Or maybe it should say, the not so glamorous life of an author. I’m an Aussie romance writer who lives in a small rural town of about 350 people. Tiny huh?! There isn’t a lot to do here, we have to travel for sports, takeaway, our supermarket is small, and although doesn’t stock a lot, it does have the basics. It’s a very peaceful place, but not at all glamorous.
I love those e-cards that show what an author does and what everyone else thinks they do. They’re totally correct. For me at least. As the image below explains, I’ve had everyone of these thrown at me over the years. My relatives have been known to ask what I did today, look about the house and quirk an eyebrow. So what if there’s last week’s laundry still next to the washing machine, or the dishwasher hasn’t been stacked or you can’t see the kitchen table through all the crap. Don’t they know I’ve written 2k of words on my WIP. Hello?? I’ve accomplished friggin’ heaps.
My DH has been known to think all romance writers conferences involve lost of alcohol, gossip, food and the consuming of more alcohol. And yes, they do, but they’re also valuable sources of information, a chance for like minded people to get together and network with industry professionals. Since my DH didn’t believe I did much at these events, I took him last August to the Romance Writers of Australia conference in Sydney. Hehe. My revenge was sweet when he came to realize that these events were not as much fun as he thought. His wife was absent in seminars all day, only to pull him along to dinners that housed a lot of women who talked romance, romance and you guessed it, more romance. I think it’s safe to say he’ll not be coming with me again. Poor guy. I almost felt sorry for him….almost.
The image above showing what editors and agents think we do is hilarious. All those busy little hands made me laugh. If only we had all these extra digits, I may be more organized. But, like all humans, we tick off our to do list as and when we can and hope that’s enough.
The image with the cat explaining of what I think I do hits the nail on the head. I often think I haven’t achieved anything for the day. I often stare at my curser and frown, fluff about on social media, think up a million other things to do. Yet, last year I managed to write a full length novel in 4 months, release a 30k novella that finished up a series, and completed edits for my Regency time travel for Entangled, while also submitting further works and querying agents late in Dec. So perhaps we are a little hard on ourselves, but maybe we also get things done, no matter how in about way that may occur.
Do I live a glamorous life? No way in hell do I live in such a way. I live in flip-flops (thongs), have no cleaner or cook, no matter how much I’d love one. I work three days a week on top of raising three children 10 and under. Would I like to live a glamorous life? Hmm. Probably not, I’m comfortable in my tracksuit pants, and tumbler glasses of coke. No champagne and strawberries breakfast for me. Toast and a cup of tea will do just fine. *g*
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A STOLEN SEASON
Archaeologist Sarah Baxter just broke one of the biggest rules of time travel: leaving a piece of 21st-century equipment in 19th century Regency England. Unfortunately, when she goes back to retrieve it, she makes an even bigger mess of things—resulting in the death of an English earl. Now his brother is not only out for revenge, but he also has Sarah’s device. Which means an entirely different approach.
It doesn’t occur to the new Earl of Earnston that his charming acquaintance is responsible for his brother’s death. He is merely swept away by a passion that threatens his very reputation. Yet he gets the distinct impression that Miss Baxter is hiding something from him. Now Sarah must find a way to steal back her device, hide the truth about the earl’s brother and—most importantly—to not fall in love…
Thanks for hosting me today! I hope your readers enjoy A Stolen Season should they pick it up. 🙂