I did not realize till yesterday that I had let a whole month go by since writing a blog post. Not that these are strictly necessary–they are a mixture of casual joy and helpful discipline–and certainly no one has been knocking at my door, demanding I explain why I haven’t written one in a while. This blog is a bit like a quiet corner in a out of the way coffee-shop. Good conversation. Low population. Sometimes contented silence.
I just like to be consistent, is all.
But I have been busy. I don’t particularly like to be busy. I like to have lots of time to go on long walks, or have long ‘thinks.’ But I have five children, I homeschool, I teach Jiu Jitsu, I compete in Jiu Jitsu, I help facilitate a bible study at chapel, I’m re-writing (not merely revising) book 3, and the pile of unfolded laundry sometimes nearly reaches the rafters of the roof (we do not have rafters, but it was about as tall as my 9 year old a couple of days ago).
Regarding my Books
A thorny topic. Book one of my Land of Exile trilogy, “By Blood, By Salt“, has been out in the world for nearly four months. I have learned that at the early stages of self-publishing, especially when one only has a single book in the atmosphere, one must hustle for every single sale. And I am not particularly good at hustling. I imagine not many writers are.
I ran a labor day sale with a book promo (a thing I did not know how to do only a week prior) and made more sales in those four days than I had in the entire month prior. Thrilling, yes, but then reality hits and when the sale is over, it’s back to the aforementioned hustle.
It’s hard to love something so much and know it has no guarantee of success. But that’s how things go.
Book 2 is with the line editor. Good chance I get it back in the next couple weeks. I’ll read through, then send it back for proofread.
Art work for the cover will begin end of the month.
Book 3 is a 35K words. I am very excited about it and very nervous because I can really *see* everything better and better, but seeing it is not the same as writing it, and the work is slow.
I am still in the SPFBOX competition, however this only by default. No one has either been reviewed or cut from my group as of yet. However nearly half of the other books have been cut, some gently, some rather brutally. There are twenty-some semi-finalists and one finalist.
I love my book. I have been thrilled to discover that others do too. I hope it strikes a chord with the judge as well.
Regarding other Books
I just finished “The Once and Future King.” I had very mixed feelings. They are chronicled in goodreads.
I just started “Silence” by Shusaku Endo
I am nearly done with “Mama Bear Apologetics” which I read for the Bible study I’m leading at chapel. It’s decent. I have some critiques. I think it tries to cover too much too fast and needed to slow down and savor concepts over topics.
I am also almost done with :Knowing God” by J.I. Packer. Very sound theologically, and valuable. But, being accustomed to Lewis’ eloquence and Chesterton’s wit and whimsy, it feels staid and plodding by comparison.
Kids and School
I have a 5th grader, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader and two Pre-ks. It’s a good thing they are all so darn smart and just seem to figure things out so quickly and easily, because I’m not sure what I’d do if I hit a real roadblock, as I know most parents eventually do. I’ve had it pretty easy so far, and school is going (relatively) smoothly.
Jiu Jitsu
I did my first competition at purple belt! I lost! But that’s okay! Truthfully, I really enjoyed going, and now the worst is over. Purple belt is a tough one because people often spend 2-4 years at purple belt, and it really does transition you from beginner to advanced. I’ll likely compete again in December, and I’ll get to gauge my improvement.
I have a few new students in my Ladies’ class, which is a joy, because attendance had been sparse there for a while.
Growing in Jiu Jitsu is so often just about showing up.
Writing too, for that matter.
Parenting.
And so on.
J. L. Odom 