It’s been one amazing week, lots happening (as usual) and this Gemini is having to sprint now to keep up with life! It’s all of my own making though and I think that’s a crucial statement. I choose to stay up until the wee hours writing because it’s my passion. I rarely watch TV because time is precious and it’s a fact that a writer’s life means wearing many hats! Often your friends and family don’t really understand the reality of what’s involved, or that when you say you are ‘at home working’ that means 6am until you can’t keep your eyes open anymore… Loved ones are used to hearing ‘I’ll be there in a moment’ and when you look around everyone has gone to bed!
It was the week in which I completed the last of the three novella series Ceri’s journey. ‘Decisions‘ now has an ending and the editing begins. The only person who has read part three is my husband, after a ‘can you drop everything and read this, honey? I need to know what you think about the ending…’. In my head there were two very different ways it could go and my other half is an avid reader, albeit not usually in the psychic romance genre. But he enjoys a good contemporary romance film as much as I do, we are both Love Actually ‘holics’ and it’s our favourite ‘feel good’ film, STILL! I value his opinion because he loves me enough to be truthful.
What this week has done for me, is to remind me to be very grateful for the fact that I have the opportunity and support of my other half, despite the fact that my passion to write often eats into our ‘quality time’ together. I’m a woman on a mission…because I had to wait for this time in my life to have that ‘me’ time. But I often forget to stand back and see the bigger picture – focusing only on what I want to achieve, instead of what I have achieved.The trigger for this contemplative mood was when one of my very good friends emailed me this week to say she is setting up her own business, having recently been treated very shabbily by her employer. This is a lady who understands commitment and motivation, and gave her 9-5 job all she had! I really think she has made the best decision and I was thrilled to hear her news. In my two previous careers (finance and interior design) I had a mixture of bosses, some appreciated my hard work and some took it for granted. These days the hardest taskmaster in my life is me! And that’s a luxury.
So, as the ink is drying on book number six (or is it eight, as it’s three novellas?) I thought I’d take time out to count my blessings. For my lovely husband, family and longstanding friends. For some truly wonderful readers and reviewers, who not only support me – but give me feedback, which helps steer my future novels – they have become new friends in the process. And my author friends, who share knowledge freely. Without this ‘team’ my new ‘career’ wouldn’t work.
Was it a busy week? Website maintenance, posts to be loaded, guests to feature, Tweeting and FB’ing, interviewing, writing, editing – all in a day’s work. However, despite numerous highs, the highlight has to be when I took my little charge on another steam train ride (it’s our regular treat). I took some lovely photos and put them on FB and because I’m always snapping away, little Bill likes to take a few of his own shots. They are…hmmm…unusual, I think is the term, and reflect a three year old’s perspective on the important things in life. I call this one ‘Bills amazing adventure…’ – never mind the views from the train… ‘my foot is quite big now…’
He’s another person in my life who manages to put everything else into perspective. I go back to work refreshed after a day trip out, or a visit to the park or local play centre. We all need a little normality in our lives to remind us of ‘where we are at’. I recently met up with someone I hadn’t seen for five years and it was one long lunch. As I only began writing four years ago, and have only been published for two, she was very shocked when I said I had written six books in the intervening time. “But I’m not at all surprised…” she added. Really? She called it Gemini madness…and I think she was right.
Hope you had a fantastic week too – can’t wait to see what happens next – life? Bring it on!
