Wednesday, March 11, 2015

BUSIER THAN EVER

by Kathy Cannon Wiechman

I have always been a busy person. In my younger days, I worked numerous jobs, raised four kids, served as president of the PTO, did volunteer work, planned family reunions, and (more or less) “kept house.” But I always made time to write. I wrote poems, short stories, and novels. My dream was to be a published novelist.

Now, by virtue of my age, I am a Senior Citizen. And my dream has finally come true. As my peers retire or think about retirement, I am a published novelist, a working writer. While they take up hobbies or relax on their decks or patios, I am busier than ever.

 My debut novel (LIKE A RIVER) will launch next month, and I work tirelessly to promote it. I arrange school visits, book signings, and speaking engagements. I answer interview questions, select excerpts, and write blog posts for Swagger and other blogs to get the word out. I post on Facebook and I “tweet.”
Kathy and her husband Jim with Kathy's debut novel.
The contract I signed for my second novel gives me a deadline of March 31 to have my revisions finished. This one needed a ton of work, and I feel that deadline breathing down my neck every minute.

I am also planning the next family reunion, while keeping house has become one of those intentions that rarely comes to fruition. But my dream has come true! I am a published novelist.

As soon as I finish these revisions and wait for notes from my editor and copy editor, I will begin work on another novel. I have already scheduled a research trip to delve into background for the novel after that.


If I were younger, maybe I’d slow down. But when one is a Senior Citizen, one is more conscious of the “ultimate deadline” that grows closer for all of us each day. I still have a lot I want to do. And I am busier than ever.

10 comments:

  1. Congrats on your book. I'm not that far from retirement so am glad for your example of keeping really busy doing what you love.

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    1. Thanks, Natalie. Always make time to do what you love, retired or not.

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  2. Congratulations on our debut book. I know what you mean about being busy in retirement. I don't know when I had time to work. LOL I love being a full time writer. I can't imagine not being busy. Of course the housework falls by the wayside. :)

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    1. I feel that the people who know me will understand my priorities and excuse my not-clean house. And if they don't, it's their problem, not mine. Keep enjoying the writing, Diane, and thanks for your comment.

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  3. What wonderful things to be busy with, Kathy! What an exciting time of your life!

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  4. Kathy, you seem to be doing a fabulous job with marketing! I've been thinking much lately about how, now that I am a senior, I am just kind of coming into my own as an author/speaker. I have moments when I feel too old for this but other days I feel so on top of it and in the zone. Being an author actually fits rather well with being older! Congrats on all you have accomplished!

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    1. Thanks, Joyce. You make a good point. I doubt I could have handled all I'm doing now back when my kids were younger or when I was busy with PTO or teaching.

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  5. In my recent experience here in Ashland I've learned that the older you get the more you squeeze everything good moment out of life. It's an unexpected thrill of adding on the years. You go, Kathy!

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    1. Thank you, Kim. I intend to keep as busy as I can manage.

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