So, what's up with you?

I really appreciate the comments you've given over the last few posts. While many people feel passionately, I'm grateful we can express opinions respectfully.

So...I'm getting huge. I had no idea before getting into this  how different a multiples pregnancy is than a singleton. I'm feeling SO much better from the nausea! Which is a relief beyond words. But I'm still preggo, and my body naturally puts all priority on nurturing fetuses (feti? fetui?) leaving not much energy left for the mama. Yesterday I managed to make dinner (with Dean's help) then when we sat down to eat I was hit was such extreme exhaustion I started to fall asleep upright. I had to lie down while everyone else ate. And it was yummy tacos with perfectly ripe cantaloupe. My kids ate my cantaloupe. Demons. It's bizarre how completely taken over I feel. I'm 21 weeks and the gals are a'wigglin'. 

With the ticking time bomb in my belly, I have about three more weeks left in which I can run errands and clean out closets before my doc suggests I fine tune my impersonation of a couch potato. And three more months to finish a book before my life becomes one long sleepless dream. I spent a couple weeks going over Daisy Danger Brown and there's no chance I can get a final draft by September. It needs work, baby, and how.

But meanwhile, Midnight in Austenland is looking great! What a treat! After getting my first editorial letter from my editor last week, I really think I can finish a final draft before the beasties arrive. I'll still need to find time after that to go over the many copy edited and proofing passes, but hopefully there will be windows of sanity. Right? Right, fellow mothers of multiples? There will be some windows of sanity surely? I'll finish this draft (the third), let Dean read, rewrite 1-2 times, let a couple of writer friends read, rewrite 1-2 times, let my editor read, rewrite 2-3 times, and cross my fingers that only takes three months. It's tight, but we're going for it. My editor had a new baby this year and also has a pair of twin girls, so she's so wonderfully empathetic. 

So off I go. Goal for today's writing: make myself laugh.

Comments

[Anthony L. Isom]

Wow! Sounds like you've got your hands full! Or tummy full, rather (that's not meant to be inappropriate). I hope everything continues to go well. God's blessings on you and your family!

[Amanda Norr]

Well, you make me laugh with your words. I finally got read Forest Born, don't ask why it took so long. But I LOVED it. It was wonderful, amazing and I want to read it with my daughter. I just wanted you to know that. Also, do the best you can with those books, but taking care of mom and babies is way more important, we, the reader can wait, but not for too long. You are just that good.

[Nikki]

How exciting! Glad it's in such good shape. (Daisy Danger will get there eventually, I'm confident, and maybe two rascally twins will provide inspiration for it later.) And if you need me to be one of your writer friends reading through a draft, I'm very happy to do it!

[Enna Isilee]

Well, you made me laugh. Here's hoping you have that much luck making yourself laugh. ;)

[Kathy]

Good luck getting it done! All that time as a couch potato should allow you to get lots of editing done!

[Leanna]

I'm so excited for you Shannon! I have a twin sister myself. Your daughters are going to have so much fun. Twin sisters are awesome.

I'll ask my mom about if there are any windows of sanity. ;)

Good luck with the rewrites!

[Tasha]

Just want you to know you really are amazing. And so inspiring.

[Kym Mcleod]

Yes, Shannon, there are windows of sanity (she writes from her Blackberry while tandemfeeding her twin girls) - as you can see, you eek it out where you can! While our twins were also spontaneous and a huge shock, but compared with our first baby (who`s 2.5 now), they aren`t twice as much work, so fear not. Being a superMoM is actually a wonderful blessing!

But get that draft finished, girl - there won`t be time in the early days... Now our girls are five months, life has resumed a more normal routine, but at first - wow! The breastfeeding alone took up most of the day, but now we`re a streamlined machine. And even though I had more than 15lbs of baby in me at 38.5 weeks (and 50 inches around my belly!), feeding those two girls has me in smaller pants than before our first was born! Congrats, and welcome to the multiples ride...

[Marianne]

You're amazing! Can't wait for your next book, whatever it is!

[Je Reve]

Good luck with the tummy lurkers, and the amazing 3 month plan detailed above...

[hwalk]

Pictures? Probably not, though. My mother has a picture the day she went to the hospital with me and my sister, and she is huge.

[Ruby Diamond]

Ah, creating. Creating books, creating babies, creating a home and a life. It's hard work and so rewarding. "As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness,you improve not only the world around you but the world within you." - D. F. Uchtdorf.

I hit the 3rd trimester last weekend and it hit me like a brick. Still trying to find my groove. I love hearing about what you're going through.

[Jackie]

I had twins in January and needed a good read! So I picked up the Actor and the Housewife. It was brilliant! I don't have any singletons, but twin-life is truly blissful. And I was full-steam-ahead from weeks 24-38. You can do it!

[Jen Jackman]

Shannon! I saw twin girls at the zoo. One of them with red hair and I smiled and thought of you! They were so adorable! (Yours will be cuter)

[Barding Well]

Bless your good soul for continuing to write amid all your current challenges. I'm so looking forward to reading your next books!

Good luck with your feti. I'm sure they'll be worth it.

P.S. We had some cantaloupe, yesterday, from Harmons that was really good.

[nichole]

Shannon,
I always say when you already have had one you know what your in for with twins. The only difference is you do everything twice. I think it's the schedules that throw you off track. Just make sure you scale back on the other two siblings schedules for the first few months. Like always you'll be a SUPERMOM and be surprised how easy it all comes to you. You will be in awe of the bond the girls have with one another. I'm so happy you can join the club.

[AP]

good luck with everything you do!

[Princess Loucida]

Good Luck!

[Rachel]

You talked about all the times you will rewrite Midnight in Austenland. What does each of those rewrites entail? I'm in the process of writing a middle grade novel and once I finish a draft, I'm kind of at a loss. With my previous drafts I've started each new draft from scratch but I'm assuming that isn't what you mean with all your rewrites you plan on doing in the next few months. Will you please explain your process for us writer's who are somewhat in the dark when it comes to the world of rewrites? Thank you and best of luck with the twins!

[Aubrey Heesch]

Twins? How fantastic! I'll be keeping you and yours in my prayers.

Best wishes:)

[Annette]

oh honey- pardon the un-earned familiarity that pregnancy usually brings (and i hated) - as much as i really, really want another of your books to read (selfishly), enjoy this time as best you can and don't push yourself. we'll be here when the books do get finished!

[Mirriam N.]

YOU'RE PREGNANT!?
I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! I am a mega-fan of yours =)
Here's a hint - drinking red raspberr-leaf tea during pregnancy (don't worry, I may be a teen but I'm a certified family herballist =) MAJORLY helps with nausea and tons of other stuff! =)
~ Mirriam N.

[Shannon Morris]

What lucky little babies they are to have you as a momma!

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

Wow. Good luck with everything! I know you're busy, so don't even worry about reading this is you don't have time, but I was wondering...
I was reading the query letter you made for Austenland, and you had a whole bunch of good things to put down about yourself and your books that you had written to make you look better. Should aspiring writers enter contests and such, to make themselves look better also? Or is there something else they should do?

[Katie-wa]

AHH, SO MUCH EXCITEMENT!

I can hardly wait for any of this! Babies and books and all. XD

[Amber]

As a mother of multiples myself I just have to say the sanity comes later. Sometime between 6-10 months old is pretty nice. Old enough to sleep at regular intervals but not old enough to be walking. Sorry...I know that's not what you wanted to hear. I actually have almost no memories of my boys' first 6 months, except for the pictures. So take lots of pictures!

I'm so very excited for your upcoming books! I just reread all the Books of Bayern and loved them just as much this time. I would love to have Enna as my best friend!

[Jean]

I'm sure I've just missed the posts that have already mentioned the reference in the first 20 pages of Meyer's new book but I'm surprised more people are not commenting on it. Hope it drums up more sales for you too.

Congrats on hanging in there and a positive attitude about couch potatoes. You'll make it through and more cantaloupe are coming with the farmer's markets.

[Amy]

How do you do it, Shannon? I haven't written a thing since before I found out I was pregnant. I'm starting to wonder if it's still something I want to do!! And it's freaking me out!!! Of course, I'm still in the icky-sicky stage (11-ish weeks), but I'm just out of gas all the time!
How do I get back in the saddle?
P.S.
So excited for MIA, I could do the Truffle Shuffle.

[Liz]

I am anxiously awaiting the Austenland sequel so I love the sound of your plan. Good luck with the twinsies!

[Rinna-girl]

W.O.W. Twins. Wow. So now you're gonna have four kids! Aiming to be Rin's mom? Ha ha, just joking. Good luck with the children and keep on writing! I'm still waiting.....

[Lavender Lover]

Dear Shannon, first of all I would like to congretulate you for having twins!! I think that is one of the best gifts in life. And I would also like to suggest a name, I mean two names for your babies. Cherubim and Seraphim. How's that? They are the names of angels.. I will name my twins that names.. But actually I think In and Ex (with Hale) is a very unique and cute name too. Ha... Anyway congretulatons again and hope you and your hubby and also your four kids will be always healthy and happy. May Jah bless your household~ Love, your fan and your friend...

[Sara]

I am a mother of twin girls, they are 5. I just had my 3rd child, 1st son 12 days ago. And I just want to let you know that there is life after twins. First, my girls came at 36 weeks, and that was with me on bedrest for about 13 weeks. I hope that you can make it further along so you can get this book out.
As for after they are here....Until the sleeping pattern gets set it is rough. They were luckily my first and my husband was a huge help. We were up pretty much all night feeding and sleeping when we could as much as we could. But by 5 weeks old they were going every 4-5 hours between feedings at night and I was a happy mamma again.
I hope that the remainder of the pregnancy goes smoothly and that you are able to enjoy it. And good luck with delivery.
I love your books and look forward to your future releases.

[Zenny]

Well, at least you're not Octomom. :) Don't worry, twins are awesome. A lot of my friends are twins. Just out of curiosity, do you know if they're identical or fraternal?

Another thing: what you do during pregnancy can have surprising effects. When my mom was preggo with me, she got cravings for McDonald's hashbrowns and ate them like crazy; I despise McDonald's, but for some reason I find their hashbrowns strangely addictive.

Anyways, I can't wait for your new books and your new babies; whichever ever comes first doesn't matter to me. :)

[Bonnie M.]

My advice: buy your own cantaloupe and, for a laugh, read Jane Austen's "History of England." I giggle every time.

[Chelsea]

I'm so excited for Midnight in Austenland!!! *cough* And the twinners, of course. Good luck!!!!

[Emma]

Wow! And I thought proof reading five paragraphs twice was hard... How do you do it??

[Kristen Ahrens]

Ha ha, rest assured that your devoted fans (including me) appreciate your dedication in grinding out a new book despite your uncomfortable blessings! :)

[Mimi]

Laughter is the best medicine!

[coach purses]

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit，and try not to improve or regulate anybody but myself.

[Raindrops]

Twin girls, Shannon? Unbelievable but yet it is true.
My mother sais that babies love to hear their mother's voice when they're in the womb. Like to read outloud a book to them. To answer your quetion it is: fetus. I remember from the book of one of Stepheny Myers series saga of Twilight.
Good luck Shannon! May their birth be good health!:)
--Raindrops

[chanel bags outlet]

The family farms the soil of the lush Mejerda Valley of Tunisia located on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.

[Rosacea Pictures]

Cherubim and Seraphim. How's that? They are the names of angels.. I will name my twins that names.. But actually I think In and Ex (with Hale) is a very unique and cute name too. Ha... Anyway congretulatons again and hope you and your hubby and also your four kids will be always healthy and happy. May Jah bless your household~ Love, your fan and your friend...

[black nike shox]

when I'm working, he'll do even more -- the weekdays are all mine. I do about 90-95% of the work during the week, regardless of my employment status, because he has an intense, inflexible job. I used to be ticked off about that situation, but I'm just used to it now.