New Adventures On The Horizon

I woke up this morning with the craving to write. It's been a minimum of two weeks since I have even considered turning on my computer and writing again. So this will simply be a brain dump. Allowing me to share my thoughts and adventures in the past week.

I just got home from a week long vacation in Cancun, Mexico with my five other best friends. Then with only one days grace to get my life together, I immediately had the joy of getting myself back into another market yesterday. And not even to mention that the Canadian weather finally is giving me the illusion that it's turning around. Blue sky and full sun as I write this. Maybe I just need a vacation from my vacation. Maybe a mental getaway opposed to another physical one.

Travelling truly holds a close spot in my heart. I love the idea of hopping on a plane, going somewhere that no one recognizes you and simply absorbing. Absorbing new atmospheres, new cultures, and getting to experience everyone else's version of their everyday life. I find it fascinating being able to immerse yourself into another culture and see what someone else calls home.

Mexico is a classic vacation destination that are chosen by millions every year: sandy shores, ocean waves, all inclusive resorts, to paragliding, swimming with dolphins or sharks, and all kinds of other adventurous excursions that immerse you into the great outdoors. As a fellow Canadian, getting away from the snow to enjoy +30c (+86f) was truly a blessing. There was a part of me that was upset to come back home to the colder and drier temperatures.

On our all inclusive resort, I am not going to lie, we found ourselves at the pool damn near every day. Soaking up the (almost too powerful) sun, and getting to yap with my best friends. We didn't only drink our lives away at the pool. There were other adventures that we went on that livened up the trip. From going off the resort to Xcaret and venturing through all that the theme park had to offer. Getting the opportunity to swim in the underground rivers was phenomenal. Nothing truly did beat swimming through the lush caves and seeing all what they had to offer, especially spotting little crabs perching on rocks during our swimming journey.

Mexico really gave my body a chance to relax and restart. Disturb the constant routine of work and give my mind and body the chance to slow down. Like getting to absorb some sun and be able to dive into my book at the pool side? Sounds like heaven if you ask me. One thing I will say though, going from always being fed with a buffet open nearly all day every day, to coming home to have to cook for yourself? An absolute crime. Coming back home to an empty fridge and nearly nothing for food (cause I wouldn't want it to all rot in my fridge while I was away, of course) is such a disappointment. Are you telling me I have to be a functional adult and cook for myself every day again? All I will say is that I dislike that and was probably the most fed I've been in years not having to cook for myself and always had good, healthy food readily available for me three times a day. I probably gained a few pounds after eating so much and having some drinks. Let's just say I am not even going to look at my bathroom scale for at least a few weeks.

But Mexico will truly be a trip that I will never forget. I got to go on a wonderful trip with all of my best friends, attend beach parties, create new inside jokes with said friends, absorb some vitamin D, and simply go on an adventure away from home. The wanderlust in me has been satisfied... for now. Until I get the itch to travel somewhere else again and you'll find me back abandoning my home for another week to go adventuring, hopefully somewhere new.

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Now it's time to address my local adventure I got to have yesterday. The moment all us book nerds are dying to know. My book market! For those who remember reading one of my previous posts about my first book market, you would know that I attended the Tales and Trinkets Book Market back in December. Yesterdays Blooming Spring Book Fair, was a market that allowed vendors and authors to cohabitate and share our works with the world.

Considering that yesterday was only my second market, I went into the day thinking that I was more prepared than the last one. It turned out to be half true. I was certainly more prepared in some aspects! Like I didn't forget water or food for myself (because yes, my first market in December I absolutely forgot water and snacks). But I was not completely prepared in other aspects. Throughout the day I realized that there are certainly more things that I should either change or upgrade in regards to my table, business cards, or banner. Nothing too crazy, but small things I noticed that would make me present myself in a bit more in an elevated way. Every market so far has been a learning curve. Every time I learn something new or think of something I can elevate. That's the joy of being an author and attending these markets. Every one that I attend gets my brain turning on what I can do better next time.

I think one of the things that I absolutely love the most about attending these markets is the fact of getting to (a) socialize with new and potential customers but (b) I love getting to network with my other fellow authors and we get to yap about our books and about what different things have or have not worked for us. And considering I am certainly more of a beginner compared to others, during those conversations I become a human sponge and do my best to absorb all of the information thrown my way. Remembering as much as I can so I can make the best decisions to better myself and my career.

At this market, I had the opportunity to partake in the authors panel! At the last market I did not join in as I thought it would stress me out too much and that I already had enough on my plate. This time, however, I decided it was a great idea to join in on the panel! The panel was split up into two groups, one for the poets and one for the authors. I, as you can expect, was apart of the poets panel. It was very nerve-wracking to be up on a stage, asked a question and handed a microphone for all to hear me. Thankfully, we were given the questions in advance so we were able to prepare. My version of preparing for the panel consisted of me writing my answers on the notes app on my phone and studying my answers like I was studying for a test. Did it work? For the most part, sure. Did my nerves get the best of me? Almost, but not quite. My friend who came with me to support me, said that when I was on the stage that I did not look nervous at all. Which was great reassurance because I was absolutely feeling all kinds of nerves. I thought I was certainly looking nervous, especially considering I may or may not have had my phone sit on my lap for me to quick reference my answers incase I blanked out. Which I absolutely did at times. I did need to reference my notes and what I wrote down to make sure I keep myself on track and didn't go on a nervous side tangent. But overall, being on the panel was amazing! Got to be alongside my other poet friends as we all laugh and bond over our love of writing.

One final thing I will address in regards to the book market is that it wasn't until the afternoon that I realized my outfit choice sure gave off teacher vibes! Everyone was encouraged to wear floral. So I had a floral top with a dark green skirt. Paired with white converse and my favorite book earrings that I wear to every market. All of that paired with the official lanyard I had that displayed my name with my title of author, really made me look like I was ready to teach an elementary class. But it was still a super cute outfit that I got compliments on (especially the book earrings!).

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Amazing adventures and memories are truly the backbone of life, I tell you. Whether it's a book market and pushing your introverted self to stand up and speak on an authors panel or going on a relaxing tropic vacation, it is a joy to be able to live life in such a "main character" way and make amazing memories.

Now the next thing on my mind is that I need to work this summer on different things for my next writing journey. Does that involve continuing to write my next poetry book? Or maybe finish this gatekept novel I have also been working on? Perhaps. Or maybe these new plans consist of me working to get my book sold in stores around my city? Most definitely. In regard to my writing and author ventures, I do have big plans for the summer, I will tell you that. Let's just hope I can turn my dreams into reality and see what new adventures are on the horizon for me.

Write soon,

S. Cowan