Wow. August was a wild rollercoaster! It started with a trip to Savannah and ended with a trip to the Quik Med. In between, University classes began and I attended a conference in Nashville. Phew! It was exhausting. With regards to the Quik Med visit, I am fine but my mother has bronchitis and strep. I never thought I’d say, “Thank god, it’s bronchitis,” but that is where we are now. Mom’s got her meds and hopefully will be on the mend soon. I’ll update y’all next month.
Now, for something fun. Let me tell you what a wonderful time we had in Savannah! Mom and I attended the Literary Loves Savannah Convention (as readers) and coupled it with a nice sightseeing trip. This was a much needed get away before my fall semester started the very next week. We ate and drank ourselves silly for three days before the convention and then continued for the next four. This was my first time at LLS and Mom’s first con ever. We loved it! Everyone—organizers, authors, and readers—were so nice and safety conscious. The Delta Variant was surging in Savannah by the time we arrived but everyone at the con was super careful so no one would get sick. Mom and I are already making plans to return as readers again next year.
I wish I could say that my workplace was as conscientious as the con about health and safety. My colleagues and I are back in front of mostly unmasked students with no vaccine mandate and no social distancing. As a result, my university has reported half the number of cases we had all last year in just the first three weeks. I mask up every day and go teach but I’ll admit it is even more exhausting and stressful than last year before I was vaccinated. I’m trying to channel my anxiety into productive work on the novel. It is *almost* working.
I did receive a much needed writing boost from the Killer Nashville Conference, held mid-month. Every time I go, I meet great new people and learn important new things. This year, I sat on two panels—one on getting organized and the other on world building. They were great fun. Plus I got to see old friends and make some new ones.
So now it is time to buckle down and get back to editing Under the Harvest Moon!
See you next month.