Weddnesday's Words for May 8, 2013

We’ve returned home from RT and are slowly working ourselves back into our normal routines. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I always seem to need to take a couple of days to get used to being home, especially after a convention. There’s a sense of slight disorientation that always sets me on my pins when I step into my house after being away for a week or more. I’m not sure what that’s all about. I just know it never lasts long.

Insofar as I can, I try to live my life with an attitude of gratitude. It’s the best way I know to always be filled with positive feelings. As I write this, I’m reviewing in my mind all of the many activities and the busy days I experienced over the last week.

It’s always a thrill for me when I meet readers. I’m just me. I’ve looked in the mirror at the same person for more than a half century. I don’t consider that I’m anything special. I am blessed to have been able to develop this “second career” just after having had to retire from the work-a-day world due to heart surgery.

I get up every day and do glamorous author-stuff like dishes and vacuuming and cleaning the toilet. I intersperse the domestic goddess duties with writing sessions. Throw out any image you may have of a state of the art office in a posh house. Nope, it’s just a desktop computer atop an old oak library desk I purchased years ago at a flea market. To have my keyboard at the right height, the desk drawer is open with a varnished shelf laid over it to rest the keyboard upon.

My chair is state-of-the-art, but only because the one I had for 7 years and sat in every day was wearing out and my back was getting sore. Chrome and black mesh, adjustable and ergonomic, it’s comfortable as well as being functional. And I sit down at the keyboard in it each day wearing my jammies. Comfort, you see, is key for me.

A Diva, I most definitely am not.

This is me, just me, and when I attend a conference or convention and readers come up to me and squeal, or cry, and want to hug me I feel...humbled. And I understand anew that without these wonderful people reading my books, I would be nothing.

The dream is mine, and continues to be mine, but the validation of that dream—and my paycheck—comes from my readers. Anyone who follows me on facebook knows that I am always saying, and will always mean with all my heart that I have the best readers in the world.

It was marvelous getting to spend time with some of my fellow authors. We met the fiancé of our friend, Peyton Elizabeth. A retired marine, this gentleman is no stranger to the concept of “manning up”. As far as we could see, he is perfect for our dear friend.

Corrine Davies and her husband were fun to be around. This was their first experience at RT, and they both seemed to enjoy the event.

Authors, well most of the authors I know personally, tend to be introverts. It’s not easy to stand in front of strangers and talk about our work. But I have to tell you to look at my fellow authors for whom I knew this was as hard as it was for me, you wouldn’t know it. They seemed like naturals, and they behaved like the consummate professionals they all are.

My best writing buddy and fellow conspirator in the Divine-Lusty cross overs, Ms. Heather Rainier—what can I say about her? I thank God every single day that he saw fit to bring us together. I can’t adequately convey to you how big a blessing she is to me. And it’s a no-brainer to see that Mr. Rainier is truly the inspiration for Heather’s strong and caring heroes.

So here I am at home, catching up on family and sleep, and ready to get down to the brass tacks of doing what I love most in all the world to do—write.

I think I’m the luckiest—and most blessed—woman in the world.

Love,
Morgan
http://www.morganashbury.com
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury