Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Support Systems for Writers and Moms- Guest Blog Season Of The Witch by L.J.K. Oliva




I had lunch with one of my writer friends the other day.

We were sitting in our favorite Indian restaurant, our kids playing with each other across the table.  I had just released my new book, Season Of The Witch, and we were talking about writing and motherhood.

She finally blew out a heavy breath, leaned back in her chair, and said, "Honestly, I don't know how you do it."

Since my son was born in 2011, I've written eight books and published seven, including two in my new urban fantasy series, Shades Below.  I've juggled late nights, breastfeeding, edits, a blog, a website, and myriad social media platforms.  Now my son is in preschool, which means before long, we'll be adding homework to the mix.

My friend's comment got me thinking.  There's a lot of advice out there for moms who are also trying to maintain some kind of creative pursuit.  Manage your time.  Stick to a schedule.  Work before the kids wake up.  Work after the kids go to bed.

I don't do any of that.

The whole reason I've been able to do any of this is that I've had help.  Lots of help.  Every step of the way.  In short, I've had an amazing support system.

In many ways, I've been incredibly lucky.  I have a husband who views what I do as a legitimate job (albeit one still in the startup phase), and who pitches in when I need a little extra time to work.  I have a fabulous writing partner who I bounce ideas off of, and who supports my writing and career goals.  And I have some awesome friends who get that while I might not always be around to chat, I still love them.

 I understand not everyone has access to all these things.  Sometimes, the rest of the family doesn't understand mom's—or dad's—"hobby".  The pressure from the outside world to be the perfect parent can sometimes feel downright crushing...and that's not even including the pressure we put on ourselves.

While it's possible to hold your head high and forge ahead alone, I recommend looking around and taking stock of your social resources first.  You might be surprised how many people are willing to help you when you ask, if only because a happy, fulfilled parent usually means happy, fulfilled children.

Having a support network doesn't have to mean finding a babysitter and putting on real pants, either.  Thanks to social media, I do much of my networking from the kitchen table.  My writing partner lives across the country from me, so we communicate by phone.  I suggest taking a little stroll around Facebook and Twitter.  There are some really great online writers groups out there, and I've met a lot of people on them who are parents, too.

Bottom line: know yourself.  Know what your priorities are, and whatever it is you need, don't be afraid of asking for help to get it.




Season Of The Witch
Shades Below
Book 1.5
L.J.K. Oliva

Genre: urban fantasy/paranormal romance

Date of Publication: Oct. 1, 2015

Word Count: 99,733

Cover Artist: Amy Mateyka

Book Description:

Something wicked this way comes...well, more wicked than usual.

Georgia Clare needs help, and fast.  As the lone survivor of—and witness to—her coven's brutal massacre, she's felt the killer hunting her.  There's just one problem: the rest of San Francisco's witching community wants nothing to do with her, and the one man she can turn to doesn't do witches.

Darius deCompostela has done his best to steer clear of subversive affairs.  A private investigator and reluctant medium, the last thing he wants is to advertise his existence to the things that go bump in the night.  But then Georgia knocks on his door, and try as he might, he can't turn her away.

It's just one case, after all.  It's not like it's going to change his life…

Add it on Goodreads
Excerpt 2

She pushed through the glamour surrounding the exit, and shoved the door open.  Next thing she knew, she was in a narrow alley.  She allowed the door to slam shut behind her.  It immediately vanished into the aged brick wall.
Georgia sank against the side of the building.  She bent forward and rested her hands on her knees.  Fuck, was she stupid.  What the hell had convinced her waltzing into a floating club was a good idea?  She knew her history.  She knew what people thought of her.
She should have known better.
Something that sounded suspiciously like a door opening echoed through the alley.  Georgia hastily straightened and swiped her hands over her eyes.  A second later, Darius was standing next to her.  His eyes looked glazed, his face heavy.  He shook himself hard.
Georgia pressed her lips together and turned.
"Wait."  The word sounded slurred.
Georgia ignored the twinge in her chest.  "Forget it."
"Georgia, wait."
A hand closed around her arm.  Georgia yanked free.  Darius caught her again, this time spun her around to face him.  She hadn't expected him to shake off the glamour so fast.  Unbalanced, she stumbled headlong into his solid chest.  He stiffened, then his arms closed around her.
Her vision blurred.  She'd always known the witching world didn't want her.  Even so, she'd always maintained a tiny flicker of hope that maybe, someday, she might carve out a place for herself.
It was stupid.  Hell, she didn't even like most of the people in there.  She certainly didn't understand them, any more than they understood her.  The entire time she'd lived in the city, there was only one witch who had ever tried to connect with her.  Only one witch who had given her a chance.
Just her luck, that witch had gone and gotten herself murdered.
Georgia squeezed her eyes shut.  No good.  All she saw was the same grotesque still life that had been haunting her all week.  Study In Carnage.  She tried to breathe.  Thick metallic sweetness hit her tongue.
She didn't realize she was shaking until she felt Darius' hand slide down her back.  A low sound rumbled in his chest.  The echoes of it reverberated deep inside her, in a place words couldn't reach.
It took her a moment to realize he was shaking too; tight, controlled shivers she would have missed if they'd been farther apart.  Georgia's head reeled.  She didn't get this man.  One minute he all but threw her to the wolves, the next...what?  He felt her pain?
She hesitated, then awkwardly laid her cheek against his chest.
She lost track of how long they stood like that.  Gradually, she became aware of other things.  Of his large, impossibly gentle hand.  Of the cool, subtle slide of his suit jacket beneath her palm.  The fabric smelled expensive, but she kept catching a whiff of something else, too; something richly organic.  She'd never smelled anything quite like it.  She furrowed her forehead.  Then it struck her.
It was him.  Darius deCompostela, distilled down to the essence.  Georgia closed her eyes.  The tightness in her chest eased.
Several more minutes passed before she opened her eyes again and stepped back.  It took several more before her head was settled enough to think.  At last, she forced herself to look up.  "You really don't want me around, do you?"
Darius didn't answer.
She tried again, her voice stronger.  "Why?  And don't try to feed me that Joe-Pesci-Lethal-Weapon line again.  I'm a big girl.  I can smell bullshit like that a mile away."  Something occurred to her.  "It's because I'm a witch, isn't it?"
His dark eyes were impossible to read.  "This is your world, Ms. Clare, not mine.  But as long as I'm working this case, let me be clear: we're not partners.  I don't work with people like you."
She tried to be angry, but couldn't quite manage it.  "I won't forget that."
He didn't look away.  "I know."
Georgia swallowed hard.  She turned and started down the alley again.
This time, Darius didn't try to stop her.



About the Author:

L.J.K. Oliva is the devil-may-care alter-ego of noir romance novelist Laura Oliva. She likes her whiskey strong, her chocolate dark, and her steak bloody. L.J.K. likes monsters… and knows the darkest ones don’t live in closets.


                  





Newsletter Signup- http://eepurl.com/xRJuD


1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hey, Wenona! Thanks so much for letting me ramble on your blog today. Have a great week! :-)