Jennifer Lyon


Wednesday, January 15th, 2014
Hunkless Wednesday

I don’t have a guy today, sorry!

Bailey Dog is better! We’re all very happy, especially Middle Son. I don’t like to see either one of my boys hurting (Bailey in physical pain or MS in emotional pain worrying).  I know this sounds like we over-reacted but trust me on this, Middle Son doesn’t over-react.  If he worries, there’s something to be concerned about.

Now for a quick story I forgot about.  Middle Son texted me  about Bailey last Saturday as I was leaving from getting my hair done. I answered then started driving. At the red light, I saw his text pop up on my phone resting in the cup holder: “It’s pretty bad, Mom. Bailey stands there and cries. I’m worried.”

I ignored it. I don’t text and drive–it’s illegal in California but more importantly, it’s dangerous. Even more dangerous when I’m distracted enough worrying about Bailey and my son. So in my head I kept saying, Wait until you get home.

I lasted about a mile  before I caved, but determined not to be stupid, I pulled into a shopping center.  Once I got into a parking space, I picked up the phone and text Middle Son. I told him I’ll be home in 10 minutes and call me then if he needs me and I’ll come out. In seconds I get a text back, “Ok.”

Feeling much better, I looked around to pull out of the space and spotted the  motorcycle cop with a radar gun a couple spaces away watching the traffic. I hadn’t even noticed him! He’d seen me, but didn’t care since I’d pulled into a parking space to text.  Once I pulled back into traffic, the cop roared out, and caught the guy in front of me for speeding. The moral of this story is it pays to use common sense even when I think my kid needs me :-) I still can’t believe I pulled into the space so close to him and didn’t see him. Sheesh.

I’m not producing a ton of pages, but the story is getting there in my head. I’m happy about that much at least. This is my process, I don’t have to love it, I just have to respect it so we can work together to make the book happen :-)  

As usual lately, I’m juggling a gazillion things, including taking auditions on ACX to get The Proposition into an Audio Book (I turned down a contract and decided to do it myself). This has been a really interesting experience hearing the scene read out loud by various narrators.  We’ll see how it goes! I’m also developing a workshop on Romance Tropes for my Romance Writers of America Chapter that I’ll be giving in June.

Sorry again for not having a picture! Hope you’re all having a great week!

10 comments to “Hunkless Wednesday”

  1. Viki S.
    January 15th, 2014 at 3:35 am · Link

    Excellent news on Bailey. It’s just so hard when they’re hurt because they can’t tell us anything.

    Loved your texting story. You were so smart. It’s illegal in most places here but people still do it. It’s just so dangerous. Makes me wonder what is so important that you risk your and other peoples lives. Never can figure that out.

    We all knew that the book was working it’s way out. You’re funny too since you know how your process proceeds.

    Nothing much is happening here at the moment and I’m glad ;).

    Have a great day!



  2. Kat
    January 15th, 2014 at 8:14 am · Link

    Remember to do something for yourself to recharge.

    I plan on starting an exercise class on Saturdays next weekend. I am really trying for me time and de stress activity. I have been told that exercise can help you “bank” time for when you are in a stressful situation.

    Hubs may be starting dialysis in March. He would have to go through the prep stuff in Feb.

    I really want to get into some type of routine of me time and activity. I hope that I can continue it in the coming months.



  3. B.E. Sanderson
    January 15th, 2014 at 8:48 am · Link

    Smart move to pull out of traffic to text. Especially when you get a text like that. I’d be all like ‘gah!’ and hitting the gas to get where I’m going faster so I can deal with the problem. (Like the time when the Kid was small and I got a call she had a temp over 100, but I was like 90 minutes away. I never made the Detroit to Flint run so fast.) I’m so glad Bailey’s better and you didn’t end up with a ticket.

    Yay for writing, even if it isn’t coming out as fast as you want. Sounds like you’re a busy gal. No sweat about the hunky pic – you’ve got better things to do. =o)



  4. Silver James
    January 15th, 2014 at 11:31 am · Link

    So glad Bailey is okay and getting even better! Writing is a process and different for each of us. What matters is you get to the end and are happy (for you! ;) ) with the result. You’ll get there. And yes, thank goodness for you pulling over! I can use Siri to dictate text messages–often with hilarious results due to my accent but I only do that when it’s absolutely necessary and I’m stopped at a stoplight. I don’t even like talking on the phone when I’m driving.



  5. Silver James
    January 15th, 2014 at 11:32 am · Link

    Crud! I forgot the ACX thing…:lol: Which scene are you auditioning? I’d REALLY want to hear how the narrator handles those scenes. ;) I wish I had the sales and income that would let me go audiobooks. Some day maybe!



  6. Jenn
    January 15th, 2014 at 12:01 pm · Link

    Viki, I’m with you on texting and driving. I just don’t do it,though I’m tempted sometimes. And Wizard would have harassed me forEVER if I got a texting ticket. But worse would be hurting someone because I thought I had to text.



  7. Jenn
    January 15th, 2014 at 12:04 pm · Link

    Kat, exercise class is awesome! I want to hear all about it. I keep wanting to take a low end Yoga class, but never do it.

    I’m so sorry that your husband has to live on dialysis. I hope he does okay with it. And I’m really glad that you’re taking care of yourself!



  8. Jenn
    January 15th, 2014 at 12:05 pm · Link

    B.E., ugh on the sick kid when you’re so far away! Now THAT’S real stress! If I couldn’t get to them, then Wizard or a neighbor could, so I was extremely fortunate that way–and I always appreciated it. I’d have done the same thing you did :-)



  9. Jenn
    January 15th, 2014 at 12:10 pm · Link

    Silver, I dictated a message once when I was meeting someone and caught in a detour. Same hilarious results, but my friend somehow deciphered it.

    LOLOL on “those scenes.” That’s exactly why I shied away form doing it myself, and seriously considered the audio contract I was offered. But I have a rule about my work, if I’m going to do it, then I’m going to “own” it. After the first reading or two, I got past most of that shocky/uneasy feeling and started concentrating on what I want in a narrator. I used Kat and Sloane’s first kiss scene–it has enough graphic material to tell me if the narrator can handle it.



  10. Ashlynn Pearce
    January 15th, 2014 at 1:03 pm · Link

    SO glad Bailey is getting better! It’s awful when our furry babies are sick. They just stare at you with those big eyes.

    Very cool about the audio books. I’ve tried to listen to audio books, but when it’s romance, I just start laughing when they get to a love scene. But I’m just weird like that. :lol:

    I really love hearing about writers processes. They are all sooo different and I learn so much. When I first started going to my writers meetings about 10 years ago…they called me the sponge. I just absorbed as much info as I could.



Comments are closed.





JenniferLyon.com