I was talking to a woman at a party the other night, and she said that when she thought of authors, she thought of someone who enjoys being alone, a recluse. She went on to say that she imagined them enjoying solitude in a cabin on a lake. That’s when I told her that sounded like the perfect place for me.

As for being reclusive, I can say there is some truth to that. Before writing, I hosted parties at least once a month and often even twice a month. I was very extroverted and organized many girls’ night outs, but now I don’t organize or host anything. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the parties and friends. I just don’t have the time, and my mind is often thinking of other things.

I have always been a busy person with a busy mind. Before writing, I was always organizing some social event, home schooling, cleaning, baking, etc. I always had to be “on,” but that’s not so anymore. Where I used to have the radio on while driving or I’d go crazy, I can now sit in silence. My mind has learned to entertain itself by creating stories, and I enjoy it. I guess that means I’ve learned to enjoy my own company. I don’t have to have outside distractions anymore.

My family will soon be visiting my in-laws, and since I’m behind on my writing, I will be staying behind. I’m hoping to finish writing the novel I’m working on. I even plan to keep the alarm on in my home, because I won’t be going outside (too cold for me). It will be a complete writing binge with no makeup, comfy clothes, and I’ll only take breaks for cereal, sandwiches, and bathing. I’m actually extremely excited about having a few days alone and can’t wait to completely immerse myself into Alissia’s latest adventure.

Does that make me a recluse? I don’t know. What I do know is that I will soon have to find balance between my new reclusive lifestyle and my old extrovert self. My friends and the ESL class that I teach have told me that they miss my parties. I’m also about to start leading a class with my husband on the Love & Respect books out by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. That means I will most likely want to start hosting gatherings for the people in the class.

Spring and summer I’ll be back to face-to-face marketing with book signings and some travel, so the pressure is on to get ahead of my schedule. I’m in the process of organizing a meet-up with other authors in the area, and it will be nice to ask them how they are doing with their management of time. If you are an author, how’s it going for you, and do you find yourself more of a recluse since writing? I’d love to hear from you in the comments’ section below.

Author KD Rose tagged me on Twitter for a blog hop, and you can find her answers to these questions on her blog.  You can also find her on Twitter as @KDRose1.  Here are my answers to the questions, and now I will need to find five random authors on Twitter to continue the hop.  Should be fun reaching out randomly to others.

What are You Writing?

 I am writing the second book in the Alissia Roswell Series.  Unexpected Metamorphosis is the first one, and it was released at the end of July.  The series is a fantasy romance about a young woman pulled into a new reality and forced to rely upon others, which is something she has never done before.  

How Does This Differ From Your Last Work?

Unexpected Metamorphosis is my début novel, and I learned a lot through the long writing, editing, and publishing process.  I was clueless in many ways, and that meant there was a lot of anxiety mixed in with the excitement.  Things are very different with this second one, because I know more of what to expect.  There really isn’t any anxiety.  I’m just focused on the process itself, which is in the writing stage at this time.

Why Do You Write?

I wrote a lot of poetry as a teenager when I was dealing with some stressful issues.  I stopped writing in my twenties, but I recently went through another dark stage in my life.  The story of Unexpected Metamorphosis came to me and would not leave.  Within a week of the story coming to mind, I started typing it out, and it immediately became a passion that consumed me.  I had to type.  There really was no other choice.

Now that I’m no longer in that dark place, I still have the desire to write.  It calms me, and I greatly enjoy it.  Alissia is a strong presence in my mind, along with two other women.  I can’t wait to hold each of their finished stories in my hands.  In a way, it’s like giving life to a fictional person when their story is shared with others.  They were once nothing, and suddenly they are loved by the people that read about them.  I do love the characters very much, as I spend a lot of time thinking about them.

What is Your Process?

I really don’t have a certain process.  Unlike most of the authors I know, I have a random personality, and I despise outlining.  Even the thought of outlining makes me cringe.  I do, however, have a small notebook that I scribble a lot of my ideas into.  The stories demand their space in my mind, and they come to me at various times.  I don’t have any control over when I think about them, and it can be very distracting at times trying to deal with reality when my brain is stuck in a fictional place.

I love to write outside on my back porch when it’s not too cold or hot, and I pretty much always have a cup of hot tea by my laptop while writing.  Oh, and chocolate.  I do love my dark chocolate breaks, at least if I don’t give into a binge and have guilt.

There’s less than two weeks until Christmas, and I’ve done no decorating (not even a tree).  I really haven’t done much shopping, and nothing is wrapped.  It’s not that I haven’t wanted to do these things.  It’s just that the time has not been there.  My oldest daughter’s schedule has kept us busy this month with extra activities and two school projects.  We always put the tree up as a family, and that means we all need to be at home for one full afternoon.

At a party I attended the other night, someone told me that they have their tree up but not decorated.  Like me, she feels there’s not much point in doing all the work of decorating a tree for so little time.  Yet, it is a family tradition in our home, and we even buy the kids a special ornament each year that goes along with what they’ve done during that year.  (And, no, I haven’t even looked for their ornaments this year.)

I’m starting to feel the last-minute pressure, and I feel a late, online shopping binge coming my way.  I believe we have a free afternoon this Saturday, and we can put up the tree after I get home from a writer’s meeting.  I did manage to get the kids some matching Christmas outfits the other night, so I may even have time to take their pictures sitting by the tree.  That means I may be able to send out cards this year.  (I’m really random on card sending.  It’s basically every other year.)

Is this normal?  I feel as if everyone around me has their Christmas decorations out and are in the spirit of things, and I’m a Scrooge.  No matter what I do in life to downsize my schedule to slow down, it’s always crazy and hectic.  Is this because I’m a mother?  Is it like this with everyone?  If so, how did this happen to our society?

Well, I will continue to ponder my life, but I have a stack of emails and marketing that is waiting for me.  Maybe I’ll end my evening shopping from bed, and everything will arrive on time.  That is me being optimistic and living by one of my mottos.  “It’s all good.”

I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season.  May your cookies be yummy and not stick to your tummy (and thighs)!

Hmm… This is so very true.

Here’s a Goodreads giveaway of a signed copy of Unexpected Metamorphosis just in time for the Christmas and New Year holidays.  Enter to win and don’t forget to share it with others.  Good luck!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Unexpected Metamorphosis

by Tianna Holley

Giveaway ends December 21, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

After three weeks of not being able to type due to sickness and the holidays, I have been eager to get back to my novel.  Yesterday I sat down at my computer with the intention to get back to my writing, but by the end of the day, I had not done anything but open the file.  This morning I sat down at my computer, but by noon I had still not started back on my writing.  I then realized it was fear that was holding me back.  Since it had been so long since I had typed, I worried that I could not start again.  It’s amazing what self-doubt can do.

When I finally started typing, it all came back to me, and the story flowed freely from my fingertips.  Writing is not work.  It’s a natural process for me.  (The editing, however, is dreadful work!)  I even began to feel better as a person, and it truly goes to show that writing is a sort of therapy for me.  I love it and can easily lose myself in the story I’m typing out.

In fact, I wish I was typing on it now, but as soon as my youngest son walked into the house from school, he had a complete meltdown.  I thought if I put him in my bed and typed beside him, he would fall asleep.  That, however, is not working out very well.  I can’t work on the novel with a child rolling all around the bed, in a bad mood, and fighting sleep.  Hence, I am forced to take a break and thought I’d write a quick blog post.

Fear and self-doubt have no place in our lives.  If you truly want something in life, you have to push that fear aside and go after it.  It’s hard at first, but eventually, if you continue on, it will get better.  You will be in a much better place, and you’ll be glad you pushed yourself into doing what your subconscious told you couldn’t be done.  We are our own worst enemies.

Do you like to write but the thought of writing a novel terrifies you?  Then write a poem.  After that, write another one.  Then another…  Keep it up, and eventually, you’ll have more to say.  Learn the grammatical rules, and you’ve mastered most of the obstacles of writing.

Another big obstacle is to learn to write for yourself, not for others.  I write what I want to read.  At the same time, I understand others may not like the same thing as me, and I’m fine with that.  There are many bestsellers that I have no intention of reading, because they aren’t for me.  The same goes for my writing.  Never expect everyone to relate to your emotions and style.  That’s an unrealistic expectation that will make you miserable.

Well, my son has still not fallen asleep, yet I’m now yawning.  I need another cup of tea and a change in location, because I don’t intend to stop writing any time soon.  This novel won’t type itself, and I’m getting eager to hold it in my hands.  After a slow November, I plan to push myself hard this month.

Stay tuned for the cover reveal and some short excerpts to soon be released.  I know you’re ready for them 🙂