Paper, Pen, and Chocolate
Today, I welcome fellow Indie Author Talia Jager who shares her inspiring story from Indie Chick: 25 Independent Women, 25 Personal Stories. Take it away, Talia!
I’m sure you find yourself wanting to ask how I get a minute
to myself. Or how do I deal with no time alone? Or what if I get an idea during
the day?
Paper, Pen, and
Chocolate
by Talia Jager
“Mom!” a voice yelled from the other room. “Make her stop!”
“I didn’t do anything!” another voice yelled before I could
even get up to see what was going on.
I sighed and struggled to get off the couch where I had just
started writing a scene. Four months pregnant with our sixth child and the
varicose veins were already causing problems for me. I wondered where my
husband was hiding that he couldn’t handle this.
Fortunately, the yelling quieted down. Instead of checking
on them, I made an Executive Decision. I snuck into my closet, grabbed some
Hershey’s chocolate from my stash, and slipped into the bathroom where I ate it
with the lights turned off. Nobody would find me there.
Flicking on my flashlight, I took out the notepad and pen I
had stashed in the magazine rack and wrote down some thoughts on the scene I had
been writing.
The quiet lasted 3.5 minutes. Then my time in the bathroom
was up. I crept back out to the living room where I settled a new argument,
secretly wishing I could go back to the bathroom.
Now, you may ask…Married with how many kids? And you write
books? WHY? HOW? Let me tell you.
From the time I was a little girl, I have had two dreams.
One: To have a large family. Two: To be an author. There was a time not long
ago when it seemed neither would come true.
Maybe it was being an only child that allowed my imagination
to run wild and my mind to create stories; it definitely made me wish for a big
family of my own. It’s lonely to grow up without a sibling.
In school, writing was my passion. I wrote constantly. I’d
slip my story under a notebook in class and when I was supposed to be taking
notes, I’d really be writing my story. At night when I was supposed to be
asleep, I’d hide under the covers in bed with a flashlight, pen, and paper.
Time went on, and although I had many stories written, I was
too chicken to do anything with them. So, they sat. When I fell in love and
started a family, writing got pushed to the side. Sure, I still loved it, but I
never had time. Deep down, I was mad at myself for not at least trying to do
something with them. But, at the time, I felt I couldn’t. Family came first.
My dream of having a large family wasn’t as easy as I
thought it would be, but it had begun to come true. We had two beautiful little
girls and wanted more. Unfortunately, I suffered through many miscarriages over
the years. After having a number of tests done, I was diagnosed with a blood
disorder so complicated that I have no idea what it actually is except that it
can cause miscarriages. Getting pregnant had never been an issue; staying
pregnant was. When I didn’t get and stay pregnant for over a year, the
depression got worse.
Losing a baby is a devastating thing to go through; losing
six is downright depressing. There’s no amount of crying, begging, negotiating,
or praying that brings them back. Believe me, I tried it all. It didn’t matter
how many people told me it wasn’t my fault–I blamed myself anyway. Finding out
that it was due to a blood disorder made my guilt that much worse. It was my
fault. My body’s fault anyway. Then I started asking myself: Why do some of my
babies live and others don’t? What did I do different? I had children before I
started medication for the disorder, and I’ve had miscarriages since getting on
the medication. None of it makes sense and it’s still something I struggle to
understand. I was in such a deep depression; it was like my creative button had
been turned off. I had no desire to write.
When we finally “gave up” and decided that we’d be a family
of six, we found out I was pregnant again with our fifth daughter.
This pregnancy was much harder on my body than the others. I
found myself on the couch most of the day with my legs up. It was around this
time that some online friends found out that I loved to write and encouraged me
to share my stories. I did so nervously and they loved them! I reached deep
down and found the courage to start submitting queries to agents. Each time my
hopes were smashed to pieces.
My husband started talking about eBooks and self-publishing.
I wasn’t too sure about going that route. I wanted to see my books in print, so
I could hold them in front of my face. I wanted to smell my book. But, as time
went on, eReaders became more popular and I figured…why not?
So, here I am, with five children, trying to find the time
to write, while juggling mom-duty, wife-duty, household chores, errands, and
more. During the earlier part of this year, you could find me up until the wee
hours of the morning writing. You see, that is the only time it’s quiet enough
to get anything done. Three a.m. is
the time when all little girls are sleeping, the husband is snoring away, and
my mind is clear. I can throw myself into a character’s psyche and let my
imagination flow. Everything was going perfectly. I was getting a lot of
writing done and then we got a surprise. Baby #6 was on the way.
As happy as we were, this put a serious damper on staying up
until three a.m. I just couldn’t do
it. My one-year-old is at the age where she needs to be followed around and
supervised constantly. If I don’t, I find my computer monitor has become a
coloring book.
My four-year-old is in between the “play with me” stage and
the “playing alone” stage. The older three are in school, which provides a
break for me, but since my four year old adores her older sisters, it makes it
hard. She’s constantly whining for them to come home.
It’s hard enough juggling the four younger ones, but throw
in a hormonal teenager and chaos ensues. Dealing with her has made me positive
that my mother cursed me for acting out as a teenager. Not a week goes by that
I don’t find myself in tears over something she does or says. Like the time
recently when I told her I was pregnant again, she made nasty comments accusing
me of ruining her life. Or the time I had to punish her for kicking her sister,
and she informed us that she could run away and be adopted by her friend’s
parents.
I’m sure you find yourself wanting to ask how I get a minute
to myself. Or how do I deal with no time alone? Or what if I get an idea during
the day?
Remember that stash of chocolate in the closet? I simply get
some, slip into the bathroom, and take a few minutes. Sometimes I just think.
Sometimes I jot down a few ideas on that hidden notepad.
As crazy and chaotic my life is, I wouldn’t change a thing.
And it sure gives me plenty of things to write about.
So, when life hands you lemons…toss them out, grab your
stash of chocolate, your writing materials, and head for the bathroom. You may
just end up writing a book.
This is one story
from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon
and Barnes
& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today.
Also included are
sneak peeks into 25 novels!
My young adult drama,
Damaged: Natalie’s Story,
is one of the novels
featured.
Find
out more about Talia and her books:
Got a Teen? Great YA reads for Kindle!
My niece is visiting me for Spring Break. I haven't seen much of her and her boyfriend; they've been busy at the beach, at the boardwalk, at the outlet shops, at the mini-golf course...you get the idea. But being with these young adults started me thinking about the great YA books I've read, and I decided to feature three today.
Maisy May is a novella - a short novel - for teens and adults. It is the first in a series of three about Maisy.
How does an emo teen with an ex-druggie mum, a
non-existent father and a penchant for fast cars fit into a traditional
Aussie church? Why has the new boy, Mr Perfect Pastor's Kid, caused her
to question every belief she holds dear? And why the sudden interest in
Leviticus?
Maisy May is a novella - a short novel - for teens and adults. It is the first in a series of three about Maisy.
Contains occasional swearing, and sexual and religious themes.
Who is Faustine? When Faustine Spencer was five years old, she
discovered a secret that changed her life forever. At twelve, her
parents sent her to Bonfire Academy where she
received learned to control her special powers.
Now, all she wants is to be a
typical teenager. When drop-dead gorgeous Ryker finally notices her, she couldn't be happier.
Then her father disappears, and she is named his successor. With her life in danger, Faustine must learn to follow one of
Bonfire Academy's most important rules: Trust no one.
Girl meets boy, falls in love, becomes engaged, and walks down the
aisle. Oh, if only life were that simple. When an Immortal girl meets a
Mortal boy, life is a little more complicated.
In My Link In Time, Charity
accepts Lincoln's marriage proposal, certain they can handle
anything that might come their way. Link’s newly acquired lust for blood
becomes the first problem to tackle...saying “I do” comes next.
Is a no fuss wedding in Las Vegas too much to ask? It seems so when a Witch from their past is not what she seems, mortal friends from Telluride become thorns in their sides, and staying alive is harder than Charity has ever imagined it would be. What is an Immortal girl to do?
Is a no fuss wedding in Las Vegas too much to ask? It seems so when a Witch from their past is not what she seems, mortal friends from Telluride become thorns in their sides, and staying alive is harder than Charity has ever imagined it would be. What is an Immortal girl to do?
JOAN REEVES aka SlingWords: Get Acquainted With KindleRomanceNovels
JOAN REEVES aka SlingWords: Get Acquainted With KindleRomanceNovels: If you own a Kindle, chances are you've already found your way to Kindle Romance Novels . I know hardly a day passes that I don't check out ...
Book of the Day on Flurries of Words!
My book, An Accidental Family, is Book of the Day over at Flurries of Words! Pop over and check it up!
Indie Authors Unite: What were you thinking?
I tell Indie Authors Unite why I write romance. Check it out!
Indie Authors Unite: What were you thinking?: Featured Author Donna Fasano, Author SYNOPSIS: Professor Joshua Kingston thought he'd found the perfect n...
Indie Authors Unite: What were you thinking?: Featured Author Donna Fasano, Author SYNOPSIS: Professor Joshua Kingston thought he'd found the perfect n...
Moving to the Middle East by Julia Crane
Today I welcome fellow Indie Chick Julia Crane who shares her inspiring story from Indie Chicks: 25 Independent Women, 25 Personal Stories. Take it away, Julia!
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Separation was normal in my marriage. My husband was in the military, and
usually gone six months a year. We had adapted quite well to the schedule. Of
course, we had the normal period of adjustment when he would return, but that
was part of the lifestyle. We were looking forward to his retirement, and being
able to spend more time together as a family. That didn’t work out quite as we
expected. My husband was offered a job in Afghanistan that would set us up to
really retire. The kicker? It would last a year. We thought the
sacrifice would be worth it, so off he went. One year became a year and a half.
While he was gone I took care of our small business, running a gym. I loved it. It was very time-consuming, but it was also very rewarding. It started to wear on me only when my pre-teen children complained that I was always at the gym, and never had time for them. Finally, I told my husband that it was time for him to come home.
He put in his notice and started a stateside job. Though the new job still required him to be gone for six months of the year, the absences were in manageable blocks of two weeks. When he was home, he would take care of the gym and I would have time off. It was perfect.
Then he got a call from a friend, with a job offer that was just too good to turn down…in Dubai. We discussed it, and decided he should take the job, even though we had a new one-year-old.
Not long after my husband left for Dubai, I was at the breaking point. I felt trapped with the business, our teens, and a one-year-old always needing my attention. I had no personal space, and I’m a person that requires time alone, or else I get cranky.
As luck would have it, the new job offered to bring family members over to live in Dubai. My first thought about moving to the Middle East? “Yeah, right.” However, I researched Dubai and was surprised at what I found. The country seemed very modern, and the schools sounded good.
So I told my husband, “Ok, we’re coming.” While I was both nervous and excited, I was ready for a change, and moving to the Middle East sounded like just the adventure I needed.
When we got off the plane in October, the hot air hit my face and it felt like I had walked into a sauna. I thought, “Uh oh, what have I agreed to?” Yes, the heat is hard to handle, but you learn to live your life around it. We do most things early in the morning or after the sun sets. It is very much a nighttime culture. The city is beautiful and the Arabian Sea is breathtaking. I have grown comfortable living here, and easily call it my home. Though I can now see myself here for a few years, there are of course many things that I miss about America, and most of them involve food. Some things are just impossible to find: I’ve searched high and low for a Butterfinger, with no luck.
After a couple of months of enjoying my newfound free time, I eventually started to twiddle my thumbs. I was used to being busy, and with all the free time I needed to find something to fill the void. I saw an article that went into detail about how e-books had flung open many doors for writers. I thought that was interesting, and I mentioned it to my husband and he said he had also seen many articles saying much the same thing. I jokingly said that I was going to write a novel. My husband, who believes I can do anything, thought it was a great idea. I have always enjoyed writing even though I had not written much since having children. As a teen, I used to mail short stories to magazines and such, and like most avid readers, I always dreamed of someday writing a novel. Now I had my chance.
That same night I sat down to write, and the story quickly formed in my
mind. I knew I wanted to write a young adult novel that would involve my Irish
roots. The story just seemed to form itself: I would get ideas at random times
and rush to write them down. It was frustrating at times, because I need
relative quiet to focus. As you can imagine, with two teens and a two-year-old,
finding quiet time is not easy. I wrote most of “Coexist” late at night when
everyone was asleep. It took approximately three months to write the first
draft, while the revision and editing process lasted longer than the initial
writing.
A great part of the writing process for me has been interacting with other writers. I have met some amazing people from online writing groups and chat rooms. I learned a great deal in a short amount of time. I don’t think this undertaking would have been nearly as fun without the community I have found. Moving halfway across the world has allowed me to have both more time with family, and the ability to pursue a dream I’ve had since a child.
Moving to the Middle East
by Julia Crane
.JPG)
While he was gone I took care of our small business, running a gym. I loved it. It was very time-consuming, but it was also very rewarding. It started to wear on me only when my pre-teen children complained that I was always at the gym, and never had time for them. Finally, I told my husband that it was time for him to come home.
He put in his notice and started a stateside job. Though the new job still required him to be gone for six months of the year, the absences were in manageable blocks of two weeks. When he was home, he would take care of the gym and I would have time off. It was perfect.
Then he got a call from a friend, with a job offer that was just too good to turn down…in Dubai. We discussed it, and decided he should take the job, even though we had a new one-year-old.
Not long after my husband left for Dubai, I was at the breaking point. I felt trapped with the business, our teens, and a one-year-old always needing my attention. I had no personal space, and I’m a person that requires time alone, or else I get cranky.
As luck would have it, the new job offered to bring family members over to live in Dubai. My first thought about moving to the Middle East? “Yeah, right.” However, I researched Dubai and was surprised at what I found. The country seemed very modern, and the schools sounded good.
So I told my husband, “Ok, we’re coming.” While I was both nervous and excited, I was ready for a change, and moving to the Middle East sounded like just the adventure I needed.
When we got off the plane in October, the hot air hit my face and it felt like I had walked into a sauna. I thought, “Uh oh, what have I agreed to?” Yes, the heat is hard to handle, but you learn to live your life around it. We do most things early in the morning or after the sun sets. It is very much a nighttime culture. The city is beautiful and the Arabian Sea is breathtaking. I have grown comfortable living here, and easily call it my home. Though I can now see myself here for a few years, there are of course many things that I miss about America, and most of them involve food. Some things are just impossible to find: I’ve searched high and low for a Butterfinger, with no luck.
After a couple of months of enjoying my newfound free time, I eventually started to twiddle my thumbs. I was used to being busy, and with all the free time I needed to find something to fill the void. I saw an article that went into detail about how e-books had flung open many doors for writers. I thought that was interesting, and I mentioned it to my husband and he said he had also seen many articles saying much the same thing. I jokingly said that I was going to write a novel. My husband, who believes I can do anything, thought it was a great idea. I have always enjoyed writing even though I had not written much since having children. As a teen, I used to mail short stories to magazines and such, and like most avid readers, I always dreamed of someday writing a novel. Now I had my chance.
That same night I sat down to write, and the story quickly formed in my
mind. I knew I wanted to write a young adult novel that would involve my Irish
roots. The story just seemed to form itself: I would get ideas at random times
and rush to write them down. It was frustrating at times, because I need
relative quiet to focus. As you can imagine, with two teens and a two-year-old,
finding quiet time is not easy. I wrote most of “Coexist” late at night when
everyone was asleep. It took approximately three months to write the first
draft, while the revision and editing process lasted longer than the initial
writing.A great part of the writing process for me has been interacting with other writers. I have met some amazing people from online writing groups and chat rooms. I learned a great deal in a short amount of time. I don’t think this undertaking would have been nearly as fun without the community I have found. Moving halfway across the world has allowed me to have both more time with family, and the ability to pursue a dream I’ve had since a child.
***
This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25
Personal Stories available on Amazon
and Barnes
& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today.
Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels!
My paranormal romance novel, Coexist: Keegan’s
Chronicles #1,
is one of the novels featured.
All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast
Cancer.
Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles #1
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