Going no-’net for a couple of days to see if reduced screen time helps me sleep. See you on Monday, when Release Month kicks off!

A few symptoms of insomnia (according to Mayo Clinic):

• Difficulty falling asleep at night (takes me two hours, on average)
• Awakening during the night (anywhere from 3 to 8 times, often taking another two hours to go back to sleep)
• Irritability, depression or anxiety (growl, hiss, leave me alone)
• Difficulty paying attention or focusing on tasks (how long has it been since I’ve done any writing?)
• Increased errors or accidents (like driving in circles around a tiny town because I keep missing the turn for a road I’ve been on a hundred times)
• Tension headaches (every day)

  Somebody tell me you’ve had insomnia and beat it. I’ve already given up coffee (temporarily, I hope)–that alone doesn’t work. Tylenol PM works sometimes but takes at least an hour to make me sleepy, and I don’t want to take the stuff every night. I’m *this* close to asking a doctor for a prescription sleep aid–a decision made yesterday after I stared at the ceiling from one a.m. to six a.m., and then I had to get up and take care of the kids, and my eyes burned so badly I could hardly wear contacts or look at my computer screen.

  I really (really) want to sleep, but the side effects of the prescription pills are keeping me from the doc’s office at the moment. Have you ever read about this stuff? “Warning: you may get up, make a phone call, cook a meal, pack your bags, drive to Mexico and bring home that flu thing, all while being completely unaware of what you are doing.” I read an article in an advice column yesterday about a guy who went out and slept with someone while he was asleep due to prescription sleeping pills. I think he’s making that up to get away with cheating on his wife, but it would make an interesting book premise…

  Help?

It’s my 30th birthday and hey, I can finally say it without cringing. Hubby got me an ice cream cake I’ll be enjoying with abandon today (like I didn’t enjoy it enough at yesterday’s party), because every woman knows birthday calories don’t count.

Back to the writing grind this week, as my book comes out in exactly one month! My editor will give away a free copy and post the entire first chapter on her blog on May 6, and I’ll be doing a series of e-book/alternative publishing articles here on the home blog throughout the month of May, which I hope will answer the many questions people have asked me about the format. All of this will culminate in a blog party/giveaway/good times extravaganza (here as well as with a few other gracious hosts) on release day, so stay tuned!

*Sob*

That’s no fun. How about this one?

Better.

Congratulations to my BFF Kris and hubby Wil, whose first baby, Jack, was born this morning!!

I’d post a pic, but I don’t know if they’d want me to do that. But trust me, he’s CUTE. And I got to cuddle him!