Greetings! It’s time for my monthly newsletter-style entry titled “Ebb and Flow” that contains bits and pieces of reflections, updates, and anecdotes. Read on to find out what I’ve been up to…
Enduring the Waves Update: My novel is now in layout revisions, and final galley proof is pending. Once my editor and I approve it, a publication date will be assigned, which can take up to nine months. I am busy with behind-the-scenes work and preparing publicity materials, including this video trailer:
I have also created a newsletter, which will feature news, updates, and exclusive content similar to this post. I’d love it if you sign up using the link below to join me on my journey.
Floating With Life’s Currents: On June 20, I was young again, reliving treasured memories at The Cure’s first of three concerts at Madison Square Garden. What a night, one of the best concerts ever! The Twilight Sad opened with an 8 song or so playlist, then after a brief intermission, The Cure took the stage. Frontman Robert Smith’s voice was as perfect as it was in my youth, and he sounded better than ever. The whole band did! They played for almost three hours with two encores. Unfortunately, my two friends and I had to miss the last four songs in order to make the 12:05 AM train home from New York. I didn’t crawl into bed until 2:30 and slept maybe an hour before my alarm blared at 4:39 AM on the morning of the last day of school. However, I was a big girl and muddled through my day with more alertness than I expected. The tiredness that caught up with me later in the day was totally worth the experience of seeing my second-favorite all-time band (second only to the Red Hot Chili Peppers) live on stage in sublime perfection.
The past month was also filled with end-of-school-year traditions and farewells, another trip to Hershey Park with “N” where we rode the brand-new Wildcat’s Revenge roller coaster twice, along with Storm Runner, Skyrush, The Kissing Tower, Fahrenheit, Comet, the Monorail, and CandyMonium. I took my littlest niece, “A”, to Dutch Wonderland, where we survived a pretty concerning tornado warning by taking shelter in a truck stop in Gap, PA with other travelers and several Amish people. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with my oldest niece, “E.” Even though all we did was drive around and wander stores, I needed her company more than she knows and am so thankful we got to spend time together. Tomorrow I am taking “I” to Six Flags Great Adventure, and sometime next week, “H” and I are headed to Camden Aquarium.
Tidepools: It’s officially summer, and I am relishing every single minute of it. My summer routine of waking without an alarm, showering, then coffee and writing in the morning is producing words towards my daily word count goals and keeping me focused on progress, versus wasting time scrolling through nonsense. I’m always in a better mood when the Yankees do well, which lately hasn’t happened all that much. You can probably hear me screaming at them from wherever you are when they collectively blow the game.
Navigational Hazards and Necessary Detours: We are in the process of emptying our storage unit, and the cornucopia of treasures I have unearthed has become a necessary distraction as I put the finishing touches on my office. So many books and little toys! It’s been fun sorting through it all and deciding what I display and what goes in the attic. I now have all of my pins in my possession and hope to create new pinboards inside my closet doors this weekend. Each pin is a memoir and tells a story of where I’ve been or what I like. I’ll share pictures of them as soon as they are ready and hung. We will also undertake the herculean task of cleaning out my Uncle’s home this summer.
When you hear the news about the scarcity of chemotherapy drugs, please know that it is legit and hits home. I had a bit of a scare regarding availability of a chemotherapy medication I take for Lupus, but it looks like I found a provider who can get it for me. Massive life-changing crisis hopefully averted.
I’ll be filling the gaps of time in between summertime tasks by producing words, creating marketing campaigns for my upcoming novel release, and making memories with those I love. No big trips as of now planned, but I’ve got a full plate, a lot of words to write, and a lot of progress to make before the school bell rings once again in September.
Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.
With light and love,
Jill
“Ebb and Flow, Volume 3 (6/28)” was posted on jillocone.com on June 28, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact Jill with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries using any of the links below.
Jill Ocone 
