Hi all!
I’m sorry I’ve been so delinquent in posting, but I’ve been absolutely swamped the last few weeks getting ready for my book launch in February for The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex. It’s coming out with Zondervan, and for the last week I’ve been doing the most awkward thing I have ever done in my speaking and writing life: I had to sit in a recording studio and read the whole book out loud. Complete with an explanation of male and female anatomy, and how things work, while a male tech guy (whom I know socially) listened to every word and stopped me if I got two quiet or flubbed up in some way. That was seriously weird.
Anyway, the book will be out in about five weeks, and I am very excited. But it’s meant that a lot of other things got put on the back burner, including this blog.
The good news is that I’m home now until mid-March, and even though I’ll be doing promotion for the book, I will be around. I’ll be able to do mundane things like actually cook for my family. I’ll be able to do my radio shows on Tuesdays about different speaking topics. And I’ll be here to help you!
What I’ve found with speaking is that my life tends to get very busy in spurts: I’ll have crazy months when I’m speaking almost every weekend, and then I’ll be off for a few weeks to rejuvenate. Typically, here in Canada where I live, I take off January and February, because no one plans events for the winter, anyway. Then March and April get crazy.
I find that a little difficult, because it’s hard to keep up with normal life, like grocery shopping, and cooking, and laundry, when some weeks you’re home, and some weeks you’re not. So I’m looking forward to being home a lot in the next little while, even if I am blogging like crazy.
This year coming up I’ve decided that I don’t like being gone every weekend in the spring, so I’m changing things up. I’m going to do four speaking tours a year–two in the spring and two in the fall–and I’m going to be home other than that. So I’ll likely be on the road about 50 days a year, but then the other days I’m completely here for my family. I’ve hired a booking agent to help me in this endeavor, but I think it’s going to work.
It’s not something I’d recommend until your schedule is so busy you can’t handle it anymore. But that’s where I was, and I knew something had to change.
So that’s what I’ve been up to. I promise to post more frequently, but for now, if you want some extra reading, here are some posts you may like:
How to Book a Speaking Tour (to go along with what I’ve been saying)
A Speaking Plan for the New Year (I wrote this last January, but it’s still relevant)
The Only Social Media Strategy that Works (if you’re taking the winter months to rev up your online presence, be sure to read this!)
Now it’s your turn: tell me how you handle being on the road. And let me know what you’re up to!
Filed under: Goals
This week I have booked five kid’s camps for this summer and possibly three weeks of VBS with SK CSSM – will know more on the VBS after Thursday. It promises to be a busy and exciting summer. also have one ladies weekend retreat booked for the fall. Have lots of preparation to do and hope to do a bit of writing in the next few months.
That’s great, Carol! I often don’t do summer stuff, so I take those months off. But I’ve had some good times at family camps before!
Sheila,
I just stumbled upon your site and, tho I never leave comments on websites, I am compelled to write you. I am a 31 yr old mother of a 2 yr old daughter and I am 4 months pregnant with our second. I have been a traveling worship leader/speaker (I give my testimony and sing my original songs) for about 8 years now. Of course, having babies at home, I try not to be gone long. I have “done” more events than I can even count, but I find the booking process really difficult. I have a list of hundreds of worship pastors and women’s event leaders that I email, but I have found that although I have tons of references, because many people haven’t heard of me, I really have to fight to get bookings. I HATE making booking phone calls, but I find that a lot of people probably just dismiss a booking email. I have 4 CDs that I am very proud of. All this to say, events do come… but very slowly and not without a bit of discouragement in the process. I am very confident in the gift the Lord has given me and I look forward to reading more of what you have to say on your site about all of this.
Chaya
That would be scary! Can’t wait to read your new book
You’re such an encouragement!