Monday, February 23, 2015

Finding Time When There is None by Alicia Dean



MUSE MONDAY
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:

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



14 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. Well, 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

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  2. I'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.

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    1. Yes, 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. ;)

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  3. Even 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.

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    1. Thank 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...' :)

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  4. My 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!

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    1. yes, 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!

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  5. How 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.

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    1. Yikes, Susan. That must have been quite challenging. Thanks so much, I'm happy to do it.

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  6. I 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?

    All are essential and make me a well-rounded person. I can't imagine ever saying "I'm bored."!!!

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    1. Ha, yeah, I don't know how long it's been since I was bored. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. I'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!

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    1. 4:20 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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