Amuse-bouche

a sampler

Amuse-bouche

This is going to be one of those posts where I tell you a little bit about a lot of things. Well, maybe not a lot of things, but at least a few.

I really just wanted to use the word “amuse-bouche.”

Can’t you just picture Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation” saying that? Or Nick Offerman himself for that matter. I can.

Ron Swanson, courtesy of The Internet

Maybe that’s because I just finished listening to the audiobook of Mr. Offerman’s first book, Paddle Your Own Canoe. He’s got a great speaking voice, and I enjoyed listening to him talk. Not all of the book’s content is riveting, however. It seems to wander all over the place, even though its structure is loosely based on autobiographical events up until the writing of the book, which was when he was on Parks and Recreation. But it was still worth listening to. Apparently when he was in first or second grade, or a really young age anyway, he fell in love with the word “nonconformist.” And he’s been doing things his way ever since. I can relate, to an extent. I always tried to be the biggest nonconformist I could be … while still conforming.

I suppose my big takeaway is that it’s important to stay true to who you are and be a “success” on your own terms. How each of us defines success is as individual as our hairstyle.

He's also got a very dry sense of humor, has a great vocabulary, and is awfully dirty.

I do plan on listening to the other books he’s written, just to see what he might focus on next since in this first book he’s already taken us through his illustrious theater career and perhaps not so illustrious commercial and small-bit film and TV work before "hitting it big” with P&R.

Listen if you like: manly voices, eating meat, crude language and hearing about what it’s like trying to break into Hollywood.

Sniff what now?

Last week I went to the dermatologist. (Don’t worry, the story gets more interesting.) It was time for my annual checkup, because I’ve been blessed with pale northern-European skin and a predilection for moles, so I’m at high risk for skin cancer. Needless to say, I’m quite friendly with my dermatologist. She’s read five of my books! So naturally I like her.

She’s very thorough and inspects me from head to toe, which is always super fun (not). We chitchatted about a few things, including rosacea—the bane of many women, especially once we hit menopause. I was telling her about how sometimes my face kind of hurts when I have a flare up. It usually happens in summer, I think it’s because it’s hotter. She gave me a slip of paper, on which was printed suggestions for an over-the-counter treatment for relief from the uncomfortable flushing sensation. When I got home, I took out the paper and read it. These people are actually suggesting I by a nasal spray and add it to a jar of moisturizer, and smear it all over my face. What the what?

I’m the kind of person who, if faced with an ingredients list that is too long for me to say in one breath, usually decides that product is not a great option for me. Whether we’re talking about food, beauty products, etc. I know, I know, I can’t get around this as far as face care or hair-care products are concerned, but I try my best to stick to the basics. So I took this piece of paper suggesting I smear nasal spray on my face and let it waft into the recycle bin.

Why don’t dermatologists have conversations regarding preventive measures? Why not talk about what might be causing a rosacea flare up, or excessive stress, in the first place? Why not talk about diet? Couldn’t she have handed me a paper that talked about meditation instead of medication?

I am a rational person, I get how science and chemistry work. And although I really wish those patriotic citizens who rely on a 2,000-year-old storybook for their everyday-living guidelines would hop on the science train too, I personally believe that we can also get wisdom and direction from, shall we say, realms that transcend our earthly ideas of science. That was a really long sentence. I’m sorry.

I’m also dealing with continued inflammation and tendonitis in my left thumb. I’m waiting on an appointment to see a new acupuncturist here in town, but she’s in such demand I have to wait another three weeks. (I take this as a good sign—she must be very good but also maybe this means more people are embracing “alternative” health options.)

In the meantime, I’m going with “alternative-alternative” options. Last week I also had a Zoom appointment with a kinesiologist in Australia. Together we looked at manifestations of pain or unwanted physical conditions as symptoms that might be more permanently eliminated by shifting mindset and perspective rather than by taking a prescription. My left thumb still won’t bend, but after working with this nice person, I feel more grounded. I feel the connection between my feet and the Earth a little more succinctly. Meaning, I am more embodied. (And no, this does not mean that if I break my leg tomorrow I will go see my local NAET provider, I will sure AF go to the hospital, never you worry.)

Chronic stress is the absolute worst for both our mental well-being and physical health. You cannot separate your mental state from your physical one. While smearing Afrin on your face may give you temporary relief from a persnickety condition, it’s not going to do anything at all in terms of bringing your body into balance so that the condition ceases to exist. If I can bring myself into a calmer, less-stressed state, I allow my body to heal itself.

This is the area of health I’m most interested in. This is why I will choose a kinesiologist halfway around the world over nasal spray any day of the week.

Author Update

On May 21^st I released my tenth book, Gone Grandpa. It’s the third book in my Old School Mystery series, and is my best book yet. At least it’s the one I feel best about.

The reviews so far have been favorable, which is great. Although after release week I stopped looking at them, because reading my own reviews is just trouble waiting to happen (re: the name of this newsletter). Sales have been good too, thanks to some stellar advice from … wait for it … my author coach.

I’m not quite ready to discuss all of that yet, but yes, I’ve been working with a coach since April. I think I can safely say it’s been nothing short of life changing. I’ll talk about it more in the coming weeks, I’m sure. Or at least eventually. For now I am enjoying basking in the exclusivity of the relationship, if that makes sense?

I will say the experience has been instrumental in creating better routines, not only for my author biz but also for my editing work and personal life. It’s helped me achieve a better quality of life overall. I feel more grounded, less overwhelmed. Which is a BIG DEAL.

The most interesting thing I’ve noticed recently is that I’m slowly beginning to see the light. It’s not the light at the end of a tunnel, it’s more like the clouds have started to part. I think I can see how a “sustainable author life” might work. I can see how regularly putting out well-written books and sticking to even the simplest of “plans” can create momentum toward being seen by more readers.

Yes, I’m writing for myself, because I love telling stories and I also love to learn how to improve my craft. But I also, selfishly, want to share my writing with others. And in pursuit of that end, it’s often felt like I’ve been throwing money into The Giant Abyss, otherwise known as Self-Publishing. These expenditures have been really difficult to rationalize, especially over the last several years.

But now I realize I’ve been doing everything wrong! Okay, that’s not exactly true. But I now can see that I’ve never had a sound, consistent plan beyond “just write the next book.” And a plan, or a series of small actionable steps, seems to be the key. Do the next thing on the list. Keep going.

And guess what? Momentum ensues.

So I’ve started writing book number eleven. This one will be the first entry in a new series. I’m not quite in a decent writing routine yet, but I’m getting there.

And at least now I can see the light.

quote is from a review i actually read

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