Kristina Wright :: Musings of an Insomniac Writer

It’s been all books, all the time lately. It’s mid-July and Fairy Tale Lust is out in the world and submissions for Dream Lover are about to close. (Guidelines here!) I guess that means it’s time to start thinking about the next book, hmm?

Fairy Tale Lust seems to be doing well, sliding up and down the top 100 short story collections on Amazon. The highest I’ve seen it is at #6. Very cool. It’s fascinating to see both the print and Kindle versions on the list, the Kindle version usually higher in the rankings. Have e-books finally come into their own? I guess I’ll have to wait for my royalty statement to find out.

Between the book promo, Jay’s crazy work schedule, Patrick’s ever-evolving skill set, an extreme sleep deficit and a cookout or party almost every weekend, the days have been a blur lately and I feel like I have no time for anything. Obsessive list-maker that I am, I haven’t made a list since the beginning of June. That in itself is startling. The fact that I’m ~~keeping up with~~ trying to keep up with things through sheer brain power is terrifying. Being a chronic insomniac has never really impacted my memory until the last few months and I find myself repeating things or getting dates wrong or forgetting things on a quick trip to the grocery store. (Though Jay is far worse than I am about that last one.) I need to get back to list-making. Not only do I forget fewer things and overall accomplish more, I feel like I have a little more control over my day-to-day routine when I’m marking things off on a list. Sometimes.

Things I’ve forgotten or had no energy to do lately:

--Write Patrick’s 7 month letter. He’s now 7 months, 1 week and 2 days. I hope to write that letter by the weekend. Certainly before he turns 8 months old…

--Find a suitable bookshelf and toy box for Patrick’s rather small room. (I think I’m going to go with something like this bookshelf/bin combo from Land of Nod.)

--Schedule a doctor’s appointment and/or massage to get my shoulder looked at/worked on.

--Figure out travel dates for a family vacation to Chicago to see Aunt Sheri.

--Mail in the rebate for my new cell phone. I really must do that soon, if it isn’t too late already. (Checked expiration date on the offer: July 26. Whew.)

--Read. Seriously. I can’t remember the last time I actually read a novel. I’ve read a lot of anthologies (or at least select stories in anthologies), a lot of blogs, a lot of magazine articles. But I haven’t read a book in… months.

--Catch up on the episodes of at least six shows. When I was in the last trimester of pregnancy, I went a little crazy and started recording a bunch of series. Now they’re all sitting there, clogging up the DVR because I have no time/energy to watch. Might have to delete some stuff unwatched.

--Clean out the spare freezer. (Again, I went a little crazy in my last trimester and froze enough food for a village of pregnant women. Said food is now growing icicles and needs to be disposed of stat.)

--Blog about stuff other than Fairy Tale Lust.

--Write. Write. Write. Write.

Complaining aside, life is pretty good right now. Sure, I’m busy. Sure, I’m too tired to think some days. But Jay is home (when he’s not doing field exercises), baby is happy and healthy, my babysitter is awesome and makes my life easier, my friends close and far are rocking my world with love and support, my pretty book is doing well, I’m getting excited to read submissions for my next book and summer 2010 is this beautiful, golden haze of busy days, happy moments and lots of laughter.

What more could I ask for?

Posted by Kristina in Musings at 11:38 AM

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Some pictures from my first Fairy Tale Lust reading Friday night at Bean There Cafe in Norfolk, Virginia. It was a lovely evening with champagne, fairy tale cake, chocolate, a signature “Lusty Latte” (dark chocolate, cherry and amaretto), body painting by Jeff Edney Studios and a lively and supportive crowd of friends and strangers.

I read Charlotte Stein’s deliciously spooky “The Return” and my own demonic “In the Dark Woods.” I was in a dark mood, apparently.

The woodland faerie Pyper and me after the reading

Pyper and Fairy Tale Lust

Taking a reading break to enjoy a Lusty Latte

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My book on a cake! (And beautiful flowers from my best friend Sheri.)

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading at 01:43 PM

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The Kindle version of Fairy Tale Lust was #11 and the print version was #36 on Amazon’s Books>Literature & Fiction>Short Stories>United States list. I know, I know, that doesn’t seem like a big deal given the many, many categories and genre lists. However… please note the books below the Kindle version and above the print version. Holy cow, the company we’re keeping!

Posted by Kristina in Books and Reading at 12:01 AM

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I say it’s worth a very sweet little prize package. I’m looking for photographs of Fairy Tale Lust in the wild-- on the shelves in your local bookstore or in your hand as you check out with your very own copy.

E-mail your photo (along with your name and location of the bookstore) to and I will post it at the Fairy Tale Lust blog (and maybe here, too) and credit you for the find. On August 1, I will choose three lucky winners to receive prize packages that will include five anthologies that feature my stories, along with some chocolate goodness from Fairytale Brownies. (I make excellent brownies. Ask anyone. But these… oh my, they are good.)