Let's Party!

by Annette Dashofy

I know of a lot of writers who talk about crawling into their caves to write. Oh, sure, they might have other names for it, but anyone who has been hit with a looming deadline has been there. We have to shut out all outside influences, say NO to family and friends, and retreat to our workplace of preference to FINISH THE DAMNED BOOK. Or article. Or short story. Whatever it is that’s due.

And that’s where I’ve been since…egads…JULY. Oh, I came up for air in August and September to catch up with everything I’d put off. But then I went under again in October and have been holed up quite a bit since then.

The reason being I have an agent awaiting my rewritten/revised manuscript. And I’ve sort of promised to get it to her in January.

January felt quite reasonable in November. Now? Heh. Not so much. But I’ll make it. I’m close. Real close.

However, being holed up in a cave isn’t so easy this time of year. When I mentioned on Facebook that I was spending the next several days writing, someone asked, “What about Christmas?”

Lucky for me, we’re not big holiday people. My decorations consist of a couple of wreaths on the doors. That’s it. And while I usually mail Christmas cards, don’t look for anything from me this year. Unless I can find some kind of Happy New Year cards. Does Hallmark do those? If they don’t, why not? They make belated birthday cards. Why not belated Christmas cards?

I have, at least, poked my head out of my hole for a few parties. Writers, I’ve noticed, throw the best parties. This is mainly because of: 1.) Books. 2.) Great food. And 3.) Wine

The first writers’ Christmas party of the year was the one held by our Sisters in Crime chapter and hosted by our secretary Lee Ann Dawson.

The second one was a Pennwriters party held at our Eat N Park Restaurant.

Okay, so it lacked the great food and the wine, but it did have our annual book swap-and-steal.

 Each person brings a wrapped book. When you open one, you have the choice to keep it or trade it for one that’s already been opened. In other words, you shouldn’t get too attached to what you get. Someone might steal it from you. Poor Doris Dumrauf. 

Some evil person (me) stole this book from her.

Note: most writers are nice and keep what they get, regardless. But I ask you, what fun is that?

The third party was another Pennwriters one, this one hosted by the lovely and talented Meredith Mileti. 

That's Meredith on the left.

GREAT food. And I supplied chocolate wine. We did a book swap-and-steal at this one, too. But I promised Doris I wouldn’t steal hers again.

Barb (on the left) reminded me that I’d stolen hers the last two years and threatened to cry if I repeated my dastardly habit. Apparently I’m getting a bad reputation. So I kept what I got.

Regardless.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, everyone!