Life is Lifing... Balancing a 9–5, Editing Indie Romance, and Bookish Travel

In the very apt lyrics of Hilary Duff, "life is lifing." That line is stuck on repeat in my head, and I've never heard anything more accurate! If you’ve ever tried balancing a full-time job, a growing creative side hustle, and a bookish life you refuse to give up… this one’s for you.

My 9-5 has been busier than ever these last few months and only positioned to get more intense this year. Meanwhile, my 5-9 has also been growing, expanding, and branching off into multiple avenues.

Between the recent snowdays these past few weeks, keeping up with the kids, and having plans every weekend from now until October, it's safe to say I've been a little overwhelmed trying to keep up AND plan ahead.

As much as I have been trying not to overload myself with leisure reading or worrying about keeping up with a blog or social media content, this community is something that brings me joy, and I feel the loss of it when I'm not active. If anyone has any tips for what to do when there just aren't enough hours in the day, please share!

Reading Update: As usual I have way too many books going!

Started Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir last month for book club, but I'm still on chapter 7.
Halfway through the audio of Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Should have already started The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda for another book club, but haven't yet.
Just started an ARC of Faking Cinderella by Pippa Grant, which I have as an ebook and an audio, with the physical on the way - love the options with an immersive read!
Received the ARC of This Wretched Alchemy by Tina Mars and I am dying to start it!

Reading for Work

As a freelance editor working with indie romance authors, my leisure reading has definitely taken a backseat.

I just finished beta listening to an audiobook that's coming out March 19 (Fangs of Fate by Rebecca Parcha) - it's phenomenal and these narrators are AMAZING!

Now, I'm proofing the first three books in Stefanie Castro's Boston Embers series, before jumping into copyediting Rebecca's latest upcoming work in progress (that I have to say is absolute fire!). From there. I'll be jumping into Stefanie's debut If Only series which I'm really excited about - not only do I love a NYC setting, but these are older MCs and I'm here for the more mature romances!

I'm looking forward to diving into Lynn Montagano's The Legacy, book three in her interconnected Royal & Legends series ahead of its debut at the end of April.

I also have a few more manuscripts I'm expecting to hit my desk in March and April, so I've hit my max at the moment, but I am toying with the idea of offering a special promo for proofreading to indie authors this year, as I continue to notice little errors are still one of the biggest reasons I'm taken out of a story. I want to pull the trigger on it, but I'm also trying to get myself stabilized before adding on anything else!

Bookish Travel Coming Up

This has quickly become my year of travel because I have so many trips coming up! Workwise, I'm headed to Dallas, TX with Rebecca next week. We were originally going for Dreamers & Readers, but when that got cancelled last minute, the book community really rallied to totally REWRITE the festival. Rebecca and I have a jam-packed itinerary from the moment we land on Thursday, and then I'll get home Monday morning to jump right back into my 9-5.

Both Rebecca and Stefanie were accepted to BookCon's Indie Alley coming up in April, and I could not be more thrilled to get to be there and support them. If you're attending, make sure to come see us - Stefanie is at Booth B-15, and Rebecca has Booth B-14!

How has your year kicked off? Any 5-star reads so far?

HEY, I’M CYNTHIA…

Welcome to my personal book haven! I’m all about diving into stories and chatting with fellow bookworms.

I read pretty much anything and everything in the fiction world, except for horror (it’s just a little too spooky for me!). But give me a twisted psychological thriller, and I’m in.

I also love reading ARCs (advance reader copies), so you’ll often find my reviews up before or right on the book's publication day.

Happy reading, and let’s get lost in stories together!

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📚✨ May your bookshelf always lead to love, suspense, and the unexpected.