Stasis

his isn't the end, but pretty darn close. Inland Empress has accomplished what I wanted it to do: rescued some semblence of my sanity and kept my writing skills sharp.

But being funny takes time and patience and multiple drafts. It hasn't been easy watching my hits slip from 500 a day to about 60. I have a Mommy friend who loves Mommy blogs and who's quoted Suburban Bliss and Finslippy to me. Must. Not. Hurt. Her.

I coulda been a contendah. I could've gone in that direction. I'll never know if, with a little more diligence, I might've hit the big time, maybe "Snobby Extraterrestrial" in the TTLB ecosystem, or gotten a paying gig from it.

But life is made of choices, and I'm choosing to move away and move on. We're getting ready to sell the house and flee this endless stretch of cookie-cutterdom known as the Inland Empire. We aren't sure where we'll end up just yet. If I land somewhere nice, I'll let you know. Via email. If I get around to it.

I have ideas for children's books and am working hard over at Book Buds to build bridges to people who know this genre much, much better than I do. Yeah, it averages 35 hits a day, but I get payola (sorta) in the form of free books. Heh.

I have a promise -- not a contract, more like a wish -- from someone to help her write her memoirs. I have two kids to entertain, bath, feed and schlep around. And, oh yeah, my husband likes seeing me every now and then too.

Archives will remain up for the time being and comments will remain open until I get fed up with spammers. Eventually, I intend to sell the domain name for a nominal fee to this same friend, who's starting a line of homemade soaps and toiletries. Seriously.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by, shared part of my life, left a comment and had a little fun. Best of luck to you all.

Love, hugs and all that other mushy stuff,

Anne Boles Levy
Upland, Calif.

Comments

[Dreadmouse]

Best of luck to you and your family. Thanks for writing!

[Jack]

Good luck to you as well.

[Angry in L.A.]

Thanks for sharing yours with ours....God Bless.

[Adrian]

I'm sorry to see that you're 'shutting up shop' Anne. I've enjoyed the musings of Inland Empress enormously and I'll certainly miss your blog a great deal.

Anyhow, all the best for the future. Keep smiling and stay regular!

Best wishes

Hugs and kisses

Adrian

[plosh]

I just wish I could offer Anne more time to write.

[Anne]

Thanks to all of you for making this blog so much fun.

I'll be wandering by your sites (for those who hav blogs) in the months to come. I have a lot of people's lives to catch up on.

[Brandi]

Best of Luck to you!

[Renee]

Oh, Anne. I'm so sorry to hear this, but understand where you're coming from. I've really enjoyed your writing tremendously and wish you the best with it and with Book Buds in the future. You are destined for great things - or at least a great book tour!

[Pearl]

Anne, I'm sorry to see you go. I enjoyed reading about your world.

I hope your personal story has its own happy ending,("And they all lived happily ever after, in the land of far-far away...") and I wish you luck with your writing/reviewing.

[Julia]

Oh no! Are we allowed to beg you to stay? ;) I'll miss you too, even though really I don't *know* you per se. I have enjoyed checking in on your life (so familiar in so many ways, but written about in a far funnier manner) and hope that you'll surface again somehow in the future with more good stuff for me to read. But as a fellow mama who also wishes she had more time and energy to be a "contendah" in the world of writing/blogging, I totally get where you're coming from and respect your decision. Just remember, as my own very wise mama says, "nothing is irrevocable". So if you change your mind and start blogging again (tomorrow or someday), that's ok too! :)

Thanks for sharing, Anne. Best wishes for all good things to you and your family in the future.

[Adrian]

Yes, are you sure we can't persuade you to change your mind? You'll be missed awfully.

[Anne]

*blush*

Golly, thanks.

I may start another blog, but not for another few years when the kids are bigger and I'm less frazzled.

Just Google my name every few months and see what comes up. If nothing else, you'll see some of my book reviews floating around the Internet.

Thanks for all the kind wishes.

[Phil]

Sorry to see you go... I just hope your hubby doesn't close up shop, because he's my favorite dad blog!

Good luck with the move, wherever it may be.

[Julie Leung]

Thank you for all you've shared here. I understand choices. If you head to the Pacific NW please let me know. :-)

[Adrian]

You could of course move to dear old England. I for one would be delighted if you did.

[Anne-Marie]

Oh, Anne, how I'll miss meeting up with you in the blogosphere. Keep in touch and let me know where you end up, home and blog-wise.

[Kitty]

Aww shucks, I'll miss you :(

[Ontario Emperor]

I went to your blog to link to an example of good writing, and then I ran across this. Any way we could get you to reconsider your decision, AND your move? Not sure which depresses me more.

Best of luck at whatever you do. Just make sure the domain stays in good (clean) hands; I shudder to think of what the spammers could do with a domain like "Inland Empress." Ouch.

[psychotoddler]

You're always welcome over at my place.

[TM]

Bye and be well! Good luck on your next move...and may the real estate be a lot cheaper.

[Anne]

OK, everybody, I'm not dying. Sheesh. I'll be making the rounds of all your blogs very soon, in fact.

I'm looking forward to visiting and commenting and driving you all nuts.

[MotherReader]

Free books? How do I get free books? See you on the other side.

[Adrian]

I think free books would be a mixed blessing for me. Over the years I've already collected far too many books of one sort or another and the shelves are overflowing.

[Nadine]

I see a new book in your future:

The scene is a spring evening and a child dreams having a room of his own...

And by some fantastic magic mommy and daddy decide that is what they also want....

A sweet very young little girl thinks, "Wow I get an adventure!"

The sprites of luck giggle in anticipation of the wonderfulness of possiblility.

[Nadine]

PS:

The sprites of luck also giggle at the anticipation of unlabeled boxes....