So now that I have published a book, I feel like I am trying to merge two identities, and things might get a little confusing. So I want to have this post explain a little bit about what is going on for any new travelers to the squeaky world of Jess and Paula.

My name is Jessica Smith. I publish under a pen name of Paula Jean Ferri. The two names are interchangeable in my mind though. While I was born as Jessica, around the age of 17, I developed a new lifelong friend, who I affectionately call Paula. Her name is a little more searchable than mine is. Besides, I probably wouldn't have had anything to write about without her, so she became the author.

Feel free to wander the blog and discover a little more about Paula's antics. I am also on Medium writing as often as I can between my three outlets (books, blog and Medium). I would LOVE to hear more about you and any questions you may have. Please send an email to Paulajeanferri@gmail.com.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least... I can't thank you enough for visiting!! I LOVE that you are here and hope to see more of you! Be sure to keep up to date on my website:

paulajeanferri.com

Project Updates!

Well, this week has been a doozy, and not just for me, it seems like. Something must be in the air or something. maybe it's holiday fever. I don't know. I DO know that it was a crazy one.

For example, my job is in jeopardy. Again. So while I am working on keeping my job and stepping up my abilities there, I'm also leaning a bit harder into my own thing. Can't put all my eggs in one basket. I'll give those updates in just a bit.

But first! Holiday fun!

In regards to the holidays, I'm mostly on track, I have one Christmas gift to finish making, then wrapping all the gifts going into the last package to mail before I start on the local Christmas gifts that I will wrap for family that is close by. I'm even sending out Christmas cards this year! Only to immediate family members, and there is less than 20, but it's my first time attempting it at all, so I'm super proud of myself.

I've slowed down a bit on Madamn unfortunately. I'm writing a new scene that I've been fighting for a long time, but I can at least see now that it is important, and it has been started. But goodness, it's hard for me to write. No spoilers here though. If people are asking, I'll talk about it after the book release. Today I do plan on working on it specifically. No other writing projects allowed (once the blog post is up).

What I've been working on instead of the novel itself is the Kickstarter launch! I'm tentatively looking at March for a launch, and it will be just a 30 day project to earn $1,000. I'm feeling pretty confident that I can make it, but am still considering lowering it to just $500. Then it will be 200% funded when I hit my actual goal! 😉 It's almost ready for pre-launch phase for people to follow and garner support. I've been working on that a bit more than I should considering the novel isn't actually finished yet... Then again, that is the point of Kickstarter, isn't it?

The last big project I'm working on is the launch party/Reader's Escape that is going to be taking place in the actual setting of the book, the Chateau de Guermantes. I'm hoping to have pricing finalized by today, though I do have an event on social media that you can follow here. I'm still chatting with the people in charge and I even get to take a virtual tour of the place! Which will be really big help circling back to the novel. I can add details that will make it so much more real and rich! I'm so thrilled with how all of the things are falling into place!

So that's my update on my projects for the week. I'm still planning on writing each week, but with the holiday prep getting close, we will see how that goes. So in the off chance you don't hear from me for a few weeks, I hope you are enjoying the holiday festivities and enjoying time with friends and loved ones. 

I get that it's not always easy during this time of year, but I hope that you find some bit of comfort and joy and peace during the holidays.

What a Crazy Week!

I'm not sure how I survived this week. It's been emotional as it led up to the five year anniversary of losing my brother in such a terrible, violent, and senseless manner. 

It's so weird to think he has been gone that long. 

On top of that, I attended my last writer's circle after being with this group of phenomenal women for about a year. 

That's not including the chaos that was my full time job this week. I get that it's always busy during the first of the month, but Monday our computers were down and we had to go old school, doing all of our transactions by hand, which made for a long day. 

Yet despite all of this, Friday felt like a Thursday. I am just really not ready for today. I had a good cry last night, but I feel a bit numb. I'm not sure how I will get any kind of work done.

It is the holidays, after all, there are gifts to wrap, cards to write, packages to ship, all in addition to novel writing. 

At least I can tick blog post off my list! Whoo! 

But after today, the worst of it will be over and I'll be able to move forward. 

Because every year, it's a good reminder to live moment to moment, for these are the only times that are promised. 

I still plan, I still prepare, I still grow.

Because I hope. 

I hope for a long and healthy life.

I hope for a successful career as an author.

I hope for children and grandchildren.

Even if it means they will never know their Uncle Travis. 

But I will. And I will love them and every moment I have with them.

So I hope you are able to celebrate something this holiday season and I hope that it's spend with people you love and that love you. 

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Hey there friends! 

I hope the holiday season is off to a great start for you. As much as I love the Thanksgiving holiday, this week was kind of weird. I won't go too much into details, but the good news is that I did manage to get a new scene written for Madamn. 

Well, half a scene. But it made it to my Writer's Circle group I meet with and I have some really good direction about where to take it and have made some awesome progress with character development in this new scene. I'm actually quite proud of it.

So that is the direction I'll be taking today. I'm also super close to finalizing the pricing for Madamn's book launch and hoping to get some progress on the Kickstarter moving soon. I'm hoping to have it up within the next week for the prelaunch phase, so people can follow along and be notified of the official launch for the Kickstarter. 

I have some amazing things planned and you won't want to miss them!

The hard part is, it is also the holiday season. I do have some gifts purchased, they just need to be wrapped and shipped to those out of state. I'd like to get some decorating in, but I first have to do a bunch of cleaning around the house as well.

Besides, my husband is a bit of a Grinch and Christmas can't start until December anyways. Spoilsport. So things are getting fairly busy around here, which makes progress feel all the more reason to celebrate.

I hope this season brings you many reasons to celebrate, even if it feels like you are treading water. In stressful situations, anything checked off the list is a great thing. 

We got this!

Festival of Trees!

Hey friends! I'm keeping it short and sweet today. I have an event to go to tonight and preparations to make!

And maybe possibly try to get some writing in...

This week was kind of a roller coaster for me, so I'm really glad to be ending it on such a high note. I am not only attending this event, which is always a fun thing for me, but this year I donated a tree! I'm so excited to see how it does at the auction.

It's especially cool for me knowing that it helps our community. We are small here and only have a volunteer fire department, so funds from this event contribute to the well being of many. 

I'm so happy with how this turned out!

Here's to kicking off the holiday season right! Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving this week!

Have You Ever Worked Customer Service?

I have worked customer service pretty much my entire life in one form or another. Odd for a writer, I know, but I love it. Most of the time.

But every once in a while, you have a week... kind of like this past week. It started off fantastic. I had Monday off for Veteran's Day. I have a lot of family members and friends who have served/are serving, so this is a special day for me. 

But after taking some time to feel and express my gratitude, I got SO. MUCH. DONE. I had over 10k steps in after doing some grocery shopping and Christmas shopping and a workout, some writing, some house cleaning... I don't even remember it all I did so much. I felt so good.

Then I went back to work. 

Because of the three day weekend, Tuesday was plenty busy. The short week felt like a full week, especially Thursday and Friday when I felt like I was running around in circles, running into trouble and inconveniences. Nothing went wrong, per se, it was just frustrating. 

Oh by the way, fun fact, my website (paulajeanferri.com) is apparently already involved in some legal issues, so that was also kind of chaotic this week. 

Luckily, I'm able to work through everything and figure things out.

I also had the opportunity this week to be reminded how lucky I am that I get to do all of these things. Not only because it's something that I love, but my neighbor across the hall passed away recently. I've been helping her family clean out her apartment and revisit memories with them. 

It is especially poignant to me know that my little brother's birthday is next week and we are coming up on the five year anniversary of his death.

It still hurts and it is tragic to see such lives cut short. 

Side note, my husband and I went recently to see the new Venom movie. Good show, but I cried thinking how much my brother would have loved it, then at the end they played a song that never fails to make me think of him.

What a reminder that life is so fleeting and how lucky I am to be alive. To feel like there is a divine purpose for me and goals that push me forward. I'm sitting here writing this as I continue to watch my sweet husband continue to haul things away. 

As my sweet grandma reminds me periodically, "If it isn't a matter of life or death or a matter of eternal consequence, it's simply a minor inconvenience."

What a Frustrating Week!

Hey friends,

So remember how last week I was with my family and selling books at the Pomegranate festival?

That meant that Sunday I had a 10 hour drive before I could get back to work on Monday. And what a return to work!

It was quite busy and I came home exhausted every day. Luckily, the husband helped out a TON, doing some of our laundry and making dinner. But the house is still a hot mess. 

I'm trying to keep positive in all of this and am at least glad I have Monday off work for Veterans Day. Which might warrant it's own post on Monday, but we will have to see. I would love to do that, veterans are super important to me, I've had several family members in the service and would love to honor them.

However, thanks to the other fun part of this crazy week, I might not. 

I have no wifi in my house currently. I have tried connecting all week and it just wasn't working. So now my to do list also contains looking into other options for wifi.

I'm currently typing this post on my phone. Typing with just my thumbs is not my favorite. I want my ergonomic keyboard attached to my raised laptop. 

So if the wifi issue has not been resolved, there will be no bonus post this week. 

I was realizing this morning as I made my to do list how long it was and how it has always been an issue for me trying to do all the things, and not having time for all the things. 

Again, trying to be optimistic, it does help me focus on what is really important. It doesn't make me happy about it though. 

I want to read all the books, have a spotless home, finish writing my book, have a ready to go campaign, go to all the events, crochet all the blankets, work on improving my health, snuggle all day with my husband... the list goes on and on.

I think that might be why I resent doing things I don't want to do, like cooking or cleaning. I know it's important, and give. Limitless time I might enjoy... but it is also not high up on the list of things I would rather be doing. I want the results, not necessarily the process.

Which is probably another reason not having wifi is so frustrating. It really slows me down to use only my thumbs instead of all 10 digits. I can type so much faster than this!

So I'm calling it for now so I can go work on other things and get some satisfaction from checking things off my list. Until next week friends!