I did an event as a vendor last weekend, and in an hour I load up to do another event today. Frankly, I’m more than a little tired, as I have also been writing about 4000 words a day this week, keeping up with my daily art, and other duties as required for Raconteur Press and life in general. I have a novel deadline this coming week, N’inktober has another week to run, and something makes me think November won’t be much better.
I was going to put a couple of photos up of event set-ups, and how I’m evolving them for the situations, but I think I’ll wait until I can include today’s report with it… so. I’m toasted. I’m also possessed of a Lightly Toasted Marshmallow. Toast, for short. The, ahem, best little writing and art assistant you could have.
Toast helps.
May you have a pleasant day, and remember, if you don’t have a cat getting into everything you are trying to do, are you getting anything done? As my daughter commented when I showed her that last photo “she’s like a manager!” Yep. Getting in the way when you’re trying to get stuff finished.
Mad Genius Club 
13 responses to “I’m Toasted”
Very nice writer’s nook you have there. And the purrfect companion.
You need to put that arsenic cup on an old lace doily.
I do! I’ll keep an eye out for one!
Toast is definitely an art connoisseur. We had one like that, but she was a tortoise shell called Pirate. She liked to get up on the cabinets and stare at one of our walls of art.
As for your mug, I can see for the label (and size) might help you not to overindulge, but I was thinking it might say Amontillado.
I’m not sure I’d write anything coherent after that much Amontillado!
Dang, 4000 words a day is ALOT. And Toast is always cute!
Well, if I’m going to make a living, I must write!
Very true! I guess was thinking of it from my still-have-dayjob POV.
Bill and I (we’re both 65) have really pulled back on doing events. It’s just too exhausting for us and our sales don’t come anywhere close to justifying the three days one all-day event takes.
Much of a day for planning, set up, packing, and so forth (and don’t forget advertising that we’ll be at an event!)
The event.
The following recovery day in which we unpack, assess, process sales and monies, work out what we could do better, consider reorders, and so forth.
We stopped doing outdoor events when the canopy broke its leg. We got a replacement but hauling it, its gear, and 200 pounds of weights has gotten really old.
We still do inside events but smaller ones like libraries and bookstore signings. Those all-day craft shows are out.
Was it worth doing events? Absolutely! You can really refine your pitch for each and every title. It’s always interesting to meet people and talk books. It’s great when we meet return fans who remember us from previous events.
Best wishes to you and Toast on future events: the right weather, no disasters, and lots of sales to new fans and repeat business from the old ones.
A preview of next week’s post: I won’t be doing any more outdoor events. I already knew I wouldn’t be doing a lot of events, I was once a full-time entertainer and every weekend was a marathon of chaos. I don’t really want to do that again. Today cemented that books and out of doors are a stressful combination I just don’t need.
Yep! I vividly remember sitting under the canopy (more than once), all the books piled on the tables, the canopy walls closed up, and the rain pouring down.
I was very happy when the canopy broke its leg. Even though we replaced the leg, the omen was clear. Quit killing yourselves.
is it just the lighting or is Toast getting slightly darker as time goes on?
Toast is the most helpfullest of cats. And that’s saying not a lot.