The Gift of Time

Have you ever met a deadline and had a few weeks before the next project began? That’s what happened after I turned in my first draft of RED SEAL to my editor last month. I finished a big creative project that I’d been working on for a couple of years and had to wait for feedback to arrive. It was like running on a treadmill and someone suddenly pressed pause—you were free, but restless too.

I was elated to have this gift of time and imagined doing many things. Sleep. Exercise. Read the books on my TBR list. Catch up on the latest movies and TV series. Try some new restaurants. Call friends I hadn’t seen in a while.

I did do some of those things. But I also felt guilty. I reached deep into my to-do list and crossed off a few things I had ignored while getting my first draft finished. Deal with a big bill from the water company. Figure out what to do about the dead grass in my backyard. Organize my messy desk and writing paperwork. Clean out my closet.

Now a month has gone by because my editing schedule got pushed back a few weeks—another reality in publishing. As I look back, I think I learned a few things about how to approach this in-between time, this liminal space between something old and something new.

• Take time to rest and refill. My husband and I walked more, watched new shows together, and spontaneously went to the beach to see the sunset. I cooked my favorite dishes. I read books simply for the pleasure and fun of it, like my friend Christine Gunderson’s book, Friends with Secrets.
• Do what brings you joy. I took a flower-arranging class. I redesigned my workspace. I celebrated my mom’s 87th birthday at a great Japanese restaurant. I had lovely, long phone calls with my children who are in London and Salt Lake City. I enjoyed leisurely walks with my dog.
• Think about writing in a fresh way. With some time away to reflect on my manuscript, I decided to revisit the ending of RED SEAL. The previous draft ended in 1978, and I wondered what it would be like to bring my novel to present day. I wrote a possible epilogue, and I like it!

My edits are due back soon, and I’m nervous about what my editor will think of the new epilogue and my first draft. My to-do list is still long, but I feel refreshed, and ready for the next phase. I am so grateful for this time and space I’d been given. It’s amazing what can happen if you don’t overfill your schedule and leave room for surprise.

The unexpected part of writing the epilogue for RED SEAL was that it led me to finding a way into my possible third novel. That book will start in present day and flash back more than a century to an interesting female heroine in the Joseon Dynasty from the maternal side of my family. I’ve already started researching and asking my mother questions about it. I’m super excited!

I hope I can apply what I’ve learned when I’m waiting for my next round of edits or in between projects. What would you do if you were suddenly given the gift of time? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below.

Past and Upcoming Events

I will be on the Author Stage on October 24th along with an incredible line-up of talented and celebrated authors at the California Library Association Conference in Riverside, CA. I’m so honored to be a part of this library event. Join me if you’re at the conference!

On October 30th, I’ll be speaking to students at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, where my own children attended and I was an active parent volunteer. The librarian reached out and invited me, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

WHITE MULBERRY was selected to be displayed at the Book Nook at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Conference in Denver, Colorado from November 6-8. I love being engaged with fellow lawyers through books. Check it out if you’re there!

I will also be attending the Kauai Writer’s Conference in Lihue, HI from November 14-16, where WHITE MULBERRY will be available for sale. I’m excited to be a student of writing again, exploring new genres like poetry, memoir, and screenwriting. Let me know if you plan to attend!

This past September, over 1700 members of 33 incredible alumni book clubs around the world registered to listen to my virtual Author Talk with Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru! It was an emotional, memorable day!

I was privileged to be a guest speaker at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Club where I gave a slide show presentation on WHITE MULBERRY and talked about my journey writing my book. It was a full circle moment because I received a Rotary scholarship myself in high school!

Take a look at my Events Page for details and more happenings. I also joined Substack so you can follow me there @rosakwoneaston, as well as on my existing social media platforms.

Please reach out if you’d like me to speak at your book club, library, or organization!

What I’m Reading, Watching, Listening To

Friends with Secrets

In a funny and suspenseful debut, Christine Gunderson explores the myth of the perfect mother, the bonds of female friendship, and the haunting impact of secrets.

The Body Keeps the Score

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.