I didn’t grow up wanting to be a stay-at-home mom or even a writer. Not that I didn’t like stories, I loved them. So much so, that I created characters and stories and then ad lib with my friends. Then, friends moved away, I grew up, etc. At fourteen, I still created characters in my head—but my writing was poetry. In my late twenties, I started writing novels, but only let a few people read them. After I finished my first novel and started on my second, my fantasy was to be a full-time writer, but work and life kept it a dream.
Fast-forward to when my second son was born. I was working full-time and had planned to continue. What I hadn’t planned on was his first week at daycare and only four months old, him getting RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). Then it was ear infections, C diff, and the flu with hospitalization. I liked my job, but my child’s health was at risk. It wasn’t fair to him or my job – so I quit and stayed home.
Now what?
The first six months were fine. But then, depression started to grow. I began resenting my husband, when he would stay at work late. My days spiraled together until I didn’t feel like I was living until the weekend and when my husband was off work. I began talking to absolute strangers – just to have an adult conversation – something that even more awkward for me given my shyness (so you realize how desperate I was).
What was wrong with me? My sister had done (and wanted to) the stay-at-home mom stuff for over a decade and she didn’t run screaming.
So what was her secret?
Supportive friends and a hobby or two.
Okay. But I had no skills. Arts and Crafts are my least favorite things and I’m terrible at them anyway. Sewing? No thanks. Knitting? Didn’t see the purpose of it as its hot and humid here 95% of the time. Cross-stitch? I’d get bored before finishing one. Writing? Now that I could do. I dug up old manuscripts I’d written years ago and begun editing.
Then I read an ad for freelance writers needed to do movie and/or book reviews, so I signed up and received my first ever paid for my writing salary. It wasn’t much, but I already felt a bit of depression leaving.
A few months later, I ran across a friend’s post that Crimson Romance was seeking manuscripts. I thought, why not? So I sent off the Fantasy Romance story I’d been editing. Soon, I had a contract and The Garnet Dagger was published! Now I was a paid, published author.
Here are some ideas, if you are a stay-at-home mom and have done it for years or just starting:
· Find supportive friends – look for other stay-at-home moms. There are groups that meet and have playdates in your area. Your kids get to meet and play with others, and you can establish new and lifelong friends with common interests.
· Develop an interest or hobby outside of your kids – it’s good to have your own identity or at least one small piece that is just for you.
· Even if you’re like me and can’t or won’t do Arts & Crafts, you can join a book club or a cooking class. What is it you like to do?
o Or for fun, sign up with a friend for one of the wine & painting classes.
· If you’re getting depressed, tired all the time, resenting your situation or kids – get help! Seek counseling. If you can’t afford it, there are many religious programs that offer free sessions.
How about you? Have you had any issues with being a stay-at-home mom?
Stolen Hearts
Andrea R. Cooper
Genre: Contemporary Romance Suspense
Publisher: SilverTree Publishing
Date of Publication: February 14, 2015
ASIN: B00TKW9Y4W
Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 65,000
Tagline: She stole a cop’s heart… will this thief pay for her crime?
Book Description:
Crystal was raised as a thief, bent on revenge. She uses her talents to target the corporation that destroyed her family and her innocence.
When a handsome undercover cop enters her life, Crystal worries she'll be caught before her mission can be completed - or lose her heart to the one man she can't trust.
Kade lost his partner in Texas and is looking for a fresh start in the NYPD. Catching the thief whose been targeting the Westridge Corp. will help his transfer become permanent.
Will Kade discover the truth, or will he blame Crystal for stealing his heart?
Publisher: SilverTree Publishing
Date of Publication: February 14, 2015
ASIN: B00TKW9Y4W
Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 65,000
Tagline: She stole a cop’s heart… will this thief pay for her crime?
Book Description:
Crystal was raised as a thief, bent on revenge. She uses her talents to target the corporation that destroyed her family and her innocence.
When a handsome undercover cop enters her life, Crystal worries she'll be caught before her mission can be completed - or lose her heart to the one man she can't trust.
Kade lost his partner in Texas and is looking for a fresh start in the NYPD. Catching the thief whose been targeting the Westridge Corp. will help his transfer become permanent.
Will Kade discover the truth, or will he blame Crystal for stealing his heart?
Available at Amazon
EXCERPT TWO
Laying in the hospital bed, his head pounded, but he
still didn’t want to pass up a chance to be alone with Crystal and kiss her.
Yes, perhaps that would help him. He even imagined her in a nurse’s uniform and
straddling him. “Hey man, could you swipe a bag of cookies and mints from the
cafeteria?”
“Sure.” Paul winked and he hoped it meant he
caught his hint.
After the door closed behind Paul, Kade hit the
button on his bed so he could sit up more. When Crystal moved to sit in the
chair, he patted the mattress beside him.
She looked uncomfortable. Had he misread her? He
thought she was attracted to him.
Placing her purse on the empty chair, she sat
down on the bed beside him and he couldn’t keep the grin off his face.
“Some party, huh?”
She shrugged. “Sorry you got mixed up with
that—that burglar wasn’t it?”
“Probably. They usually don’t carry tear gas,
though.”
“Oh?”
Shit! When would he learn to keep his damn mouth
shut. “I mean, that’s what the doctors think it was.”
She trailed a hand up his blankets to his chest
and his breathing increased. “So what do thieves usually carry?”
“Guns or knives, I guess.” It was hard to think
with her looking up from her golden lashes like that.
“Then I guess you were lucky she didn’t have
either of those.”
He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
“Yeah, well… ”
Her hand running down his arm was distracting.
“But I’d rather not talk about that.” He reached
out and hooked his fingers in her hair. “Paul could return at any moment and
I’ve wanted to feel your lips for weeks.” Not waiting for a response, he
brushed his mouth across hers. Light. Gentle. Asking.
When she sighed against his mouth, he pulled her
to him until she fell across his torso. Her lips tasted of cherries and
vanilla. God, she felt good in his arms.
His tongue swept across her bottom lip, seeking
an invitation. When she gave it, he growled and deepened the kiss. Their lips
and tongues grew more insistent. He wanted to feel her skin beneath his hands.
To kiss every inch and memorize her body.
His hand cradled her to him and he swept a hand
up to her breast. Lace. Nice. She was
full in his hands and he fought the urge to strip their clothes off and—
The door to his room creaked open and Crystal
jumped off him as if he were a hot stove. Good thing he was covered up with the
blankets or the hospital gown would show his excitement.
He should have asked Paul to drive downtown to
pick up the food.
Paul cleared his throat. “Here’s all I could
find.” Tossing him a bag of M&M’s and gum. “Ready to go?”
“We’ll leave you alone.” Crystal squeezed Kade’s hand.
For the hundredth time since meeting her, he
wished she would stay. But she said good-bye and left with Paul.
Damn, he was glad Paul was already hooked with
Ruby.
Otherwise, his jealousy would make him crawl out
of that bed and bring her back.
About the Author:
Andrea writes fantasy, paranormal, historical, and contemporary romance suspense.
Her favorite childhood memories involve creating vibrant characters for her and her friends, then acting out their adventures. She traded in Nancy Drew books for Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie novels at the age of ten.
The love of her life showed her that true love never gives up and rekindles no matter how many times circumstances or others try to extinguish it. Today, she is happily married with two sons and a daughter.
Her favorite childhood memories involve creating vibrant characters for her and her friends, then acting out their adventures. She traded in Nancy Drew books for Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie novels at the age of ten.
The love of her life showed her that true love never gives up and rekindles no matter how many times circumstances or others try to extinguish it. Today, she is happily married with two sons and a daughter.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndreaRCooper
Author Website: www.AndreaRCooper.com
1 comment:
Thank you for having me :)
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