Odds & Ends 2 or 3

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This is what I title a post when there are just too many things going on to limit to one topic. That’s the way life is right now.

Our church did get moved, and we had our first service in the temporary building, a former church. Our minister hit it right on when he said, “It feels weird.” When I thought about going to a meeting at church this week, I pictured going to our former building. I didn’t even realize it at first. So yeah, it’s going to be weird for a while. The public garage sale is next week, and boy is that a giant task to organize. Fortunately, it’s not me doing this, but others. This is one of our temporary signs.

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This week, I hit 50,000 words on ACT OF SURVIVAL, Book 4 in the Second Chances Series. I may actually get this book published the first of next year. No cover yet. The writing has been different since I’m mostly pantsing the book, well not from the beginning, but now more so than not. You know what happens when you do that? You end up with a dead body in your heroine’s bed. Who knew that could happen? Then, of course, you must do something with it. I left the body there for several days trying to figure out where to go next, but finally forced myself to sit down at the computer and see what would happen next. You’ll have to read the book when it’s released to find out. 😊

I’ve written here about my struggles with weight. Well, the pounds have crept back, not all the way, but high enough, that I finally realized I had to do something. I’ve been successful with Nutrisystem and the Whole 30, losing almost 30 lbs on the first over 6 months and almost 15 on the second in a month. But then, of course, with any diet, you have to go back to the real world. You go off the diet.

So, this time, I’m not doing a set plan. Or at least it’s my own and hopefully, one I can stay on forever. I’m not expecting a fast loss of weight, which is really a bummer, because stepping on the scale and seeing a pound gone every day is really inspiring. But to eat the way I must to make that happen—well, I can’t sustain that. IMG_6981 Unhealthy eating in New Orleans.

So, what am I doing? I’ve cut out sugar. Which is just a real bummer. But I have kept wine on the menu. Otherwise, it’s no added sugar (Thank heavens for fruit!) (Once the pounds are gone, I will allow myself maybe one sweet a month, unless that’s too much. Will have to see.) Veggies, and chicken, and fish are all okay. Just not fried. No bread or chips. And the only snacking is on fruit or cheese or nuts. I almost didn’t write about this, because it’s so embarrassing when you fall off the wagon, so to speak. But every weight loss/healthy eating thing I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a ton of them), have encouraged going public. I also have posted a picture on my refrigerator of what I looked like when I was in my late 30’s as an inspiration.IMG_6786

Healthy meal of salmon, asparagus, & rice.

I don’t expect to look like that again, but I know I can look and feel healthier. As I’ve done before, I’ll post here weekly the progress I’m making.

Last exciting news is that I FINALLY got VERMONT ESCAPE up on iTunes. I have such a greater appreciation for formatters now than ever before. While on my Word document, everything looked great, when I uploaded it to Draft 2 Digital, there were odd spacings and extra lines that shouldn’t have been there. It took going through that book at least twenty or more times to get it to look okay on the Draft 2 Digital website—the folks who actually put up the book on iTunes. You have to have a MAC to do that and more skills than I possess.

Anyway, more about VERMONT ESCAPE in my NEWSLETTER next week. For now here’s the link:

iTunes https://apple.co/2Muy5W0

So, if you’re an author, are you a pantser or a plotter? Have you ever had something pop up while you were writing that you didn’t expect? How are you doing with your health? Have you found something that really works for you? And isn’t that what it’s all about? What works for us—as an author or in health issues.  Love to hear from you.

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9 responses to “Odds & Ends 2 or 3”

    • Hey, Vicki. I get you. I’ve probably lost and gained my whole self a couple of times over throughout my life. Really hopes this more modest approach works for me. Good luck to you. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

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  2. Take heart, Marsha. It took me five years on purpose to lose all the weight I intended. As you’ve discovered, one of the tricks to keeping weight off is sustainable eating. Being aware of what’s in your food and the calorie count. Fruit is great, just make sure you’re eating fruit that’s lower on the sugar spectrum such a berries. Bananas are delish, but so high on the carb/sugar scale.

    For a while, I gained and lost the same ten pounds and never thought I’d get below that 140 lb. mark or the 130 lb. mark.

    So you’ve got this. Just stay the course.

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    • Hey, Jen. Oh you are such an inspiration. You lost weight and more importantly have kept it off. You’re right about the fruit–we do berries and melon, but bananas are good for leg cramps and just “delish.” So I won’t eat them every day, but they are great for a boost to keep on keeping on. Thanks for the encouragement and for stopping by.

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  3. Good morning, Marsha. I’m a pantser. I never know what is going to happen in my books until I write them. And then, of course, many times what I initially wrote, is changed. I hope to get my fifth Kay Driscoll to my publisher (Lea) the beginning of 2019 also.

    Right now I’m pretty much eating what I want, within reason. I need to lose weight. It’s a mental thing. When I really want it bad enough, I’ll start restricting my intake. 🙂

    Have a great week. Good to have a healthy lifestyle. 🙂

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    • Hey, Susan. I’m excited you’ve got another Kay Driscoll coming our way. I never used to pants. When it happens it’s just kind of magical. You’re right about wanting it enough. The switch just has to click and then I can keep on top of what I’m putting in my mouth. I believe you naturally get more exercise than I do even with my 10 K steps a day. We drive everywhere we go because things are so spread out here. Thanks so much for stopping by and congrats for the next book. 🙂

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      • Marsha, I’m looking forward to your next book. It will be interesting to see how you pantsered (Word? I doubt it. Lol!.) through it. 🙂 It is magical!! 🙂 You are further along than I am.

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  4. Hi Marsha, congratulations on getting so far with your next book – especially with everything else you have going on. I’m not really a pantser, unless I’m hit with a new thought which changes my original plan, so I look forward to discovering how you pantsed your way through! 🙂 The body in the bed is intriguing. Good luck with writing the rest!

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    • Hey, Helena. I kind of fell into this pantsing thing when I wrote the short story for my writing chapter anthology. I did just the barest of planning, took out the suspense part and made it just a romance and just typed. I did my usual planning on the current WIP, but somewhere along the line, my fingers just kept typing and hence the dead body in the bed. Still not sure I like it, but there it is. LOL Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂

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