I have no idea why I named this post “Weathering the Storm”…I think it just sounded cool.
Anyway, in all fairness, that’s what I feel life is like at the moment. I’ve been trying for balance from the second I published Caged, but, nearly ten months later, I still haven’t achieved it. Most of you know that I run a health care office with my husband, and that we also have a toddler. They both consume a lot of my time and energy (in a good way), but that doesn’t leave a lot to channel toward writing, editing, marketing, etc. My friends think I’m superwoman, and, maybe I am, but I don’t feel like it. I feel tired 🙂 I’ve put a lot of thought into how to remedy this situation and I think I may have found a way to help, at least for now.
I have an amazing husband who has always believed in my crazy ideas, like: let’s but a century old home and remodel it ourselves, or I’m going to publish a book, or I’m going to die my blonde hair CRAZY dark before our wedding… He’s a patient soul 🙂 We’ve been trying to come up with ways to free up my time so that I can better balance my two careers without cutting into my family life. The solution we’ve come up with is me taking an afternoon off of the practice. Yes, a WHOLE four hours of uninterrupted writing time! I have yet to implement this change, but it’s going to be put into action soon. Very soon.
Now, what does this mean for you? I have no clue, but it should mean more solid release dates and a better mapped out release schedule in the long run. I’m aiming for 3 novels a year with a novella in there too. Ambitious? Yes. Doable? Of course…I’m a type A. I can do ANYTHING if someone tells me I can’t! (Can someone please tell me I can’t lose five pounds? Please?)
So, I look forward to wearing my author hat with more consistency and getting a feel for whether or not it’s something I could don for years to come. I really love writing, but, if I can’t find a way to seamlessly integrate it into my life, I fear I will burn out from the stress. I don’t want that any more than you do. I have stories to tell, crazies to get out of my head, and supernatural worlds to explore.
Let’s hope this half-day off is enough to make this all happen 🙂
I just found your first book at the beginning of this week through my Kindle store. Today, Sunday, I have finished reading your fourth book. The last two I read in one day. I could not put them down. I am so glad I found you!!! I’ll be a little selfish here but I cannot wait until the fifth one comes out. I am already going through withdrawals & want to read more. I know just how busy a wife and mother can be plus add outside work. Like I said before I will sound selfish but please, please, please keep working on the Caged series as much as you can! And thank you for giving us, the readers, such wonderful characters to follow!
I’m so glad you loved them! #5 is written but unedited, and I would like to write #6 before 5 is released. I’m aiming for February, but I’m not sure if it’ll be before or after that, so I’m keeping the release flexible for the moment. Please spread the word about Caged! I think it’s the little engine that could sometimes…
Oops. Forgot in my earlier post since I got distracted…For some weird reason I feel very maternal toward you. Maybe because I feel like I’m seeing you grow into being this amazing author.
So – TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF ALREADY! We love your books and will happily wait for them.
I can’t imagine not loving anything you write and I think there will be plenty of people who feel the same.
I am extremely grateful that you are willing to juggle everything and risk your sanity in order to write these fantastic books for us <3 Thanks also to your family for sharing you with your characters so that you can share them with us 🙂
What a great move for you! I’m happy for you and I’m sure this will really help.
This is a timely post for both of us! I admit to feeling grossly inadequate while trying to write my first book and do “everything else.” School-age children, aging parents, demanding job (where I won’t even risk writing on lunch hour because I never want my employer to question if I’m giving them my all), living on a farm, keeping house, dealing with my mid-40s health issues, and trying to keep the marital fruit ripe. It’s exhausting. But it’s ALL GOOD. And YOU are doing great too.
I also realize there are just some things I’m not willing to give up – like tucking my daughter in at night, even if it takes 30 minutes. And there are some things I AM willing to give up – like television.
I’m learning how to be efficiently busy with the things that matter. . . not overextended in minutiae.
Wow. Yes, please don’t burn yourself out. Don’t like the idea of that. I hope that time of writing is implemented soon for you and that it is very successful.
thanks 🙂
Amber, Good for you! Maybe you can get those next three books out in no time next year! No pressure tho. 🙂 And I don’t believe you can get those extra five pounds off. Now!!! The pressure is on! I do believe you can do anything you put your mind to. Take care and Happy Writings!
Thanks Abby!
Holy cow! I had no idea you put out those books so fast. I’m going to quit bitching about waiting so long for the next one. I mean geez, do all of us fans REALLY want you to work through Christmas? Anyway, sounds like you have a crazy awesome husband. But sometimes I wonder if all the stuff we women do on a daily basis is realistic. You are even loonier than most, 2 high pressure jobs, a toddler and a husband? No wonder your friends call you superwoman! If I were you, I’d sometimes use that 4 hours to just do nothing. 🙂
Thanks Amber, we all <3 you!
And, I like the 5 pounds on you…
LOL…enabler 🙂
The problem is that I want to start sharing other series, so I plan to put one of each out every year. The downside is that you guys will have to wait a year for the next in the series to come out 🙁 There is always a downside, right? I think that Caged fans will completely embrace UNBORN, so that will keep them content. I’m not sure how my YA series will go over with you guys. I love it because it’s dark and atypical for that genre, but that doesn’t mean anything. I guess I’ll find out in a month and a half!
To free some of my time I have a cleaner once a week. I love her loads!