Ready, set, go: The race to complete my novel before summer

I only have three more Monday and four Wednesday work days before summer lets out and I have both my kids at home with me full time. Any of you out there, who have children, know that it is near impossible to get anything done when your kids are home. Add to that the challenges associated with having a special needs child who requires strict supervision and a schedule that doesn't give room for meltdowns.

When I set out this year on my quest to make being an author work I knew it would be challenging but I was up for a new challenge. I wanted something for myself. Something that I have always wanted to do, write. So I wrote and published my first novel this March. It was challenging and I learned a LOT. I've poured over trade articles and books and met with and interviewed several successful Indy authors.

With this knowledge in hand I set out to make my book into book #1 of a series. I worked up a schedule that all the experts said was necessary to get and keep readers interested. This schedule included having my second novel in the series ready to be published by September.

It had all seemed doable at the time. I didn't take into account the time necessary to market the first book or the time I would have to inevitably take off to care for sick children. Now here I am with only four weeks left of the school year and still have approximately 29,000 more words to go. Can I do it? I don't know. I'll keep you updated on the process and any pitfalls that I might encounter.

I will tell you this: I love the characters, their interactions, and especially love the ending. I hope you readers out there will love it all too. I have enjoyed my time with my characters, maybe more this time than the first.

KM Hodge author of the Syndicate Suspense Series.

 Book #1 Seasons is available for free on Kindle Unlimited.