What me worry? All the time!
But what do I do with that worry that “bumps” me in the middle
of the night? I usually read a ton of books at that wicked worry hour.
My books in good company at Sherman's Books
Obviously, scary stories are out - even in October. As an author, I have many
author friends and I try to support them by reading their books. But scary
books will keep me up at night, even if it’s a romance. Romance has many genre
types from sweet to spicey, and includes the scarier ones, such as romantic
mystery, suspense, paranormal, and thriller. The one requirement for a book to
be classified as a romance is that it has a HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER ending. How the
author reaches that magical ending is an open path.
Still, I do want to read some of those scarier books, only
because I know the words the author writes will inspire me, even if the topic
may alarm me. I still learn. So those books I read during daylight.
The other thing that keeps me awake is what a good writer
friend calls her monkey mind—the one that chatters all night long about every
worry that we try to slough off during the day. And when my worries are buried
all day, so I can actually get other things done—well, you know what happens. I
am usually wide awake with thoughts whirring through my mind. Getting back
to sleep might not happen for hours. Instead, I stare out the window. Or step
to the deck and take photos under the full moon. Or with the streetlight
making its own magical reflections in the rain.
 |
| Hide and Seek with the Moon |
So, when my mind spins in various directions, and refuses to
quiet, no matter how many Belted Galway cows I count, I tend to get up, boot up
the computer, and write. For many of my books, I have added extra chapters
during those post, midnight magical hours.
 |
| Dan Zadra Quote |
What do you do
to ward off those things that go BUMP/THUMP/BANG in the night?
The Inn on Gooseneck Lane
Amazon
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The
Inn on Gooseneck Lane by Delsora Lowe | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble®
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Books
The
Inn on Gooseneck Lane on Apple Books
~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires
burning ~
Delsora
Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from
the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.
Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor
Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of
Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her newest
novella is The Love Left Behind. Look for both a Christmas novel (The
Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker) later this
fall.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram:
#delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/
12 comments:
Love the first picture of your books snuggled up with Debbie Macomber!
If I can't sleep and my relaxation, etc. processes don't work, I get up. What I do when I get up depends. If I can't sleep because of a story idea, I write. If I'm just unsettled, I might read or play computer solitaire or maybe clean out a drawer or do some filing, etc.
I used to read in bed and then I did some studying on insomnia and learned that "teaching" my body that my bed is for sleeping is part of the process.
Oh, can I relate to that monkey mind! My kids tell me I worry too much and about the most unlikely things, but seriously, being a writer and a mother there's no way I can help it!
I admire your ability to get up and write when you can't sleep - the perfect and productive therapy
Janet - worrying is ingrained in a mother's DNA - even now with grandchildren (now added worries :-) ) And writing also has built in worries at every stage. So glad you could stop by and say hello!
Hope you have a worry-free day
Judith - yes, I read too. But I read in bed. It calms me and empties my brain of troubles, and actually inspires good ideas in the middle of the night. My problem is, if I get up, I have a harder time getting back to sleep, but I accomplish a lot. If I read my Kindle with light adjusted to VERY low, I can soon nod off, even when the book is riveting. The big problem is waking up - I want to stay snuggled in bed and pick up where I left off on the wonderful book.
Deb,
Great blog post and loved the picture of the moon and clouds.
I go to bed and read anywhere from a few pages to one chapter. Turn off the light and I'm out!
Reading relaxes me and takes my mind off worries.
Nice post, Delsora. I also avoid scary stories and wake up with monkey mind at full speed. I often use the time to brainstorm or think about my latest book project.
Diana - I love taking photos of clouds and the moon. I wish I could fall asleep faster than I do and stay asleep. Haven't been able to do that since I was a kid.
I wish I could do that, Lynn. My middle of the night forays would be more productive, for sure. Unfortunately, when I have monkey brain, I can't quiet it to focus on one thing. That is why reading or getting up and writing helps me focus, and eventually helps me sleep again. Glad you could pop in today!
I can't read anything scary before bed. And I don't watch movies anymore. I do read before bed, and that relaxes me. I usually go right to sleep when I get into bed. But if I'm having a bad night, I'll wake up between 2:00 and 4:00 and sometimes stay awake the rest of the night. It depends on how active monkey mind is and what it is ruminating about. I don't get up and try to do anything else. I make myself stay in bed and wait it out. I use a small flashlight and don't turn on any bright lights.
"Monkey mind" is the perfect word for it - disjointed thoughts bouncing up and down and all around. When that happens to me, I power up my Kindle, on the low light setting, and give my brain something else to focus on. It usually takes only 5 - 10 minutes to drift off to slumberland.
Thanks to Barb for the term monkey mind. Barb - I have no level nightlights in the kitchen and bathroom, so I don't have to turn on lights. Once that light goes on - not good, as it wakes you right up.
Luanna - sometimes it only takes me a few minutes to go back to sleep with the Kindle. But usually, by the time I actually pull out the Kindle, it is because the mind is racing about other things...and will not quiet. At that point, distraction is the name of the game.
The raindrops turned to diamonds photo spoke to me. So magical!
I'm lucky because I seldom have insomnia. When I do, reading will usually put me back to sleep.
Enjoyed your post, Delsora.
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