the beguiling scent of new books and imagine the hum of voices as clever librarians answer the challenging questions of their patrons. This time, you are not here for the books or the librarians or even the computers. You have paid good money to hear from bakers who have entered a contest to find the best pastry chef on the island. Their challenge has been to prepare amazing delicacies from the Key West Woman’s Club Cookbook.
But things have gone perilously wrong, and the front runner has been found poisoned to death. All the chefs who entered the contest are now murder suspects instead of prize winners. Your job will be to identify the real murderer. You will hear the protestations and confessions of the suspects, and then we’ll break for tea and voting. Once we re-convene to hear the true story, five winners will be awarded prizes.
There you go! A beginning and a long to-do list. When you have a list of projects, how do you choose where to start? Do you hop around from project to project, or power through one before tackling another?
Congratulations, Lucy, on completing book 16!
ReplyDeleteYour new projects all sound amazing, but the Key West Friends murder mystery is particularly intriguing.
When I have a list of projects to complete, I generally finish one before starting the next one . . . .
that makes sense. I wish I could work on all at once, but I don't think I'm capable:)
DeleteCongratulations on completing book 16! I just finished reading the mango murders last week. Regarding projects, my sleep app informed me of my best times to work and the afternoon dip time when it is time to slow down and evening wind down time limiting screen time.
ReplyDeleteI pick projects that require my immediate attention.
Diana, What do use for a sleep app? Seems very sensible to pay attention to what the body needs!
DeleteThat was me.
ReplyDeleteThis is similar to one of my favorite interview questions to ask. It was interesting to see how the candidates prioritized hypothetical assignments. Did they identify the one that required input from others that should be started first? Did they knock out an easy assignment to get a quick win? Did they prioritize an assignment for the exec team, or one that would help the most people?
ReplyDeleteThat's fascinating! Were you looking for certain answers? What about the question: Which ones seem the hardest? LOL
DeleteCongratulations on sending off book #16. I love the closing line.
ReplyDeleteAs for to do list: I do write down what needs to be done, and then I go with what seems most urgent. Right now, two tasks are tied, so I do them in shifts: Portuguese lessons and new book.
A smart approach Elizabeth!
DeleteLUCY: Congratulations on reaching "The End" on the new book last December!
ReplyDeleteAnd next February's KW murder mystery sounds like a lot of fun.
As for to-do lists: I usually work on the top priority ones first. I tend to multi-task, so I don't wait until finishing one task before starting another. And for long term on-going to-do item, and I work on making a bit of progress.
So much good advice! thanks Grace
DeleteRoberta, congratulations! Wow! And good luck with your to-do list! (Selden)
ReplyDeletethank you Selden!
DeleteSending off a book is always a big yay! You to-do lists remind me of some of my own...
ReplyDeleteLists, lists, and more lists. Prioritize the ones with the closest deadlines. Knock off a couple of easy tasks just to declutter the list and have a quick victory or two. Good luck!
I would like a quick victory:). The short story feels daunting so I don't think that's it...
DeleteI have a couple of projects going at the same time right now with interruptions from life in general and I am feeling uneasy because nothing is completed. I am usually fine with multi tasking but there is nothing like the satisfaction of finishing something and crossing it off the list.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, nothing like checking the box on a list to say something's finished!
DeleteCongratulations on finishing book #16. After having read the last chapter of The Mango Murders, I am beyond excited to read the next book, and can only imagine what Miss Gloria is anticipating for Nathan. Hah! I loved Mango Murders!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on all of your endeavors! You have the energy to carry them all and I am eager to hear more about your Paris book. As for the murder mystery party, I think February is a nice time of year to visit Key West;>)
Make your reservations early:). It's gotten so busy!
DeleteYay for sending off number 16! I was a dispatcher for a long time, and we always had multiple calls to juggle, and had to be able to pay attention to the shiny new emergency that came in just when we were about to deal with the lesser emergency that had been waiting awhile. So I find myself starting lots of things and then trying to work on all of them, which isn't the most productive way to work. The hardest part is just starting something that I have been putting off. I wish I could go to your February event--it sounds way fun!
ReplyDeleteThe juggling is hard! I admire you for that job Gillian!
DeleteI tend not to make lists, but swill things around in my head. That is the way that I approach them as well. Which means that (right now) I need to call and order a load of wood (I hate talking on the phone), decide on a tomato soup recipe to make for lunch and then make it, do some on-line banking and maybe call them to see if I can play a shuffle with accounts without going in in person, and possibly look for the top of my desk. It is raining (thank heavens even if it is only heavy drizzle), so that allows ‘inside’ projects to be entertained. I could shampoo half of the living room carpet – vacuum cleaner is already on the floor left over from last week’s dining room carpet, or pot up a few indoor plants that spent the summer outdoors (welcome to the house earwigs!) or start potting up the outdoor geraniums… or maybe do some puzzle! We had to drop everything for an unscheduled medical pickup and babysit on Wednesday, so are apparently living on the head of a pin again. However yesterday, we went for bloodwork, and then moseyed on to two farms looking for fresh corn and beets – no corn (no rain), and small beets, but never mind. We will have them with fish for supper. Stopped for lunch at a place I had never been – don’t need to go for another 25 years, then for a soft ice cream – last of season. Took a wrong road and had an unplanned country tour, so all in all a good day. Make the most of all projects leaving time for spontaneous moments of joy!
ReplyDeleteSuch good advice--leaving room for moments of joy! Plus, I love this item on your list: possibly look for the top of my desk:)
DeleteThat sounds like a lot of balls, er, projects to juggle, Lucy! And congratulations on finishing #16. Love that last line, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI always have projects going, some long-term that require many steps, like the garden. Some others in various stages of completion, including never completed: languishing in UFO territory (Unfinished Object). I have a blouse I started making 20 years ago, and all it needs are buttons and buttonholes. (Why I haven't finished it and passed it on (do you think it still fits?) is another discussion altogether.)
How do I prioritize? First, time/urgency. If it's something like a birthday gift, or vacuuming because company is on the way, that goes to the head of the list. Next, need. That pile of laundry needs to be wrangled; the rudbeckia needs deadheaded; the sticky floor needs to be mopped. Next, my own enthusiasm for the project. This may gather energy, or it may wane. Sometimes I'm not in the mood to weed all day; sometimes it's too hot or too cold. I'm planning to clear out our garage, but that is a HUGE project and might take more energy than I have. And finally it comes down to my own willingness to do the thing. It's on my list, but I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
Yes! if you don't want to do it, can you cross it off the list? Those things I listed are not even the small bits of life that need doing...sigh.
DeleteCongrats on submitting #16! I can only imagine how satisfying that must be.
ReplyDeleteAs I tackle a full to-do list, I look at a few things. Are there things I need from others? If so, I try to get those requests out ASAP as even if the person is cooperative it will likely eat a day or more getting a response. Similarly, are there tasks that will keep me able to move forward? Move those up. Then of course there is the urgency of the task. Closer deadline is of course higher priority. But after that is where it gets squishier. Sometimes I will go for a quick win. Other times I feel ready to give a big push on a major project. Often I will work on two or more projects concurrently, as I find it minimizes frustration. When I get frustrated on one project I'll give it a breather while I work on another for a day.
excellent thoughts Susan, thanks!
DeleteJust added the Friends event to my calendar! We’ll be starting our month in Key West then~lucky me!
ReplyDeleteEmily, join the Friends if you haven't already so you get notified right away. Last year, it was a sellout...
DeleteGreat ending, Lucy! Now on to more!
ReplyDelete:)
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