How My Retirement Is Going

When I retired earlier this year, I had visions.

There would be writing. There would be reading. There would be swimming. There would be cruises. There would be leisurely cups of coffee enjoyed while contemplating what I might like to do with my day.

Apparently, I forgot to inform myself of this plan. Instead, my retirement currently looks something like this:

Did someone say FALL????

At the moment, I’m editing a book in a series that’s over 100,000 words. I have a 50,000-word rush beta read that needs my attention immediately. Another author recently dropped a 113,000-word manuscript into my lap. There’s a sci-fi edit lingering out there, another client project waiting in the wings, and a ghostwriting project headed my way.

And somewhere beneath this avalanche of everyone else’s words is a novel of my own begging to be written.

In fact, when I first created the graphic for this post, I was so busy thinking about everyone else’s books that I completely forgot to put my own book in it. If that doesn’t perfectly summarize my retirement, I don’t know what does. Now my poor neglected manuscript is down there in the pile too, patiently reminding me:

MY OWN BOOK (SOMEDAY…)

And just for good measure: THE WAITING ROOM
(Yes, I’m still writing you!)

There. Everybody’s represented. Did I mention I’m retired? The funny thing is—I’m not complaining. Okay, sometimes I’m complaining. Usually to my coffee cup. Occasionally to Microsoft Word. And anyone who has ever heard me yell, “WHY DID YOU CAPITALIZE THAT?” at my computer knows retirement has not necessarily made me a calmer person.

But I love this.

When I retired, what I really wanted wasn’t to stop working. I wanted the freedom to choose how I worked, when I worked, and what I worked on. And that’s exactly what happened. I get to spend my days surrounded by stories. I help writers make their books better. I get paid to read—which still feels slightly ridiculous when I say it out loud. I edit. I coach. I encourage. I occasionally wrestle a manuscript to the ground and demand that it explain its timeline to me.

And yes, somewhere in there, I’m still an author too. Apparently. I have thirteen published books to prove it. Most importantly, though, I have the freedom to close the laptop and live my life.

I’ve traveled. I’ve cruised. I’ve spent time with people I love. I’ve sat beside my pool. I’ve celebrated. I’ve grieved. I’ve laughed until my stomach hurt. I’ve had days when I accomplished an unbelievable amount and days when accomplishing absolutely nothing. That’s what I wanted from retirement. Not an empty calendar.

A full life.

And boy, did I get one. Right now, my Fiverr account is officially set to Out of Office because apparently even I have limits. I have a girls’ weekend coming up, another cruise shortly afterward, and enough manuscripts between now and then to construct a reasonably sturdy fort. After that, I’ll finally have a few uninterrupted months to work, write, edit, read, build this little business of mine—and hopefully make some serious progress on my own next novel.

Oh, wait! I forgot!

I HAVE A BOOK SIGNING COMING UP!

On Saturday, November 7, from noon to 4 p.m., I’ll be at the Indie Authors Pop-Up Signing Event and BWR Foundation Craft Fair at Marley Station Mall, 7900 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061.

There will be 30 authors in attendance, with all kinds of genres, including children’s books, and admission is FREE.

So, if you’re local, come say hello! Talk books with me, meet some wonderful indie authors, find your next favorite read, and maybe knock out a little Christmas shopping while you’re there.

Apparently, I’m now forgetting entire public appearances because there are too many books falling out of the sky. So perhaps “uninterrupted” was a little ambitious.

But honestly? I’m looking forward to this one.

Somewhere between editing everyone else’s books, writing my own, traveling, working, and trying to remember where I’m supposed to be on any given day, I also get to sit behind a table with my books in front of me and meet readers. And that’s a pretty wonderful reminder that somewhere underneath all those client manuscripts, I’m still an author.

An author with thirteen published books—and apparently a November 7 book signing—to prove it.

Now, about that novel of mine…

After the signing, I’ll have a few months before my next adventure. I’m determined to use some of that time not only for my clients but for myself. Because there’s a woman named Denise sitting in a strange waiting room with a very thick form in her hands, and she’s been waiting patiently for me to get back to her.

The working title of my next novel is The Waiting Room.

Yes. My own unfinished novel is literally called The Waiting Room. You cannot make this stuff up. Apparently, even my fictional characters understand my scheduling problems. Because evidently my version of retirement is not sitting quietly in a rocking chair. Unless someone puts the rocking chair in front of my computer. With lumbar support. And a cup holder. For coffee.

So, how’s retirement going?

I’m exhausted. I’m busy. I’m grateful. I’m having the time of my life.

I worked a long time to get here, and I’ve discovered that retirement, at least for me, was never going to be about doing less. It was about finally having the freedom to decide what deserves a place in my life. The work I love. The stories I want to tell. The people I love. The places I want to see. And occasionally, absolutely nothing at all. That’s my kind of retirement.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have approximately 263,000 words calling my name. And if you need me… I’ll be under the books. Send help. Or coffee. Preferably coffee.

P.S. Did someone say FALL???? 🍂📚☕️