I thought about this page for a bit and rather than give you a filtered third party account of my life and work, I’ll shoot from the hip and dish the goods or not so goods.

I was obsessed with the written word since I watched Electric Company, a television show that featured Spider Man. I wanted to know what the word bubbles said, so I taught myself to read through public broadcasting. By the time I was four I could read books without pictures and set about devouring every book I could find on any subject. Want to know what Roberto Clemente’s batting average was? It was .357 in 1967. I was obsessed with books. I’d walk to the library and come home with my requisite 5 books per day, until I had read every single book cover to cover in the library at least once. (I had to hang out to read the reference books). Now, would probably be a good time to mention that I taught myself to speedread out of desperation to finish more books faster. there was so much to learn, like how many bones are in the human body and how small is the smallest particle in the universe, that I couldn’t wait to know it all. Once I had read them all I’d skim my favorites while waiting on the next volume.

So many books had similar story lines, it was like playing the matching game where you find two cards that look the same. By eleven, I had a system for sorting all the books in my head, by types of stories and storylines. I liked the horror stories best and books that dealt with cryptozoology. Impatient for more books, I would visit a bookstore and sit in the back, knees folded up so I could prop up a book and read a small stack cover to cover before they closed for the day. I would save pocket money for my absolute favorites.

It was then that I began writing to fill the gaps in time it took until I had another book in my hands. Other authors have said reading is escapism at it’s best, but I find more than just an escape from the mundane in the pages of a book. I find a kindred soul that longs to share their world, imaginary or real, with you. It’s a special kind of communion with someone else, to read their book. You see through their eyes and get to know them in the most intimate way, no crazy obsessed fan moments needed, but to see the world as someone else does for a moment in time is magic.

I think being able to share your world is part of the charm of writing. Yes, putting characters in situations is fun, too but hear me out, taking the reader on a journey is a heady experience, an experience I want to share with you.

With blogging you get the absolute best situation. You have access to the books, but also my candid moments that help color the world so exquisitely. It’s almost like the author is there with you in person, whether it’s me or another favorite of yours.

I gig on the weekends. It may be a small private party or a large group, but my acting lessons in college paid off though it wasn’t my major. It helps subsidize my book sales to make sure the puppies are fed and see the vet regularly, though I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if we missed a visit or two, especially when they get their shots. It’s a living, right.

I probably should have gone for computers, since I was coding in 6th grade as part of a special government sponsored program for geeks that wanted to learn basic. Coding was like my books, something to sort out and comprise into new things like a pong game or a random number generator, or the small homemade video games I made based on stories I read with different endings.

By the time myspace came about (making myself look old, lol) I was creating pages for people and their pets. Then, came webpages and I could make it snow across your page while a glittery snowman blinked at you, lol-sounds kind of lame now, but it was back in the days you would get email with silly cat pictures, so don’t judge. I worked in a retail boutique as a psychic reader while myspace was the height of everything (this is prior to my doggies). With the two little monsters I can’t stay away as long, so I limit myself to working on the days the doggies have a sitter.

Don’t think the geek cred is done, lol. I’m CompTIA certified and every three years I pick up a new one or renew an old one so they don’t lapse and I don’t get too rusty. I still teach/tutor  privately. That’s part of the jack-of-all-trades thing I have going. I’ve worn many hats: nurse, editor, model, retailer, baker, sommelier, clown, artist, short order cook, seamstress, origami artist, entrepreneur, psychic… you name it, I’ve probably done it, but I always go back to writing. It’s part of sharing this crazy life with you, and please don’t get all touchy about my use of the word crazy, before they found the autoimmune illness every doctor I met thought it was depressions or some other mental illness. I’ve heard them all and after fourteen years of failed diagnoses it took one blood test to find out what I have. With my destroyed thyroid from the autoimmune disease, I don’t care if they think I have depression now. I take the minimum of pills (not a single one for thyroid, go figure) and I’m probably the only person that CBD doesn’t work for. I’ve tried the big scary prescription painkillers and even on a high dose they don’t work enough for me, so I refuse to take them. I’m also the kind of person that can go out drinking and get blind stinking drunk but not get a hangover, EVER-never had one. My body chemistry is weird that way. I went through labor with no drugs, so if I can handle that who needs addictive substances that don’t work? I’ve had patients with chronic illnesses that use the high risk medications just to feel normal. I completely understand the medical benefit to those it works for, but for me it didn’t even take the edge off on an acute day, even in combination with other medications.

The symptoms outside of the pain and swelling that are in common with actual depression are the same: exhaustion, restlessness, sleep disorders, lack of focus, mental fog… It’s just another day for me. I keep things on an electric calendar to remind me, now, and have considered that all the characters in my head(from books I’m writing) are just taking up too much room for more mundane things, so I’ll put them on paper to free up some room. And who doesn’t forget what they went into the kitchen for? Just learn to laugh at yourself and move on with the day.

Doing all of this while still being a mom to five… I must be crazy or just insanely busy, but send me your questions and suggestions. I’m always happy to hear from a reader. Then I know my shout out into the void landed somewhere good.

I sell my books on Amazon and all are available on KU, but if you’re looking for a signed paperback copy I mail those out with some little goodies, so don’t be shy.

I will be adding to the two series I have running, so keep looking back for the next book in the series. I’ll be posting them along with some recipes and insights into the characters. Those series are: Help Wanted Romance Series (Desperately Seeking Vampire and Desperately Seeking Vampire Hunter) and All Tied Up In Knots Series (2 full books and 6 short reads).

Some days the writing is slow because of RA-autoimmune illness. The RA is just one of the symptoms of Sharps disease(undifferentiated connective tissue disorder) but it is connected with other autoimmune diseases and I have symptoms from them, too. The medications help some days, but others I just want to throw them out the window and smash things. Lacking a true violent streak, I settle for coffee and the occasional glass of wine or a nice top shelf cocktail (a girl must have standards).

Keep checking back to see what new crazy things I’m busy with, how the two puppies are doing, soccer mom updates, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for freebies, news, and fun recipes.

 

Thanks for stopping by long enough to smell the flowers.