Aside from brushing my teeth and kick starting the morning with my caffeinated beverage of choice, I have three key elements to my daily routine: I meditate before I step out of bed, I exercise, and I write.
That said, there are days when life and conditions intercede, where what I should be writing isn’t the best use of my time, or my body is struggling through illness, recovery, or pain. On days like this, instead of abandoning my daily routine, I adjust my duration, methods, and goals.
Disciplined, yet Mindful.
I had a full hip replacement back in 2017. At that time, my other hip was following suit with bone spurs and osteoarthritis. Since it wasn’t quite bone on bone like my left, I hoped I could prevent another hip replacement if I changed my athletic practices and treated my body with more care. My days of training in ninjutsu or kickboxing were definitely done as were my sporadic attempts to jog.
Three months after my surgery, we moved out of a house we had lived in for twenty-three years. Because of circumstances, the heavy lifting for this move fell onto me.
Imagine a garage stuffed with decades of belongings, treasures, and crap. A dumpster on our driveway I foolishly filled. Numerous trips to used bookstores and Goodwill. Carting sacks of belongings and bags of books (I just had to keep!) up the stairs of our new house. What was I thinking?! I crippled myself back to my pre-surgery state.
The next ten months of grueling recovery taught me to respect my limitations, challenged my patience, and made me appreciate the baby-step milestones I was able to achieve. I couldn’t power through this kind of recovery. I had to change my expectations and adjust to the new norm. Now, I can exercise more freely, but I still need to adjust my workout to the conditions of the day.
Daily Writing Practice
As with fitness, it’s easier for me to maintain a steady writing practice if I allow myself to adjust to daily conditions for better results. To this end, I set weekly word counts that keep me on track for my deadlines but still give me freedom to pivot if I’m having an off day. As long as I’m hitting (or coming close) to those targets, I can refresh my energy with a short story, articles, interviews, or muse-letter posts.
Although my word counts aren’t impressive and I don’t publish two books a year, I will release my fourth Lily Wong thriller (and fifth novel) this September since The Ninja Daughter debuted in 2019.
Every form of writing requires a different level of focus. Each can cause anxiety and frustration when forced. Every week or two, I take a day off. When I’m struggling, I prefer to pivot than quit.
This muse-letter post is a great example. With my book launch for THE NINJA’S OATH approaching on September 12, I had numerous essays and interviews I needed to write and submit. These can be ridiculously time consuming and frustrating for me. Yesterday morning, I got into the groove, turned out two essays, and found a theme for this post. I hadn’t planned to work on my muse-letter today, but I like this direction, so I’m glad that I did. (Note: It still took me a week to polish and send!)
As promised on social media, here’s a bit about the aquatic exercises I’ve been doing for my aggravated, non-bionic hip.
[Please note that I am not under the care of a physical therapist or orthopedist at the moment. I’m just experimenting with movement that will keep me exercising without causing damage or pain. Since I’ve seen the bone spurs and osteoarthritis in this hip from six years ago, I don’t want to aggravate the joint.]
So far, leg swings work well (parallel and turned out). Pendulum swings across my body (from turned out to turned in) require care. I rely on the water’s buoyancy to raise my leg to the side with toes forward and pulse gently to lower my leg a a tiny bit farther until pain tells me to stop. Frog kicks are out, but I can do sets of fifty flutter kicks at a time. If no one’s in the pool, I can even do laps. On non-pool days, I walk in my neighborhood but stay off the trails. Sometimes, I walk around my kitchen and family room while reading a book! I also read while cycling slowly with low resistance to lubricate the joint. Yoga is hazardous at the moment, so I’m taking a break.
Whether writing or exercising, I alter my methods and objectives to attain the best possible results.
Author Life:
I can hardly believe THE NINJA’S OATH drops next month on September 12. This will be my first hardcover release. The flap jacket blows me away. Since my publisher promises to have early copies on sale at Bouchercon, I may see my books for the first time with many of you. If you attend the conference, grab your copy ninja quick!
Speaking of Bouchercon, please find me and say hello.
FRI, 12:00pm - Talk Story No-Host Poke Lunch (info below)
FRI, 3:35pm - Strong: Women in Peril, Saving Themselves
FRI, 7:00pm - Underrepresented Voices Reception
SAT, 9:00am - Author Spotlight: Agility Movement While Writing and Reading
SUN, 9:00am - A Bad Fight: Authors Read and React to Action Scenes
If you’d like to join Naomi Hirahara, Scott Kikkawa, Jennifer Morita, and me for a no-host poke lunch and hear about our Hawai‘i books and projects, message me (or comment) about why you’d like to join in the fun! (Limited to 10 guests.)
For the rest of my book tour, please find my schedule with links on my website under Upcoming Events. If you preorder book—and I really hope you will—please consider ordering from the wonderful bookstores who are hosting my events!
For my Los Angeles readers:
Join me at VROMAN’S BOOKSTORE, SEPTEMBER 13, 7:00 P.M. for the book launch party for THE NINJA’S OATH with giveaways, refreshments, and an “In Conversation” with my fabulous friend Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of EVERGREEN, Mas Arai Mystery Series, and more.
Vroman’s is a beautiful and enormous bookstore in Pasadena. Trust me, it’s well worth the drive. There’s even a wine bar downstairs if you’d like to partake. I’m super excited, but also a little bit nervous about filling the space.
PLEASE celebrate THE NINJA’S OATH with me❣️🙏🏽
Reply, comment, or respond to my Facebook Event, so I know how many refreshments and giveaways to bring.
Books and Audiobooks I’ve Enjoyed:
I’m currently reading EVERGREEN by Naomi Hirahara and listening to MURDER ON THE RED RIVER by Marcie R. Rendon, narrated by Siiri Scott. Both are wonderful. Since my summer reading list below is a bit long, I’ll just say that I enjoyed and recommend every one of these books!
THE LONG MARCH HOME by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee (See Giveaway!)
YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang, narrated by Helen Laser
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby, narrated by Adam Lazarre-White
IT’S ONE OF US by J.T. Ellison, narrated by Julia Whelan
THE SANDBOX by Jeffrey Wilson and Brian Andrews, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
NOWHERE GIRL: A MEMOIR OF A FUGITIVE CHILDHOOD by Cheryl Diamond, narrated by Eileen Stevens
THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS by Robert Dugoni, narrated by Todd Haberkorn and Robert Dugoni
HOW TO STOP TIME by Matt Haig, narrated by Mark Meadows
HAPPINESS FALLS by Angie Kim (Advanced Reader Copy)
TOM CLANCY FLASH POINT by Don Bentley, narrated by Scott Brick
THE GOOD GIRL: MEMOIR by Maria Alexander (Advanced Reader Copy)
THE LIFE SHE WANTED by Anita Abriel
SWEETLAND by Dareth Pray
Book Giveaway!
My historical fiction fans are in for a treat with this month’s giveaway from Marcus Brotherton and my talented friend Tosca Lee. THE LONG MARCH HOME follows three men, connected by one women, from Mobile, Alabama through the Pacific during World War II. Crushingly emotional and heartbreaking, this is a tale of friendship, fortitude, and love.
For a chance to win THE LONG MARCH HOME, share this muse-letter or any of my book tour or book release posts. Be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or X so I know about your awesome support. (USA only. Contest ends 8/10 midnight.)
Thanks for reading my musings!
Enjoy the rest of your summer. I’m off to the pool!
Aloha nui loa,
Tori 🌺
Awesome!
Tori, I am interested in coming to the Friday poke lunch. I miss Hawaii and eating good poke, and would love to do so with such fine company!