Jen A. Miller Update: Happy Summer!

(Before we get started, one note about style: sometimes headlines of stores I have here have capital at the start of each word, sometimes not. I do whatever the publication does, hence what may appear to be the inconsistency.)

Ladies & Gents:

Happy unofficial start to summer! Hope you’ve had a nice weekend. I stayed close to home, but was very busy throughout between my town’s May Fair, graduation party, birthday party, and friends visiting. One more BBQ to go before the work week smacks back. This is the first summer since 2007 that I’m not covering the shore but don’t worry – Dan McQuade’s got you covered. 

Nothing too exciting publishing wise since it was a week leading into a holiday, and publishing scurried into wherever it goes for such things – hence the trip to the strawberry field on Friday (I picked 12 pounds and froze most of them). I also got my new whip from the Collingswood Bike Share. The final edits on my manuscript also came in on Friday with specific instructions to not open the file over the weekend, so I haven’t. Even though I’m self employed, I rarely work weekends or holidays. I thought about writing a story today, but it can wait since the deadline’s not until Friday. I get time off too.

First thing up this week: I’m the guest of honor in Tuesday’s #muckedup Twitter chat. We start at 8 p.m. east coast time, and we’ll be talking about freelancing. You can follow along through that hashtag or at @muckrack. 

Also this week, I have two meaty stories to write, but on Thursday, I’m going to Book Expo America. It’s always a zoo, but a zoo of book publishing, which is why it’s fun. I’m not doing anything for my book there other than having lunch with my agent and editor, but I like to go see what’s what in publishing (and it’s free for me with a press pass because I’ll bring back books to review). Dork note: when they suggested lunch in Hell’s Kitchen, this was the first thing I thought of. 

I came across two stories this week worth sharing. The first is Does memoir help and author heal? in The Christian Scientist Monitor. Given that I just wrote one, I should have more thoughts on this than I do because my answer is “I don’t know.” Writing through tough stuff made me sit and look at it and process it in ways that I hadn’t before, but I don’t know if “heal” is the right word. I also may feel different after the book is out.

The second story is Travel Industry Responds to Rise in Solo Sojourners in The New York Times. I read this right after I came back from my solo vacation to North Carolina. I’ve traveled alone a lot – when I was in a relationship and not – and part of what I like about it is that I can do whatever I want. I don’t know that I’d want a travel company planning for me. One thing I would like to change about solo traveling: too many times, I go to eat in a restaurant to go to the movies and I get the “just one?” It’s a little grating.

Published This Week:
Six Steps to a Run-cation for Zelle 
Creating buzz for Moorestown coffee run for The Philadelphia Inquirer  

What I’m Watching: My Runner’s World meeting was postponed, so instead I saw Mad Max: Fury Road. It was fantastic: visually stunning with a great story, bad ass chicks, and much more of an thinker of a movie than the original film (even though yes I know it’s a cult classic). If you have any sort of interest in cars or motorcycles, it’s even more of a jaw dropper.

And yes I’m still in Gilmore Girls. Rory’s in college now. I want to tell her to spend more time at school instead of going home, but that wouldn’t really be the show, would it? I’m going to check out the Gilmore Guys podcast next. 

What I’m Reading: