Hello, 600th post

I started this blog in December, 2010 after hearing, as many of us do before starting out blogging, that aspiring authors should probably have some sort of online "platform". I think the general idea is to establish your online presence and 'brand'. I definitely started out with the 'online presence' thing in mind, but I never had a particular brand in mind, and I still don't.

Now in October, 2014, I'm still putting up posts about whatever I feel like on a particular day. I do participate in blogfests, book launches, tours, etc., so when it comes to those, my posts are a little bit - or a lot - pre-determined. But the only rule I really try to stick to with blogging in general is to post at least once a week. Previously I aimed for every 3 days, but I find having a general goal of one post per week works better.

It's a little way off my 4-year blogiversary, but 600 posts is a fun milestone to celebrate anyway! I'm so glad to be part of this community. You guys are awesome and I love reading your blogs & seeing what you have to say. And I really enjoy reading your books, too. ;) Particularly when I get awesome print copies of them. GO PRINT BOOKS, GO!

P.S. I'm not far off achieving my (admittedly quite modest) annual reading goal:

2014 Reading Challenge

Trisha has read 37 books toward her goal of 40 books.

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37 of 40 (92%)

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P.P.S. I am starting to think about what I want to write for NaNo, 2014. I have two ideas that are way ahead of all the rest. Haven't picked one yet, though.

[O&AM] Thinking about death (while not feeling depressed)

I don't really want this to be a dreary, depressing blog post, but it's a topic that's been on my list for O&AM since the beginning, and I always knew I'd get to it someday. Basically I was 17 when I first started thinking about mortality - my own and other people's. Later a friend told me this was the start of my "quarter-life crisis". A little bit early, sure, but I don't think that's particularly unusual.

The way I was at seventeen, morbidly dwelling on my inevitable demise, makes me wonder about a lot of the YA books out there. Do the teens in those books think about their own mortality? Do they get bogged down by the depressing fact of life that we're all gonna die someday? I did read one YA in recent years that dealt with heavy themes of death and abuse and all that, even though it was a funny, loveable book. Please Ignore Vera Dietz is definitely one of my favourite books ever. I briefly mentioned it back here. And I reviewed it here.

Anyway, I've had my dark times where I've been obsessed with mortality, but for the most part I've got past the obsession - the compulsion to think about it even though I never wanted to. These days I'm enjoying my life and making a lot of it, even if I'm probably not yet quite making "the most" of it. I've done some great things - travelled around the world (twice), formed strong friendships, had and lost (not-so-)great loves, released a music CD, written 11 novels, fostered homeless cats, bought a house, etc.. I will do more great things, at least that's my intention. And while I still often think about mortality - mine and other people's - 'cause I can't help it, it generally doesn't drag me down as much as it used to.

I hope this post didn't depress anyone. I just wanted to share with you a part of me that is ever-present. That's what this little series is about, after all - giving you guys the chance to know me better!

A quick NaNo update:

I hit 40k last night. Specifically, 40,346.

I wrote over 18k this weekend (0 words on Friday).

I'm still loving my story.

I still have many "meaty" scenes to write.

I think it'll wind up being a good length.

And I lurve my characters.

p.s. This is my 500th post!!!!