Getting Back In the Groove... Or Finding a New One...

 So, I realized yesterday that I've been so hyper-focused on promoting my new book that the month seems to have slipped right by. It's June now. How did that happen?

Setting up and organizing my own book tour took a lot more time and effort than I expected it to. I see now why people pay to have someone else organize things. On the one hand, it's good and I feel very connected to my book and getting my characters out into the world. On the other hand, I find myself obsessively checking Facebook for new "likes" on my author page and checking Amazon for new reviews and checking Goodreads to see how many people added my book to their TBR piles...

I was lucky to have noticed the bleeding hearts in bloom. I grabbed the camera immediately, which was good because they didn't last long with all the torrential rains we've had in the last few weeks.

And I missed the wisteria completely. I remember noticing when it was about to bloom, the purple buds all tight and ready to burst. And now they're over already. How did that happen so fast? The grass growing behind the sand pile is over two feet tall, but can't get there to mow it until they get rid of the rest of the sand. Can't open the pool until the sand won't blow into it, so it's a slimy green pollen-filled algae mess at the moment.

Construction has my yard in utter disarray.

My book launch seems to have done something similar with my mind.

It's time to take a deep breath and focus on what's important. That does include SON OF A MERMAID, but not to the exclusion of my house, my yard, and my family. Youngest child has All-Cape track meet today. Oldest son has his appendectomy scheduled for Thursday. Middle child has big anniversary coming up with girlfriend (one year! OMG!) Spring Sports Awards night. Honor Society induction. Step Up Day. Port-Con with my daughter. The opening of her first summer theatre production.

It's a busy month. I don't have time to be obsessing over Facebook stats.

I have 2 more live book events scheduled for this month, a Goodreads Giveaway that I need to promote, and the rest of the Splash Into Summer tour with that Rafflecopter giveaway going on until the 21st. Other than these things, I need to disconnect from the virtual and focus on reality. I don't want to ignore any of my children - books or humans - so I need to find a balance that works.

I want my book to get out there and be successful. I need to help it succeed. But I need to be there for my kids now too. It's a delicate balance. One that I'm hoping to master.

Any advice? How do other authors balance book babies with their real-life children?