The HEA Cafe

I’ve been thinking and thinking for days what I’d blog about today. Earlier, I was thinking aloud as I often do (thinking aloud not talking to myself mind you . Well, my daughter butted in on the conversation I was having with myself and said, “Blog about how great your family is.” She smiled. “Tell them how I got up after you only asked me once and hugged you this morning.” 

You know, that really was nice.  A pleasant way to start my day. To make things even nicer - as my daughter also pointed out - I only had to ask her brother to get out of bed twice. 

That there was nothing short of a miracle. 

What a child. She’s almost eleven, and sometimes her wisdom surprises me. And it’s not only because of her bright ideas regarding my blogging. See one day last week, I again was mulling over how to fit writing time into already crowded days. My daughter said, “Mom, why don’t you just write for fun?”  

I thought, “Why not?” 

Who would have thought words so simply put would lead to a breakthrough for me? But they were.  

Well, one thing lead to another as those things often do and I started thinking about when I first truly discovered the joy of writing. I ended up pulling out a box of old notebooks filled with all of the novels I wrote in elementary school and junior high. Not only did I think, “Hey, there might be some good YA stories here,” but that was how I was going to do it. Write for fun. So my wise daughter and I headed out to the store and bought some brand new notebooks to fill my stories with. Now I’m carrying one everywhere. Writing during lunch at work. On my commute to and from work. 

You know what? I’m having fun. And I owe it all to a girl who’s about to celebrate her golden birthday on the 11th.  

Until next month, Joie  

I’m late and I fear I only have enough brain power for idle chit chat tonight. So beware. No, not of the ghosts I promised to blog about after my post last month.

It’s quarter after ten at night and I’m finally finding time to sit down and add my post. That’s how my life’s been of late. I started a new job and I’m still trying to adjust to it all. I know it’s Saturday and I had the day off but I played catch up today. Cleaning, laundry and decided since Halloween is just around the corner I’d bake some pumpkin spice bars. 

My son said it’s not autumn to him until the house is filled with the scent of them baking. It’s a tradition of sorts in our family. I remember the night before his sister was born - he was three - he and I were cuddled in bed. My late husband was down stairs baking and my son said, “All momma’s and little boys are sleeping waiting for baby sisters to come and all daddies are baking pumpkin bars.”

So I baked and I cleaned…I even read a chapter in between switching clothes from the washer to the dryer. BUT I didn’t write. I haven’t written in weeks. I’m just hoping once I’ve become fully acclimated in the new job and have the new schedule down, I can work writing back into my days…or nights when I feel like giving up some sleep.

Before I go I thought I’d share something neat I stumbled across before I logged on for my chit chat session - the trailer for my book, The Passenger, is mentioned at SURF THE NET WITH A VIEW: Paranormal Peaks for Halloween by Cornelia Amiri

 http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=172718342 

Ciao! Joie

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been contemplating what I’d blog about today. Since I currently write 1940s ghost stories, I had big plans to discuss all things ghostly. However, after the busy day I had, I couldn’t ignore a topic that is so near and dear to my heart. 

The balancing act of being a working mother and writer. Anyone of these alone could be all-consuming. Honestly, some days I’m not sure how I do it.

Is it insanity? 

I’ve asked myself that question countless times. But in all honesty, it’s not insanity. It’s love. 

Love, you say? Yes, love.

One - I love my children. My number one goal is to bring them up to be successful, happy human beings. Part of doing that means working the day job to aide in their health, well-being and social life. Moreover, when I’m working, I’m fully there doing the best job I can. Two - I love the written word. I love reading it and I love creating visual images and heart-felt emotions with the words I artfully weave together…or at least I hope I artfully weave them together. That’s what I aim for. *g*

Dare I admit that I’ve had those days when finding time to sit down and write feels something akin to running on a treadmill? I look at the clock. It’s 11 p.m. and I’m dead tired. I’ll work on paragraph, I promise myself, and then I can sleep. Come 1 a.m. and that one paragraph has become many more. I realize two hours has passed, and the next thought is, “Oh no. Morning’s going to come just as quickly.” 

But you know what? I couldn’t imagine not writing. When I’m not writing, I feel a little lost. Or writer’s block? In my bio I say writing is as essential to me as oxygen. It’s true. It’s been a part of my life since childhood. Writing centers me. Lightens my spirit and keeps me going. 

I’m still trying to perfect my balancing act. Who knows one day I might find the ideal formula that actually includes sleep. 

As for next month, I plan to talk ghosts. See you then! 

Joie