The Hiatus is Over

I haven't written much this summer and its been both a blessing and well, a little disturbing for me.

First of all the blessing. My husband and I were absolutely blessed to be able to take two cruises this summer and we thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Its something we've never been able to do before--go on two luxurious vacations--and probably won't do for a very long time again.

But that meant I had to stop writing for a bit. So I took five weeks off my writing. The only thing I can compare this to is drugs. Not that I've ever been addicted to any sort of drugs. Well, except that time in college when I was just a teeny bit addicted to Nyquil and couldn't sleep without it (but I kicked that habit, I swear!).

So I knew I'd have to stop writing a few days before we left on trip #1 and for weeks before I wrote furiously, trying to finish the novel I'd been working on because I didn't want to interrupt the flow. Other writers know that when you're in the "zone", breaking out of it, then trying to get back into it is very, very hard. So I wrote like a fiend.

Then I stopped.

Cold turkey.

I thought I could do it. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal to stop writing.

I was wrong.

It was very strange, knowing I wasn't going to write. I'd wander around the house, a little--no, a lot--lost. At loose ends. Sort of like a brown, curled leaf, caught in a summer breeze. I'd flit here. I'd flit there. My mind couldn't focus. And I felt anxious. Nervous. I'd look longingly at my computer, my fingers twitching. Then yank my gaze away and try to concentrate on packing and the million other things I had to do.

Stories flirted with each other inside my head. Characters talked to me. Voices tried to coax me back to the computer.

I felt like I lost a part of myself.

By the time we left for the trip, I didn't give my computer, or my characters, a second thought. In fact, on the trip I rarely thought about my writing which is weird because I always think about my writing.

I returned, glanced at my laptop, then dismissed it. I had three weeks before I was leaving again. No sense in getting entrenched in another story when I'd just have to leave it again. I read books, watched TV. Every once in a while I felt a little lost. Like I had too much time on my hands and had no idea how to fill it.

We went on our second trip. I thought a lot more about my stories. One in particular kept nagging at me because it was partially set in the Caribbean, where I was vacationing. I realized I'd made some mistakes in describing an island and decided I'd have to change the location altogether.

Then I returned, looked at my laptop, and walked away from it. For two days I avoided it. But like the drug that it is, my writing kept calling to me until eventually I sat down, opened up my current work in progress and breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes.

This is where I am supposed to be, sitting here, typing words that will eventually form characters who will become real people in my mind. Stories that will take you away from your life.

And like the drug that it is, my stories have a firm hold on me once again.

But unlike being addicted to a drug, I'm happy where I am. Happy to be "home" in my mind, with the people I've invented who are very, very real.

After five weeks, I'm back!

ps - the above photo is a picture I took of Nassau, Bahamas while on my hiatus

Haunted Disney

Life in Florida has quite a few things going for it. The surf (only a few miles from our door); the weather (usually warm and sunny, despite this weeks brief dip into the 20's); the people (also usually warm and sunny - it must rub off from the weather).

And living right up the road from Orlando can mean some great last-minute vacations. When the hubby suggested we take the kids to Disney World for the weekend, it was only a few days planning instead of a half-way round the country excursion.

We're here, and there's really something for everyone in Disney. The rides. The food (if you've never splurged for the Dining Plan, I highly recommend it - yum!). The look of joy in my kids faces, especially my daughter when she was hugged by five princesses in five minutes. We even peaked at Ariel's feet to see if she had feet or fins!

Like any good vacation spot, Disney World has a haunting story or two. While the rumors of Walt Disney's remains being cryogenically frozen are good for a laugh (he was truly cremated two days after his death, and his remains interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery), there are other tingly stories to keep visitors on their toes while at the parks.

A few hours from now we'll be on the Pirates of the Caribbean. I'll be keeping my eyes open for George while we're there. He is supposedly a construction worker killed during the building of the park. Legend has it that if the cast members fail to start his day off right he'll cause the ride to randomly stop during the day.

There's a little girl of unknown origin who wanters near Spaceship Earth in Epcot. We spent about5 hours in the area last nigh (Mission SPACE is a fantastic experience!), but had no sightings. I'll look again today when we're there during brighter times.

And finally there are rumors of a ghost near MGM's Tower of Terror. We'll be stopping by the area later today - I'll be sure to have my eyes open!

(My first release from Samhain Publishing, Hunting the Huntress, releases on Tuesday the 8th of January! Mark your calendar - and if you have time, stop by Romance Junkies on Monday at 9pm est for a chat!)