Social Networking and Lent: My 40 Days of Silence

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Hi all! Sorry I've been so remiss with the blog - the release and the tour last week and the finishing touches on Taylor #7 have gotten me way behind schedule.

But I'll have plenty of time to catch up now that Lent is starting.

Every year, I take these 40 days and exit from the social networking sphere. I usually pick one or two days a week to stop in, say hi, and see what's happening. I'm pretty sure that day will be Friday for me. Fish and Facebook Fridays.

This is really hard for me, because I love talking to all of you. But it's also always such great timing, because each year at this time, I'm coming off a tour, turning in the last bits of the October book, and starting next year's March book. My brain needs to focus on creating again, looking forward, making the new book as solid as possible.

My 40 Days of Silence, as I like to call them, gives me a chance to get my feet back under me, get a lot of work done, and allow me a bit of time to reflect. After reading William Powers book HAMLET'S BLACKBERRY over Christmas, I've been focused on taking some Internet sabbaticals, giving my brain time to settle onto one or two things instead of fifty. Lent is the perfect moment to go deeper into that concept. 

I hope you'll understand my silence, and cheer me on in my quest. Lent is about denial, giving up things that are precious to you. Yes, chocolate would be a stellar second choice, but social networking is even dearer to me. I'm replacing my SN time with a walk and Italian lessons, so I plan to return in April leaner, and more fluent, with a ton of words under my belt.

I will be updating the blog here, though, and will have my usual columns on Murderati. I wish you all the best in your Lenten endeavors, and whatever else you're setting your mind to these days.

xo, JT

P.S. - Pics from the tour will be on the site by Friday! Signed copies are available at Reading Rock Books, The Book Exchange, Square Books and Mysteries & More.

Also, a signed book is avalable in a great auction to save our libraries - see here for more info.

King Arthur is Coming, and...

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I couldn't be more excited! I'm a fan of all things Pendragon. Actually, that whole literary era: the Arthurian legend, the Welsh, everything, turns my crank. I feel a bout of reading coming on to prepare. Mists of Avalon, Here Be Dragons, The Wicked Day... oh, the possibilities are endless. Do you have any suggestions for me?

Also, around the interwebs:

Is there a southern-fried monster under your bed? Submissions to Surreal South `11, edited by the incomparable Laura Benedict and Pinckney Benedict, are now open!

Betsy Lerner has a superb post up about finding emotional depth in your writing.

Happy Birthday to the Princess!

And if you need a laugh today, read this: The Terrors of the Author Photo.

New Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli

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Via the Acacia wellness blog, a recipe I think I'd like to try. As I mature (cough, cough) my tastebuds have changed dramatically. Things I used to abhor, like hummus and beans, are suddenly favorites. Still hate tomatoes, but love all tomato derivatives. 

Anyway, this looks super yummy. Sadly, I have no beans and am snowed in, or else I'd make it tonight. Enjoy!

Pasta E Fagioli Recipe #20914 @CDKitchen:

3 teaspoons oil
2 pounds ground beef
14 ounces carrot -- slivered
12 ounces onion -- chopped
14 ounces celery -- diced
48 ounces tomatoes, canned -- diced
2 cups red kidney beans
2 cups white kidney beans
88 ounces beef stock
3 teaspoons oregano
2 1/2 teaspoons pepper
5 tablespoons fresh parsley -- chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
48 ounces spaghetti sauce
8 ounces dry pasta shell macaroni

Directions:

Saute beef in oil in large 10 qt. pot until beef starts to brown. Add onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes and simmer for about 10 min. Drain and rinse beans and add to pot. Also add beef stock, oregano, pepper, Tabasco, spaghetti sauce and noodles . Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 min. (45 minutes is never enough to get carrots tender. I'd say a full hour at least.)

Makes 9 quarts.

Juxtaposition

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“Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening; no doubt, no awakening.” - Zen proverb

Two writers. Two different realizations. One is struck by the Muse. One is sharing why we all sometimes needs to fight to find the Muse, because she's hiding under a pile of paper. One writer is yet to be published, but working hard and on submission. One is an internationally bestselling author. One is on the cusp of becoming the other, and I have no doubt will soon surpass us all.

They're both doing it right.

Both work incredibly hard at their craft, and inspire me daily.

More importantly, both are accomplishing their goals for the day.

Discipline and enlightenment.

These are the two ingredients that make a successful author. They go hand in hand. Without one, the other doesn't matter. You can be inspired, touched on the shoulder by the Muse, but if you don't have the discipline to sit in the chair and pound out the words every day, nothing will come of it. If you have the discipline, the dogged rampant desire to work hard, but can't see the forest for the trees, nothing will come of it.

You need both to be a writer. You need the moments of enlightenment; need to allow yourself to accept the gift when it's presented to you. And you need a method, a habit, to harness those gifts and produce a story.

I'm struck by the balance that we all must seek between the two extremes, between the Necessary Evil that is the writer's To Do List, and the Necessary Good that is the writer's Muse. Take the two pieces and use them for yourself today. And if you have tips on balancing the two, leave them in the comments.