I signed a contract today for a new sale to Samhain publishing. This one is a contemporary and features a group of five friends. The Bottom Line deals with two of the friends, and I hope to write new books about the other three friends. It’s my version of the TV show Friends. The Bottom Line is due out in March 2010.
One of my interests is travel. I bet you’ve guessed that already, right?
This is Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, England. We visited this moated castle a few years ago during a jaunt to Britain.
Recently I’ve been thinking about other interests. I’ve decided I need to extend my horizons, so my question for you today is: Apart from reading and writing what other interests and hobbies do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Do you still manage to pursue some of your interests with children around?
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August 5th, 2009 at 3:47 am · Link
Congratulations on your latest contract, Shelley!!
Ooooh, Bodiam Castle. That brings back some happy memories!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 4:57 am · Link
Congratulations on the sale, Shelley!
Interests? I don’t think I have any anymore. Or, it feels that way… but I love to be outside, doing stuff.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:15 am · Link
Wow, congratulations on the sale
! You’re so prolific, Shelley.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:22 am · Link
Congrats on your new contract. I love to crochet but here lately I’ve not being doing as much as I’d like. Have a great day.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:48 am · Link
Hi there!
Great question (as always). Hmmmm.
I’ve played competitive badminton since the children were born. When they were smaller, I played weeknights when my DH stayed home with them. He would drive up to 1.5 hours away several weekends a year to bring them to watch me play tournaments too. Now they’re grown up and playing along side me at the local clubs. I just love it!
I’ve also been working on converting what magnetic photo albums have survived the children’s best efforts through the years into scrapbooks recently. I couldn’t have done this when they were smaller. It sure is a lot of work. The best part about it is sharing the photos when you’re done an album. Friends and relatives love poring through the pictures. The most difficult thing (other than actually making yourself sit down to do it) is throwing out pictures and miscellaneous articles. I don’t need to save matches and napkins from long-ago weddings (and we don’t even smoke). I really don’t need a picture of all the wedding cakes, no matter how beautiful they were at the time. There is absolutely no need to have a picture of Great Aunt So-and-so’s nose or ear, and we really don’t need 10 pictures of the newborn baby. Okay, okay. Perhaps I whittle them down to 3-5 for our OWN kids for each event, but it really teaches me to cut back, as even photos place a heavy burden on our shoulders — there’s just too many of them! By being selective, we focus on the best and don’t clutter our minds or time with the others too!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:46 am · Link
Woot! Congrats on the contract…I’m excited for you and me…another book to read!
I am finding it a lot easier to enjoy my interest now that the kids are older, plus I always have a tennis partner or a motorcycle buddy to go with me, since all the kids enjoy the same thing I do.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:29 am · Link
Congrats… I love to travel as well, but haven’t left the states in quite some time. I’m a big time crafter and scrapbooker. OMG… you should see the mess I call my craft room.
My hubby had named it the “Crap Room” I can’t say as I blame him. lol
August 5th, 2009 at 10:23 am · Link
Congratulations Shelley! The book sounds great – I still miss Friends.
Haha on Catherine’s crap room. I’ve been trying to scrapbook all year and it hasn’t happened! Just stumbled upon an online inpsiring scrapbook class that starts soon and I think I’m gonna join up.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am · Link
Congratulations on the sale! How exciting! Love the castle, when they say a picture is worth a thousand words, they aren’t kidding! That photo stirs a few words from the imagination!
I crochet/knit/cross stitch but it is all gathering dust or put away. I have a lovely yarn stash tucked away in boxes in my closet waiting for my “someday” projects! hehe.
Writing has had it’s delightful way with me and I’m afraid I’ve become too adicted to stop.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:46 am · Link
huge congrats on the new contract…..oh the castle looks amazing….
August 5th, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Link
I ride. Since I’m a freelancer, I’ve always worked out of my home. I can get up in the morning and go to the barn and putz around as long as I like.
A few years ago, I taught my horse to drive. After that it was dressage. We show in lots of different classes…I’m obsessed!
By the way, if you haven’t stopped by my blog for writers, please do http://ignitetowrite.blogspot.com/
Congratulations on your contract! That’s awesome.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:28 pm · Link
Ballet :) I started up again last year after a five-plus year hiatus, and while I do feel a little guilty running off to class, I do love how it’s such a different way of using my brain than the rest of the day/week. And I do have assorted supplies for all kinds of crafts stashed away that I haven’t made time to do since kids. Maybe someday…
Congrats on your latest sale, Shelley! Woohoo!
August 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm · Link
Congratulations, Shelley. That’s great news.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:54 pm · Link
Congrats, Shel!
Great pic
August 5th, 2009 at 10:39 pm · Link
Christina – thank you. Exploring the castle was fun. It brings back memories for me too.
Susan – I hear you. Writing seems to consume one or at least it does me!
Helen – thank you. I haven’t been quite so busy recently or at least it feels that way. *rueful grin*
August 5th, 2009 at 10:45 pm · Link
Roberta – I used to do quite a bit of knitting and tapestry during the winter. I found this dropped off a bit during the summer. I always think of knitting as a winter thing.
Elaine – it’s great that you have an interest in common with your children. I must admit that I like modern digital cameras, although I’m paranoid about saving and vacking up the photos because it’s easy to lose all your memories. I’m sure your children will love the scrapbooks when they’re all done.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:48 pm · Link
Debra – I bet you have lots of fun with the kids. I know exactly where to come if I need help with a motor cylist hero.
Catherine – LOL about the crap room. My hubby would be wanting to tidy it up, I tell you. I’d have to lock the door to keep him out!
August 5th, 2009 at 10:51 pm · Link
Karen – a lot of people are in to scrapbooking. It’s very popular.
Colleen – as I mentioned, writing tends to consume me a bit. I’m trying to branch out and I’m eying up a class at the local bead shop and also a cooking class doing cup cakes. I, too, have heaps of craft stuff waiting for me. In my case it’s material. I need to get my sewing maching fixed first.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:54 pm · Link
Savannah – thank you. It’s good to be at the start of a new series.
Jan – your horse sounds very intelligent.
My father is almost 80 and he still loves to ride. He broke his leg a couple of years ago and was very concerned at the thought of not being able to ride again. He was very determined and is riding again now.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm · Link
Fedora – ah, I remember the ballet now. I think it’s great that you’ve taken it up again.
Thanks, Lucinda!
Thanks, Sandra.
August 6th, 2009 at 6:06 am · Link
Congrats on the new sale, Shelley!
And oh how I love castles!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:43 am · Link
Congrats.
Lol, for me it’s more lack of money than kids (never wanted any) to prevent me from doing ALL the travel I would like to, and spend more time riding.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:06 pm · Link
YAY.. congrats on your sale!!
August 6th, 2009 at 4:14 pm · Link
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!
August 7th, 2009 at 1:45 am · Link
Thanks, Kaye. This particular castle is in a beautiful setting.
Gabriele – I hear you on the money aspect. We both need to win lotto.
Marianne – thanks so much.
Jennifer – I’m thrilled with this sale.
August 8th, 2009 at 6:03 pm · Link
Congratulations on your book contract.
The only distant lands I’ve been thinking about is going off into the sunset when I retire in the next couple of years.