FEARLESS FRIDAY
Striking out on your own, following a dream, is definitely fearless. Be sure to read on, and welcome Caroline Clemmons to Fearless Friday.
Thanks
to Brenda for having me as her guest today on Fearless Friday.
How
fearless am I? Picture me blushing as I answer, “Not very.” I’ve done a lot of
things that took courage, but I was acting with my husband, which made the
event far less frightening. However, one thing sticks in my mind that was
life-changing.
For
several years I worked as the bookkeeper for our county tax assessor. The pay
wasn’t great, but it came with good retirement benefits, had a short commute, was
in a nice building, and the tax assessor was a friend.
This
was in an office with ten other women. Can you say drama! Most of the women
were really nice but there were three whose performance and gossip mongering made
each day a challenge. l loved my actual job—but the parade of divas in and out
of my office sapped my energy. Yet, I had to be accessible and couldn’t just
shut the office door. When I arrived home from work each weekday, my mind was
mush from dealing with the spectacle at work all day. I dragged into the house
too foggy to concentrate on writing. Still, I’m aware many writers succeed
under those conditions.
For
years I’d wanted to write romances. I’d even started one to which I slowly
added pages. That left weekends to write. In addition, I have several annoying
health concerns that zapped me frequently. On Saturday mornings, I attended RWA
chapter meetings or critique sessions. Sunday morning was church. I believed
that if I could stay home, I could succeed. I didn’t tell my husband those
feelings. Fortunately, my husband encouraged me to quit my job and write.
I
had to deliberate the possibility. Giving up a sure salary for the maybe of a
writing career was a difficult decision. What if I failed? What if we needed my
income? Ha, I was willing to take that risk. The next morning, I gave my
notice. Yes, I gave up my day job and concentrated on writing.
I
sent out sample chapters and got rejections while I completed two books. One great
day, I got an acceptance letter. Hooray, I was on my way! Four years from the day I quit my day job, I
was published. I had my foot in the door, so to speak, with a traditional
publisher. Now I’m indie published, which is so much better for me. In spite of
that, I was extremely happy with my first sale.
Stepping
into the unknown carries a risk. That’s why I admire the heroine of my new
release, GARNET, book 9 of the western historical Widows of Wildcat Ridge
Series. Imagine the fearless courage required to become a mail-order bride. Worse,
only nine months after her wedding, Garnet Chandler was widowed, left with her
niece and nephew in her care and a café to operate alone. I hope you’ll give
GARNET a read. The universal buy link at Amazon is http://getbook.at/garnetWOWR.
Through
a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error,
she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in
a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North
Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and
dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author
and won several awards. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook,
Twitter,
Goodreads,
Google+,
and Pinterest.
Join
her Facebook reader group,
Caroline’s Cuties, for advance news, contests, and conversation.
Click
on her Amazon
Author Page for a complete list of her books and follow her
there.
Follow
her on BookBub.
Subscribe
to Caroline’s newsletter here to receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS
THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you
knew it would, didn’t you?
She
loves to hear from readers at caroline@carolineclemmons.com
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