Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Comment on SHE WRITES article by VICTORIA ZACKHEIM

Victoria, I love your truth, and all responses are helpful. I have not published 'yet' and I am eagerly looking for agent/publisher and or to self-pub. I learned a piece of courage and resilience years ago, when a writing friend and I went to greet Allison Brennan; a #1 best selling author. My friend already knew Allison but other than for us only a couple of people stopped by and that Border's was packed. Still Allison talked to each of us and few others like we really mattered. 

Sunday, March 01, 2015

On reality and balance

I picked up a 99u article, from my ever-growing mailbox just to scan but read it, and I am writing about it; feels good not be alone in my scattered life.
When I retired in 2004, my goal was to write a book that in 1998 came in a dream and then an experience that shook the heck out of my sleep for months. But life does not stop because we want to fulfill our dreams. Other ideas and projects filtered in, and my family also needed my time and although grateful to help my frustration increased.  
I relate to a lot in the article: I am not a morning person and was an all or nothing person. Soon after retirement I was forced  not to be under a clock or calendar but do what I needed and wanted to do at any hour. I wrote nights into early mornings, dumping what came to my psyche without attention to my dyslexia or grammar, etc., I also posted notes and pages of research that verified what had come to me. I am into facts - I think that comes from my love of anthropology, history, religion and science, coupled with my years of work as  research analyst. When things became manageable I took on freelance jobs not significant but proof I was a published professional writer. 
Finally, as some order had come into my life, three years ago I reluctantly agreed with my  husband, not long after he retired, to move to live permanently in our home in the foothills.  I regretted the move. The house needed a ton of rehab and even though we had reliable contractors we had to be present. That same year both our mothers passed away, a loss we still mourn. I have come to appreciate the bit of isolation amid the hills of Northern California and last year we went to Paris and Spain for a month.
The article talks about reality and balance, and my reality is that I have accomplished a lot. Have completed the first book and rough drafts of two books of what is now a 1,600-page paranormal/sci-fi/mystery trilogy, and doing edits as other writers give me feedback.  Have many stories in the works and  my book of poetry. Also, my blog: hoyecomova.com has over 40K hits. And as Maria Rapetskaya's article says: I have stopped apologizing for wanting a work life balance.