It's hard to believe that it's already been more than a month since I last wrote here. At the same time, though, it's not all that surprising. Life has been full of activity lately, and I recently drove about 6,000 miles during my holiday break. So I've definitely been busy, but it's not as though every waking moment has been filled. I just haven't made that much time for posting to this blog or writing anywhere else. My lack of recent blog posts is going to change, though, now that I'm getting back to the swing of things.
My writing life is coming back slowly, but my hiatus is already effectively over. I've already started doing some writing for the 2009 SDSU Festival of Cultures, and I've resumed work on my next book. At this point I have no idea when the book may be published, but work has resumed. My current thought is to start from the scratch with the book. I will continue to use my journals as source material, but I will write the book from the perspective of someone who's had a chance to reflect on the experiences he's had. Meanwhile I'm continuing to sell and promote my leukemia memoir. Working on sales had entailed finding ways to further publicize the book and to become involved with the 2009 South Dakota Festival of the Book this coming fall.
Outside of working on the book, I've been entertaining the possibility of writing for and doing some editing on the Siouxland Car Council's magazine. At this point things are still up in the air, in terms of what the council is looking for from me and how I'll be compensated. But I'm sure we'll be able to come to some kind of agreement.
In the meantime, I'm feeling good and doing all I can to take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Doing so has entailed intensifying my exercise routine, working on my diet, and learning to think more positive thoughts - including about myself. At the same time I have to remember that good health and happiness aren't destinations ... they're processes. And like any process, there will be periods of advancing and retreating. But the overall trend will be forward and upward. It helps that I'm not alone in such an endeavor; I have so many wonderful family and friends like Dolly, and for all that and then I'm truly grateful.
