Beginnings--a round robin topic

I'm participating in my second round-robin blogfest. The first one earlier this summer I posted to my website. This one I decided to post here.

Ah, beginnings.

I think beginning anything is a two-edged sword. You might succeed; you might not. To begin is to accept the possibility of failure.

Perhaps thirty years ago, my neighbor taught me to make hot dill pickles. I had some instant success, boldly entering them in the Texas State Fair and taking home a first place ribbon. For some reason, I got out of the habit of making pickles for many years and then summer 2012, I was offered pickling cucumbers. And I once again took a first place ribbon at the Texas State Fair.

Success having gone to my head, I put up pickles again this year. And I have a 4th place ribbon to show for it. Both my husband and I agree that they're not as tasty as last year's. The ribbon might not even be deserved!

To begin is to accept that you might fail. I'll not stop putting up pickles. I'll not stop writing, even though I'm taking on a new approach for my work by self-publishing. I might fail, but it's going to be a very interesting beginning.

To see what author Fiona McGier has to say about Beginnings, go here.

Other participants are listed below. Hop on anywhere and begin the ride!

Diane Bator
Beverly Bateman
Ginger Simpson
Lynn Crain
Connie Vine
Rhobin Lee Courtright

Leaping into self-publishing

I have thought about and rewritten and finally compiled my first-to-be self-published novel, After the Thunder Rolls Away. The cover art is being worked on and I've queried the formatter for a time schedule, plus I'm taking two online courses in what this is all about and how to do it and not reinvent the wheel!

Also, I have received my rights back to my 11 romance novels with Wings ePress, Inc. I want the opportunity to revise them and hopefully, self-publish those revisions. For example, when I initially wrote Lyla's Song, not only was it a stand-alone novel, I never imagined it being the first of six books in a series. Then my wonderful, now deceased, editor Lorraine said, "Doesn't your hero have a twin brother?" And it was all downhill from there!

I'll definitely keep the blog and my website, up to speed on all the progress.

What do you mean, it's September?

Already? Already it's September? What happened to August? Other than celebrating my anniversary and my birthday. And a son's birthday with an adult family dinner. All that fun and the month just flew!

I asked for matinee tickets to The Book of Mormon for my birthday present from my sons and I got them. Fun afternoon. An irreverent show, but not mean-spirited. I fear I missed some of the lyrics because it was going so fast and I was trying to catch it all. Must be what seeing it again is for.

But back to the topic. It's September already. My goal for the rest of the year is to self-publish a novel. I handed out copies to friends to edit and to answer the critical question: Does this even make sense? I have half back and hope to have the rest this week. I'll read and compile and send to a formatter. I have a list of things to do after that to get myself ready, such as getting an Amazon Central author's page.

Since I like making lists and checking things off, I should be very happy.

And then, it'll be October! But why shouldn't it be? Hobby Lobby has had Christmas on the racks since August!