MUSE MONDAY
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| From left to right, Krysta, Amanda, Kathy, Alicia |
Please welcome my guest, Alicia Dean, to Muse Monday!
I am an editor for The
Wild Rose Press, a freelance editor, and an author. With a full-time, outside
the home job. And, I’m involved in various groups, social media, writing
groups, etc. So, finding time to write is a bit of a challenge. My goal is to
arise at 5 a.m., two hours before I normally do, in order to squeeze in some
writing time. Unfortunately, I don’t usually sleep well, so making myself climb
out of bed instead of grabbing those extra few hours takes more will power than
I possess. I try to reserve my weekends for marathon writing sessions, but of
course, with family and friend obligations, I don’t always have weekends to
myself. I also have an incurable condition ‘Can’tSayNoItis.’ So, anytime
someone asks a favor or presents a new project to me, before I even consider my
schedule and the impossibility of adding one more thing to it, I say, “Yes, of
course!” (Don’t tell anyone, if word gets out, I might be swamped with requests
;)). I stumbled across a couple of sayings that I intended to take on as my
mantras: ‘Yes makes less’ and ‘No is a complete sentence.’
So far, they aren’t working for me, but I plan to start practicing them…if I
can find the time.
What is your schedule
like? Do you have tips for managing your time you would like to share?
Fortunately, I was able
to find time to complete a writing project with three of my writer friends. The
four of us meet each Friday at a Martini Lounge in Edmond, Oklahoma. From those
get-togethers, came the idea to write stories centered around a similar
establishment. We call the series Martini
Club 4. Our first offerings are set in the 1920’s, and mine is called
Ruined.
Blurb:
She
vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans...
After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.
When Vince Taggart ’s childhood friend disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza may be the key to finding his missing friend.
Excerpt:
After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.
When Vince Taggart ’s childhood friend disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza may be the key to finding his missing friend.
The
whole idea sickened him. What kind of pathetic excuse for a man would have to buy a woman’s company? In spite of the
bad taste the situation left in his mouth, he tried to appear interested and
impressed. He scanned the room. His heart gave a little bump when he spotted
Eliza from Club 501.
He
tilted his glass toward her. “What about that one?” He hoped his voice sounded
more casual than he felt. The idea of spending a night of passion with a dame
like her… Nah, he needed to waylay those kinds of thoughts. He wasn’t the type
to buy a prostitute. And he was here for one reason only.
Oscar
followed the direction he’d pointed. “Oh yes, good choice. Eliza is a quite a
prize. And quite a looker. She’s new, but she’s a sweet one.”
An
odd sense of protectiveness rose. At the club, he’d sensed something vulnerable
and innocent, even though he’d been told she was one of Oscar’s girls. She just
didn’t seem the type. When their gazes met that first time, he thought some
kind of current—some kind of connection had passed between them. But apparently,
she was just really good at her job—enticing men.
Vince
nodded. “I’ll take her.”
*** Available for pre-order, and through the end of February, for
only 99¢ each - Regular price will be $2.99 beginning March 1!
Amazon pre-order buy link:
Find all
four at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=martini%20club%204&sprefix=martini+club+4%2Cstripbooks 
I honestly don't know how you do everything you do. I have two part-time jobs outside the home (winter at the rec center and summer at the boat ramp). Both require my presence, but for the most part, leave me alone in my little world to write. I chose them for that very reason! My home time is usually consumed with going to sports events for my girls or driving them places, so I get more writing done at work than on my off time! I think I've mentioned before you need a clone! LOL Maybe that could be your next project.
ReplyDeleteWell, Jannine, I just don't get as much done as I would like to, that's how. :) You're very fortunate that you have jobs where you can write. Haha, a clone would be awesome! Thanks for stopping by
DeleteI'm with Alicia, Jannine. I work full time and it drives me crazy with everything I need to get done and can't! I don't even sleep hardly. Great post, Alicia.
ReplyDeleteYes, Kathy, you definitely feel my pain. I don't sleep well, but I can't make myself get up in the wee hours and work like you do. ;)
DeleteEven as an empty nester, my weekends are still teeming with kid and grandkid activities. No writing time there. Luckily, I have a husband who doesn't like to sit around home - and loves being gainfully employed. That leaves me with home time - alone - to write. Even then, life seems to intervene too much. Or I'm lousy at time management. One of the two. My current 'professional' situation is nice, but it was a long, long time coming! I admire those of you who can 'work and write' as it were. More power to you. Love the Martini Club series idea. And what a fabulous excerpt. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margo! I'm glad you like the excerpt. I hope you enjoy the series. It's great that you have alone time to write, but I know what you mean. Honestly, sometimes the more free time I have, the less I accomplish, because I always think 'I've got plenty of time, I'll just do this first...' :)
DeleteMy day job is working as a lunch lady so from 1 o'clock on the day is mine...except for my four kids and husband. It seems like someone always needs me! I haven't figured out any magical way around this, but I have worked on learning to let it go. So I never got a moment to sit down and write today, tomorrow's another day. But I still get that antsy feeling that every writer recognizes, the feeling of if I don't get a chance to sit down and work on my book soon I'm going to be very difficult to live with! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteyes, I know the antsy feeling. With a family at home, it's even more difficult. But, you just have to train them to let you have a chunk of time to yourself for writing. Unless someone's bleeding or the house is on fire, it can wait. :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHow I sympathize with the NO-TIME-TO-WRITE syndrome. I wrote my first novel when i was a full-time working mother of 3 kids with multiple hats to wear at work and in the community. Retirement saved me! Hope you don't have to wait that long, Alicia! I appreciate all you do for all of us.
ReplyDeleteYikes, Susan. That must have been quite challenging. Thanks so much, I'm happy to do it.
DeleteI hear ya. I'm one of those as well. It's hard to say no when you actually like doing all of the things you're doing. What to give up? The paycheck job? The kids? The husband? Being team mom? Writers' groups? Writing? Reading? Baking? Drinking?
ReplyDeleteAll are essential and make me a well-rounded person. I can't imagine ever saying "I'm bored."!!!
Ha, yeah, I don't know how long it's been since I was bored. :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm with you, Alicia. Never enough time no matter how good my intentions. I work a busy, stressful day job, so get up at 4:20(ish) to write. Or that's the theory. I do manage to roll out of bed, but more often than not I sit in front of my computer half comatose, and the time passes. I really need to get myself one of those productivity clocks to light a fire under myself. Sigh. Great post!
ReplyDelete4:20 is way too early! But yeah, you have to figure out some way of sneaking in that extra writign time. Thanks!
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