Project manager instead of writer

I like to tell people that I am am author, but I have barely written a thing in a long time because I’ve been a project manager, orchestrating the printing and distribution of the review copies of my books.

Yesterday, my friends came over to stuff 74 envelopes with two books to send out to magazine and newspaper reviewers. It took me a week to get the mailing labels, sort through a list of 700 magazines and newspapers, buy the envelopes, write and edit the press releases and information sheets, work with the graphic designer, talk to a public relations specialist and organize the envelope stuffing dinner. My friends joked that they felt like Chinese assembly line workers and were waiting for their $0.15/hour wages. I fed them Russian borscht, wine, bruschetta, German chocolate liebkuchen cookies and other treats.

Today, I spent two hours affixing five stamps to each envelope because the inefficient post office could not print out stamps for me to send the envelopes via media mail. I came into the post office with two suitcases full of envelopes. The other customers gave me some weird looks.

I do want to do more writing, but now I have to cart the boxes od envelopes back to the post office and get to writing marketing materials for my website contest.

The images of writers lingering in cafes with red wine lubricating their throats is just a mirage. I bet I am not the only one running her own business.