I'm Having the Time of My Life

Howdy,
  Pamela Tracy here, and yes it happened again.  I was sitting with a group of people, and one of them said, "Hey, I hear you're a writer."
  I nod, smile, mention Harlequin.
  They nod, smile, and mention that when they have time, they're going to write a book.

   I find time an interesting concept.

   If I had waited until I had time, I'd still be on chapter one of the first book I ever tried to write (It, btw, wasn't a romance.  It was a Star Trek TNG.  Guinan was the main character, and the Furengi were the villains - go figure.)

  Wait!  That wasn't my first book.  The first book I started was while I was in college (the first time).  I wrote a Sci Fi novel along the lines of Kurt Vonnegut (I was so in love with his and Douglas Adams' writings).  

   For that Sci Fi book, I was a full-time college student who was a full-time waitress and who cleaned apartments on the side.  No time.

  For the Star Trek book, I was single, teaching elementary school, waitressing at night, and played competitive softball (Hah, something you didn't know about me.  Before the chub came, I was athletic.)

Here's the truth.  Time didn't land in my lap, ever.  I made time.  I got up early, stayed up late, and carted notebooks and/or laptops to coffee shops and libraries.  I wrote on my honeymoon (I was late on a deadline because I planned a wedding instead of a black moment.)

Today, I'm busier than ever and for the best reason of all....

My advice to you, if you're going to write a book, write a book.  IN the time it took you to tell me about it, you could have had 500 words.

Now, hanging my head, here's how I've been spending my time lately when I should have had my butt in the chair working on my next Heartwarming!

Two nights a week, I'm sitting on a hard bench watching Mike at dive practice.
He's the small dot straight ahead on the three meter.
I think about bringing my laptop but I can't balance it on my knees and type.
I'm not that gifted.

One weekend I went to Tucson to give a talk.
There I ran into other Heartwarming authors like Roz Denny Fox, Patricia Forthyse, and  LeAnn Bristow
I think they're getting more writing done than me.
Hmmm, I'm jealous.

One Saturday I saw saw Marshmallow man from Ghostbusters.
I'm trying to figure out how to work him into my newest Heartwarming, but he's just not suspensy enough.

On Halloween, I had to spend time at a Haunted House.
I wish I'd found a haunted typewriter that would finish the D*#@ book for me.

No, Donald Trump did not visit my house to check on my writing progress.
This is one of Mike's friends disguised as Trump for Halloween.
My husband said, "He'll either get a lot of candy or none."

I was on the Day on Writing Committee at my school.
We brought in Marshall Trimble, state historian.
Yes, I got to pick the speakers.  Way cool.

I'm involved in Youth Leadership Training for Christ at my church.
Actually, they put me in charge of puppets and drama.
They said something about not trusting me to cook.

I also helped plan pseudo Grandma's 80th birthday just a few weeks ago.

Ah, I need to sign off and go write a little romance... How about you?