JB Lynn

Hijinks, Hilarity and Heart

novelist

Fall in the time of Covid

By Leave a Comment

Fall is my favorite season, but there really is no autumn in southwest Florida.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m an advocate of doing what makes you happy (within reason…and laws…and physics). That’s why I took myself to Asheville, North Carolina for a few weeks. I really, REALLY wanted a fix of some Fall weather, complete with the kaleidoscope of changing leaves and the smell of the fallen ones as they crunch underfoot.

But how does one vacation responsibly during a pandemic?

For me, I made the long drive in one day to the AirBnB where I stayed, did curbside grocery pickup, and had only one face-to-face conversation (and that was sort of an emergency situation on a trail) for three weeks.

I spent my days driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway admiring the views

hiking on mostly empty trails

and dining al fresco on a feast of peanut butter sandwiches. (I’m fancy like that.)

For the most part, I read and worked at night…because if it’s dark at 5:30 and you don’t watch TV, there’s not that much else to do.

I’m pretty much now ready to embrace the quirky hermit writer lifestyle.

Productively Obsessed

By Leave a Comment

Here’s the thing:

I love what I do. I worked hard to get to the point where I can do what I love. I’m still working hard at it.

On the 31st I’ll be publishing my sixth book of the year 2 Spells Too Many.

I’ve just sent the third Cursed Chicks book to my editor.

Soon I’ll begin working on Hitwoman 25.

I’m also working on a passion project and have notes for Psychic Consignment 4.

This kind of schedule is not for everyone. I choose to be productively obsessed. I’m lacking balance. I don’t particularly recommend it, lol.

Etsy addict

By Leave a Comment

I can’t be the only one….

I don’t watch TV. I stay home most of the time. I NEED stimulation.

That’s how I justify my daily perusal of Etsy.

What’s your excuse?

I love this barrette I got from there.

I’m pretty sure Armani from the Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series would approve. (Though knowing her she’d probably think it spells RUST T.)

Last Quarter of 2020

By Leave a Comment

Wow!

Can you believe that we’re already entering the last three months of 2020? I still have soooo much I want to accomplish this year. What about you?

My top goals for this month include publishing 2 Spells Too Many at the end of the month and finishing Cursed Chicks 3.

I’m also in desperate need of some “unplugged” time so that’s a priority for this last quarter. This whole combination of pandemic and election season has been stressing me out, so I’ve been throwing myself into my work, but I need a break.

As for the rest of the quarter, I want to write Hitwoman 25 (OMG TWENTY-FIVE!!!!) and finish my passion project…and at least start Psychic Consignment 4. (Is it any wonder I need a break?!?!)

New month!

By Leave a Comment

Happy September!

Can you believe we’re two-thirds of the way through 2020 already. As is my practice, I was just reviewing my accomplishments for last month and getting clear on my goals for this month.

Last month’s big work accomplishment was publishing The Hitwoman Plays Games.

My personal accomplishment was getting through a more difficult step workout. (Yes, I know that doing step workouts sounds like I’ve stepped back in time, but they’re the only cardio workout that doesn’t cause my terribly bad knees pain so I’m sticking with them.)

I tend to set very big goals for myself, so I rarely (if ever, lol) accomplish everything I set out to do, but I do tend to get a lot done.

Right now my big writing goals are to finish the second Cursed Chicks manuscript and to work on the third book in the series.

I’m also working on my passion project…though that’s a back-burner project that I’m hoping to finish by the end of the year.

Do you have any goals for September?

Release Day!

By Leave a Comment

Color me happy!

It’s release day for THE HITWOMAN PLAYS GAMES.

Part of my publication day ritual involves having a soufflé from Panera Bread because that’s where my friend Cyndi “gave me permission” to write the first Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series. I always pretend I’m sitting with her and celebrating.

I’m considering having rainbow sprinkles on my plain Greek yogurt tonight to finish out the day of celebration. I LIVE WILDLY!

Life’s not all fun and games…

Hitwoman Maggie Lee has faced off against some bad people in the past, but nothing she has ever faced before has prepared her for her new assignment. Nothing.

What could be worse than working at a kid’s game center? 

Flashing lights, beeping machines, screaming kids on a sugar high, and the world’s biggest claw machine may be the combination that finally pushes Maggie over the edge, as she tries to hold down a legit job as a cover for her first PI case.

Not that her downtime offers any respite. While she’s “off” she has to deal with family drama, dangerous dancers, a weird job assignment from the mob boss, and a VERY high stakes poker game.

Thankfully she’s got her animals to confide in, a bodyguard who’s looking out for her and a certain police detective on her side.

Maggie’s got to deal with the hand she’s been dealt…but there’s no guarantee she’ll come out the winner.

Get your copy now!

Stepping it up

By Leave a Comment

It’s a busy week for me as I gear up for the release of The Hitwoman Plays Games on August 31st.

I’m managing my stress by stepping. Yup, I’m channeling my inner 90s gal, lol. I’m doing it in my home, so it’s convenient and air conditioned (very important for summer exercise when one lives in Florida).

When you’re not reading to de-stress, what are you doing?

The Magic Formula?

By 1 Comment

I was talking to an acquaintance the the other day who asked me what the magic formula for writing is.

After exerting ALL my self-control to not roll my eyes or scoff at her (in times of pandemic, I’m thinking scoffing is crueler than usual) I managed to tell her that the “magic formula” is work. Usually hard work that no one can even see that you’re doing until your “magical” success when you finish a manuscript, publish a book, or hit a list.

There’s no magical formula, but there IS some writing advice I give to everyone who asks.

Years ago I saw this advice from author Bob Mayer (or I heard him say it at a workshop…either way he gets the credit): I would do anything to succeed at _______, just don’t ask me to _________.

Most people can fill in both blanks pretty easily.

“I would do anything to succeed at skydiving, just don’t ask me to jump out of a plane.”

“I would do anything to be covered in great tattoos, just don’t ask me to face a needle.”

Those might seem like extreme and/or silly examples, but we’re not always the most logical of beings.

For writers they might look like:

I would do anything to succeed at writing a book, just don’t ask me to give up playing video games to make the time to actually write.

or

I would do anything to succeed at landing my dream agent, just don’t ask to face the rejections that result as part of the querying process.

Right now my personal statement is: I would do anything to finish this latest Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman book, just don’t ask me to be funny in the midst of all this worldwide suffering and turmoil. (If you haven’t read the books, “funny” is a prerequisite and I’ve been struggling mightily with this manuscript.)

What about you? What are you dreaming of? What are your goals?

Take a second to fill in those blanks for yourself.

I would do anything to succeed at ____________, just don’t ask me to _________.

If you can force yourself to actually do whatever the second blank is, you’ve got a decent chance of creating your own magic.