Friday Feature: Virtual Visit to Jersey

 Every time I’m asked to do a podcast, I get nervous, but I have yet to do one and not have fun. Yesterday's experience with Jennifer Behnke for the Diocese of Newark's "Heart of the Ark" was no different. We chatted briefly before she started asking me about my book, which gave me a chance to shake off some of my nerves and simply engage in the conversation with a fellow Jersey girl.

And a lovely conversation it was. Time flew by.

I started doing press, so to speak, for Know Thyself  before it came out in 2019, and it's always interesting to see where the questions lead. There are inevitable similarities (we're all talking about the same book, after all), but yesterday's discussion took an approach that was different from any of the other conversations about the book. I'm excited to hear the finished product (which I will, of course, share here :-)

It’s always exciting, not to mention a lovely compliment, to be invited to speak about something that I’ve written. Theatre girl that I am, I do love a spotlight, especially when it shines only on my words and there's no video involved. But as warm as the spotlight can be, it pales in comparison to a warm, human conversation.

Thanks for having me, Jennifer. 

Late to the Dewey Decimal System Party

Grand View Elementary School

Happy Belated Dewey Decimal System Day! Do you have your confetti? Your balloons? Your party favors?

Me neither. In fact, the only reason I know that DDSD exists is because I like using CheckiDay to find out about holidays like these. And, sometimes, I don't check back for awhile, but I leave the tab open and, for a moment, think the holiday is on the day I read about it.

Like today.

Dewey Decimal System Day was actually December 10. Today is Call a Friend Day, National Card Playing Day, and National Chocolate Candy Day, among others. While any (or all) of those celebrations sounds louder and more exciting than Dewey Decimal System Day, as an author, the very existence of DDSD intrigued me.

My books are in libraries. That means they have Dewey Decimal numbers. While my fiction is filed under FIC HES, Know Thyself has an actual DDS number: 648HES.

It's not the only 648 on the shelves, of course, and probably not even the only 648HES, which is okay because it's the existence of the number, not its uniqueness that gets me excited. It lends an air of authenticity to something that began as an idea in my head, then moved to a file on my computer LONG before it became a book with 648HES on its spine.

But why 648? While most of us don't pay much attention to the tens' place, let alone the ones' place (and the decimals that follow), librarians do. I won't attempt to describe the decision to you, as I'm not qualified to do so, but I will say that, according to this chart, 648 is the DDS number for books about housekeeping. There's potential for both irony and humor there as anyone who knows me is well aware but, according to Dewey and the lovely librarians who shelve and care for my book, Know Thyself can be found on the shelf housing books with the number 648.

Check it out :-) And, while you're there, thank a librarian. They do this stuff so we don't have to.

Friday Feature: Getting Organized

Like so many others, I've used some of my "time in" to tackle projects around the house. Not only do I love to organize, but I have inspiration in the form of my 22 year old daughter who has moved back home following her college graduation. Her bedroom overhaul has gotten my organizing juices flowing. Yesterday, I tackled and reconfigured a bedroom closet.

All of that made it seem like a good day to share an article about decluttering. Though I write a lot about organization, I stand by my mantra that one size does not fit all so, in that vein, I like sharing organizing ideas that are not only good, but also readily adaptable to anyone who uses them.

That's what I like about this closet checklist from the Apartment Therapy site. It's clear, brief, and personalizable. It also happens to be a good fit for the way I work, as evidenced by the fact that I did most of the things it suggests when I worked on my closet yesterday.

I do not, however, under any circumstances, throw rejected outfits onto the floor of my closet. I leave them on my bed to clean up later. :-)

Happy organizing!

I'd like to take this opportunity to invite you to check out my writer page on Facebook. 

On June 11, I'll celebrate a book birthday: one year since the publication of my book, 

Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist's Guide to Sorting Your Stuff. 

I'll be posting about organization throughout the day, and you can jump in at any time,

read whatever interests you, and skip past whatever doesn't. 

There will be prizes, and, if you've liked the page, you'll have access to the celebration.

Taking a Risk

Tumisu via Pixabay

Tomorrow, I'm stepping outside my comfort zone and doing a webcast. Shortly before 2 p.m. EST, I will sit down at my laptop and, through the magic of technology, the lovely Tracy at OSV will ask me questions about Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist's Guide to Sorting Your Stuff. For my part, I will try to sound intelligent and not talk with my hands too much.

I am not a fan of video -- I don't really even like having my picture taken -- but this seemed like a good way to share the book. Plus, I scheduled this in February when May seemed eons away and, therefore, less intimidating.

Why, you may wonder, am I doing this? Am I being paid? (No). Is someone forcing me to do this? (No). Am I too embarrassed to back out now that I've said yes? (No).

In part, I want to share my book, but, in addition, I think there's something to be said for trying new things. One of the characters on The Big Bang Theory had a line about trying to do more things that scared her and I think that's a pretty good idea. It's easy to get stuck in our comfort zones, especially as we get older. If trying new things keeps me from getting old before my time, I'm all for it.

So, tomorrow, I'll pick up the conversation where Tracy and I left off at our tech check today. I'm nervous, but excited, especially because I enjoyed talking with her today. I'm also proud of myself for taking a risk and compounding it by telling you about it here, increasing the possibility that more than just Tracy will be listening to my responses.

When's the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Is it time to take another baby step?

If you'd like to listen to the webcast, click here. You can hear me live, or listen later.

A New Book is Coming!

The new year keeps bringing me new things to share! (No complaints!!) I didn't intend to have two new pretty things to showcase this week, but this morning, I got the official go-ahead to share the cover of my latest book!

Due out this spring from Our Sunday Visitor, Know Thyself: The (Im)Perfectionist's Guide to Sorting Your Stuff takes a laid back, gentle approach to getting organized. Long-time readers may remember that I used to post on this topic here before moving the organizing posts to a home of their own. My philosophy is that anyone can get organized, but that one-size-fits-all organizational strategies are counterproductive (and frustrating). The path to sustainable systems is created by putting the things we already do -- the very things that might seem like obstacles -- to work and developing strategies that work with those habits and styles.

So, for any of you who've been wondering what's taking me so long to get the next Marita/Angel/Charli book out into the world, the answer is that I seem to have taken a non-fiction detour. Now that the writing part of Know Thyself is finished, I'm anxious to get back to my characters, and determined that 2019 will be the year that their next installment makes it into your hands.

Until then, I hope you'll join me in celebrating my newest book, due out in just a few months!