Being an indie author is not for the faint of heart. As members of the human race, we’re already juggling a million and one things on any given day. Throw some kids in the mix, and you’ve easily quadrupled your responsibilities. It’s a daily balancing act, for sure.
Most people probably think the juggling/balancing/occasional acrobatic act, especially for authors who have jobs outside of writing, is more difficult when the kids are really young because they’re very needy (like, you have to keep them alive and know where they are all the time). I say it’s more difficult the second they get involved in activities outside the home. Raise that to the Nth power if they figure out they’re actually good at the activity.
I’m not talking playdates or art classes. I’m talking little-buddy-who-is-not-so-little anymore figures out he’s good at soccer, tries out for the local travel team, and makes it. Then so does his younger brother. I drive to six practices during the week and four matches on the weekends—more if they’re in a tournament. It doesn’t leave a lot of time for writing.
Thankfully, I work from home. I have a part-time gig working for a textbook publisher, so I don’t have to use time in my day doing mundane things like commuting or showering when I can put it off until later. Side note: dry shampoo is one of the greatest inventions in my lifetime.
On a typical day, I only work a few hours for my “real” job. It’s the hours in between finishing those tasks and the kids getting off the bus where I either workout, do housework, or write. Some days I can sneak in a couple of hours for writing, most days I don’t have time for it. I really don’t know how those that work full time jobs away from their house fit it all in. It’s not impossible, it just requires a huge sacrifice of downtime. I suppose I have the luxury of writing and releasing more often thanks to my situation. It’s still a struggle, but I’m handling it.
To save time in the evenings, I’ve learned to use my crockpot. It’s been a huge help, like this past week when I’ve been trying to crank out pages to Book 2 in my Fate of Imperium Series (The Vampire King’s Mate). I’m on a time crunch and the book is only halfway finished. I got derailed for two weeks by a nasty bug my youngest brought home from school. Thank you, Mr. Crockpot, for saving family dinner while I coughed my head off in bed.
Until the kiddos are old enough to drive, and as long as they’re involved in things—which I want for them—then my time is sparse. I have to accept that writing will happen when I can manage it. When I can’t, I just need to roll with the punches. Thus far, it hasn’t upset me when I have to put it off. I do love watching my kids thrive and enjoy themselves. And if they decide they’re not into competitive sports anymore, I can find other ways to occupy (corrupt) them, like Mommy and Me Blackjack night. No driving required.
The Wolf King’s Bride
Fate of Imperium
Book One
C.A. Worley
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: C.A. Worley
Date of Publication: 9/10/2018
ISBN: 9780463151723
ASIN: B07GBHZ6S3
Word Count: 73,000
Cover Artist: OliviaProDesign on Fiverr
Tagline: “No, that was never her fate. Her future was always in the North.”
Book Description:
When Kellan, Wolf King of the North, meets his fated mate, she is only a child. He immediately brokers a betrothal and, on the day after her 20th birthday, whisks her away to his castle in the Northland. Kellan is elated, believing he has everything he has ever wanted. His new wife, Nora, doesn’t quite share the same sentiment.
Before Kellan has time to court her, Nora is attacked. An ancient brotherhood refuses to allow an heir of one kingdom onto the throne of another. All four factions in the land of Imperium appear to be involved in a surreptitious struggle for power … while Nora hides a few secrets of her own.
Excerpt:
Nora’s hair was still the pale blonde he remembered, only now it was groomed and plaited. Kellan thought he might prefer it a little wild, as it was the first time he saw her.
She came to a stop and put her hand on the banister. He noticed she was wearing one of the bracelets he sent to her last year. It had been his mother’s. Pride swelled in his chest seeing it on his mate’s delicate wrist.
Nora’s eyes found Kellan’s, and, for a heartbeat, time stopped. His bright blue eyes sparkled in the morning sun, like crystal. They were exactly as she had remembered. How could she forget when they haunted her dreams?
She blatantly examined the shape of him, comparing him to her memory of their brief encounter. Nora thought him intriguing that day. Now, she found him utterly magnificent.
Butterflies danced in her abdomen as she drew closer.
His brown hair was messy, probably from riding. It barely brushed the top of his broad shoulders. His arms were huge, far bigger than any Gwydion she had ever seen.
His trunk was long and lean, leading down to muscular thighs. Kellan’s entire body was solid, built to endure battle. She liked the idea of having such a strong husband. After her perusal, she once again looked to his face.
Kellan lost his breath seeing her skin redden as she bore the weight of his stare. He thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Her heart-shaped face had lost the plump look of childhood and now held the definition that belonged on a woman.
Her lips were full and pink, and he was desperate to kiss them, hard and fast, then gently. He wanted to bite her bottom lip, then bite … other things.
Kellan needed to stop his imagination or else risk the tightening of his pants, which would only embarrass his mate.
Nora was not accustomed to such things—but she would be. His hands itched to reach for her, to help her discover the secrets of what her body could do. He would master it as he had no other’s.
He drank her in, as Nora had done to him, first to make sure she was in good health. The distance had put him in a constant state of concern over her safety and well-being.
Her skin was glowing, and she looked like she was happy. Nora’s happiness was of the utmost importance to him. Kellan had worried about how she would feel seeing him after all these years, fearful she would be intimidated or wary. She appeared neither.
When Nora got to the bottom of the stairs she approached her groom, careful not to invade his personal space. She curtsied and waited for him to address her.
With her eyes cast downward, she felt a warm hand tip up her chin. The look in Kellan’s eyes was one she had never seen directed at her. Her skin heated, flushing even brighter than when she had made eye contact with him on the stairs.
“Sweet, Nora. You do not bow to me. Ever.”
His voice washed over her, covering her in a blanket of warmth, calming her nerves. It was the same feeling she had the first time she heard him speak. Nora’s mouth went dry as she stood.
Kellan took both of her hands in his. He hoped she could not feel the slight tremble in them from being close to her after so long apart. He leaned in slowly, so she would not be frightened, and kissed her cheek, lingering longer than was polite.
He wanted to take her mouth, but doing so in front of her family would do nothing to endear him to them. He was also unsure if Nora would welcome such boldness.
His breath tickled Nora’s skin and caused the vibrations to return. She prayed she wouldn’t be struck with a vision now. She wanted to concentrate and commit today to memory.
Nora noticed that these vibrations were different than the others. They were more concentrated, centered in her gut and down to her core. Kellan’s nostrils flared as he slowly pulled away from his mate.
She came to a stop and put her hand on the banister. He noticed she was wearing one of the bracelets he sent to her last year. It had been his mother’s. Pride swelled in his chest seeing it on his mate’s delicate wrist.
Nora’s eyes found Kellan’s, and, for a heartbeat, time stopped. His bright blue eyes sparkled in the morning sun, like crystal. They were exactly as she had remembered. How could she forget when they haunted her dreams?
She blatantly examined the shape of him, comparing him to her memory of their brief encounter. Nora thought him intriguing that day. Now, she found him utterly magnificent.
Butterflies danced in her abdomen as she drew closer.
His brown hair was messy, probably from riding. It barely brushed the top of his broad shoulders. His arms were huge, far bigger than any Gwydion she had ever seen.
His trunk was long and lean, leading down to muscular thighs. Kellan’s entire body was solid, built to endure battle. She liked the idea of having such a strong husband. After her perusal, she once again looked to his face.
Kellan lost his breath seeing her skin redden as she bore the weight of his stare. He thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Her heart-shaped face had lost the plump look of childhood and now held the definition that belonged on a woman.
Her lips were full and pink, and he was desperate to kiss them, hard and fast, then gently. He wanted to bite her bottom lip, then bite … other things.
Kellan needed to stop his imagination or else risk the tightening of his pants, which would only embarrass his mate.
Nora was not accustomed to such things—but she would be. His hands itched to reach for her, to help her discover the secrets of what her body could do. He would master it as he had no other’s.
He drank her in, as Nora had done to him, first to make sure she was in good health. The distance had put him in a constant state of concern over her safety and well-being.
Her skin was glowing, and she looked like she was happy. Nora’s happiness was of the utmost importance to him. Kellan had worried about how she would feel seeing him after all these years, fearful she would be intimidated or wary. She appeared neither.
When Nora got to the bottom of the stairs she approached her groom, careful not to invade his personal space. She curtsied and waited for him to address her.
With her eyes cast downward, she felt a warm hand tip up her chin. The look in Kellan’s eyes was one she had never seen directed at her. Her skin heated, flushing even brighter than when she had made eye contact with him on the stairs.
“Sweet, Nora. You do not bow to me. Ever.”
His voice washed over her, covering her in a blanket of warmth, calming her nerves. It was the same feeling she had the first time she heard him speak. Nora’s mouth went dry as she stood.
Kellan took both of her hands in his. He hoped she could not feel the slight tremble in them from being close to her after so long apart. He leaned in slowly, so she would not be frightened, and kissed her cheek, lingering longer than was polite.
He wanted to take her mouth, but doing so in front of her family would do nothing to endear him to them. He was also unsure if Nora would welcome such boldness.
His breath tickled Nora’s skin and caused the vibrations to return. She prayed she wouldn’t be struck with a vision now. She wanted to concentrate and commit today to memory.
Nora noticed that these vibrations were different than the others. They were more concentrated, centered in her gut and down to her core. Kellan’s nostrils flared as he slowly pulled away from his mate.
About the Author:
C.A. Worley is the alter-ego of Romance Author Cass Alexander. Where Cass tends to focus on humor in her publications, C.A. loves to write fantasy. She chose to write under the two different monikers to not confuse (or tick off) her readers.
C.A. currently resides in the Midwest, but was born and raised in the South. She spends her days working from home and her evenings are spent shuttling her kids to and fro. Her dinners are subpar, but she makes a mean dessert.
When she's tired of living her sons' travel sports schedules, C.A. enjoys a glass (or four) of wine. She needs the liquid courage to click the publish button for her fantasy romance novels.
Her motto is, "Be Brave," and she tries to live it every day—it takes a healthy dose courage to get through this thing we call life.
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