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Stephanie Julian | Juggling Balls and Carpet Sweeping
July 28, 2011
When I first started writing towards publication, I had two sons under the age
of three. During the day, I was working as a freelance feature writer for a local
newspaper but at night, while my husband worked the nightshift at the same
paper, I would write. My oldest would go to bed at 8 but my youngest wasn't as predictable. I can
remember nights sitting at my computer, rocking my youngest to sleep in his
carrier with my foot while I typed as quietly as I could. As my sons got older and went school, my writing time expanded. But since I was
still writing for the newspaper, I had to learn how to hit all my deadlines
without going crazy. If you would see my desk, you'd know I'm not an organized person (my husband is
laughing hysterically at my understatement). But I've had to learn how to
juggle multiple assignments, including book deadlines and newspaper deadlines. When my guys were younger and my husband still worked every night, I would lug
my trusty battered IBM Thinkpad to soccer practice, baseball games, basketball
practice, swim meets and karate lessons. I could write surrounded by screaming
kids at the pool, in the stands of sweltering gym and with fingerless gloves in
a field on the side of a hill. I once stopped a soccer ball with my feet on the sidelines while I continued to
type away. Impressed the hell out of the other soccer moms. At baseball
practice, the coach used to make sure the first baseman stood in front of me
while they practiced so I wouldn't get beaned by a stray ball. As my sons got older, they didn't need rides to practice and I got to write
uninterrupted for sometimes 8 hours a day. Which turned out to be a good thing because I'd started selling. I had deadlines
for books, deadlines for edits, blogs to write, promo to do. And while much of my newspaper work fell by the wayside, I continue to write the
garden pages every Monday from June through October. I've had to learn how to schedule garden visits so that I would still have
enough time to get all my writing finished. Usually I can keep all those balls in the air. Occasionally they fall. I've
learned that sometimes, to clean up the mess, you have to shovel it under the
carpet and deal with it another day. The one thing that holds true is that you just have to keep writing. The words
won't magically appear. Sometimes, dinner's a little late (and there's always
cereal). Sometimes the bathroom doesn't get cleaned as often as it should.
Sometimes I have to DVR that TV show so I can get my word count in. But I would trade my life for anyone else's in the world. Just don't look under
my carpets. WHAT A GODDESS WANTS BY STEPHANIE JULIAN – IN
STORES JULY 2011 In his arms, her magic powers are on the rise... Tessa, Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn, is desperately fighting off a malicious
god, but her powers are weakening. She needs a hero and fast, because only
sexual energy can give her strength. So she seeks out Caligo, whose sexual
prowess is legendary... And she's the only one who can bring him into the light... Caligo is a fabled Cimmerian warrior determined to stay away from spoiled
goddesses who trample heart after they've had their fun. But there's something
irresistibly hot and inviting about Tessa, and he knows he's her only chance to
escape the encroaching darkness... ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephanie Julian is
the author of three erotic romance series with Ellora's Cave. She is a member of
RWA and Valley Forge Romance Writers and is a freelance entertainment and
lifestyle feature writer. Stephanie lives in eastern Pennsylvania, where she is
working on the next two books in the Forgotten Goddesses Series: HOW TO
WORSHIP A GODDESS (December 2011) and GODDESS IN THE MIDDLE (July
2012). For more information, please visit www.stephaniejulian.com.
Comments
43 comments posted.
Re: Stephanie Julian | Juggling Balls and Carpet Sweeping
Now that is some concentration, I usually have to drown out
noise around me with music and I promise not to look under
your rugs if you don't look under mind :)
(Donna Newman 1:37pm July 27, 2011)
I like to drown out noise by reading.
(Carolyn Baker 1:08am July 28, 2011)
you book seems really great ! i would love to read it ! Thanks for the contest.
(Alby Delhia 7:10am July 28, 2011)
I can tell writing is your passion! I admire anyone pursuing
their passion.
(Lisa Garrett 7:28am July 28, 2011)
I think that women are able to multi task in ways
that amaze others. We can juggle housework,
cooking, work, home ec, tutoring, raising
children, nursing, scheduling, ..and thats just
inside the home, barely, just goes to show...it
takes a woman, or in each one of the cases, a
goddess to be a able to do all of that.
(Carla Carlson 9:06am July 28, 2011)
Have seen this cover recently and was intrigued. Would love to
read the book!
(Saskia Kanstinger 9:20am July 28, 2011)
I could tell you what a goddess wants, lol. No seriously, your life sounds like mine except mine if from a chronic illness that hit as my kids were finally getting a little older and more independent. There are days when I get the laundry done, dishes washed (in the dishwasher, of course), and dinner done if I am lucky. Those are the almost must do's but the "Spring cleaning" has left my life for good. It was a very hard adjustment to make as I was an absolute clean freak all my life (well maybe except when I was a teen). Sometimes you just have to not worry about the little things and do what you have to. It's been hard but am finally getting over the guilt of it all.
(Vicki Hancock 9:54am July 28, 2011)
That's amazing. I couldn't concentrate enough to write anywhere.
(Pam Howell 9:56am July 28, 2011)
Eeeks... I only have a 2 yr old daughter and I can't do much with her around. No idea how you manage to write and take care of all your kids at the same time! :)
(May Pau 9:58am July 28, 2011)
Thanks for the contest! Cant wait to read this one
(Julie Parrish 10:09am July 28, 2011)
It's so hard to work around kids kudos to you!
(Diane Sadler 10:17am July 28, 2011)
I have admiration for anyone that can do what they need to do to do what they want to do. Too many people have 101 excuses as to why they can't when it only take one thing to make it happen. You go girl!
Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 10:36am July 28, 2011)
It certainly sounds as though you have multi-tasking down to a fine art. Good for you!
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 10:46am July 28, 2011)
I can totally relate to having to juggle to keep all the balls in the air. I have three kids that all play multiple sports. I work full-time outside of the home. Then there are family and school things to attend to also. I got a chuckle out of your comment about stopping the soccer ball with your foot while still typing away. I have graded papers and worked on projects while at my girl's soccer practice so I can relate.
(Pam Scott 10:50am July 28, 2011)
I think most mothers with more than one child learn to tune out the racket that
increases as they grow until the "quieter" teen years when you really want to hear
what's going on. To be able to concentrate on writing a printable story is a real
challenge never mind the activities you describe. Congratulations on your
persistence-enabled career and on another book for all of us to enjoy!
(Sandra Spilecki 11:04am July 28, 2011)
I guess when you've got the story in your brain the rest of the world fades to the background. This idea of a story on Goddesses is intriguing. I went to an Etruscan exhibit once, their culture (or the speculation about it) was fascinating.
(Diane Sallans 11:58am July 28, 2011)
I think women have been "keeping all the balls in the air" since the dawn of time. Somebody had to watch the kids and keep the fire going when the men went off to hunt the mastodon. We are all amazing creatures. :^) And some of us are really creative and can entertain others with their stories and art while doing all of those things. Who cares if the dishes aren't washed right away. We all need good stories.
(Heidi Durham 12:10pm July 28, 2011)
Can you say multitasking. That's what working mothers do. Kudos to you for doing what you must, and really, who cares if the toilet doesn't get cleaned or the laundry folded. We eventually get it done.
(Maude Allen 12:20pm July 28, 2011)
I love that you didn't give up. So many woman decide to put aside or give up their dreams, when it is evident with a little work and creativity and perseverance, you can have it all.
(Joan Richard 12:28pm July 28, 2011)
I commend you for your juggling act. Must say that I am jealous, I wish I could balance my responsibilities and my goals better.
(G. Bisbjerg 1:27pm July 28, 2011)
this books sounds great and i would love to read it!!!
(Jennifer Beck 2:40pm July 28, 2011)
Writing is your passion, reading is mine!!!!!! Keep 'em coming!!!!!!!
(Joanne Bozik 2:54pm July 28, 2011)
But I would trade my life for anyone else's in the world.
Just don't look under my carpets.--- Am I right in assuming
you meant "I would NOT trade"? Or is that a Freudian slip?
LOL!! I kid! Being a mother, mate, employee and the mile
long list of things that just motherhood requires is
exhausting but it makes us superior to the men!
(Michele Powell 2:59pm July 28, 2011)
Your book sounds hot! Don't you wish there were a lot more hours in each day and at least half of them could be spent alone so you could actually get something done in the peace and quiet?
(Jody Hollenbeck 3:01pm July 28, 2011)
Sounds like my kind of read. I can't wait to get my hands on the book and the series
(Amanda Boyer 3:09pm July 28, 2011)
I think mothers have a way of tuning out the noise while remaining alert to
anything "unusual" that requires attention. You probably have to be thinking
all the time about your plot and jotting down notes even while brushing your
teeth. My hat is off to you and I admire that you are able to write a good
book. To heck with the dust balls. As my Mom used to say: "The dirt will be
here when I'm gone." She's gone and the dirt is still here. Forget it and enjoy
your children and your writing. I'm very much looking forward to reading your
new book. Congratulations!
Connie Fischer
[email protected]
(Connie Fischer 4:59pm July 28, 2011)
You are the ultimate Time Manager. Thank you for not giving up and letting us leave our exhaution behind when we read your books.
(Cindy Olp 5:02pm July 28, 2011)
Your book looks amazing. I would love to read it.
(Kara Lepard 5:24pm July 28, 2011)
While you may write through anything, I can read through anything. I can understand what you have gone through and congratulate you on your determination and perseverence!
(Renee Brown 6:10pm July 28, 2011)
I love reading books. Your books sounds great. Thanks for
giving me a chance to win it.
(Linda Hall 6:12pm July 28, 2011)
I have not read your books yet... sounds really interesting! Thanks for sharing!
(Colleen Conklin 6:35pm July 28, 2011)
Call it creative chaos!! I laughed reading this post. Keep writing & forget about the carpets.
(Mary Preston 6:52pm July 28, 2011)
A goddess wants it all plus plenty of admiration and body contact on her terms.
(Alyson Widen 7:16pm July 28, 2011)
That's dedication. I'm impressed that you can keep everything going.
(Carol Drummond 7:56pm July 28, 2011)
I admire your dedication. Thanks for the giveaway. The book sounds great and is going on my to buy list.
(Patti Paonessa 8:49pm July 28, 2011)
Keep on writing,and thanks for the contest
(Deb Pelletier 8:55pm July 28, 2011)
Impressive story on your writing prowess! Love the good girl (goddess Tessa) and bad boy (Caligo) premise !
(Kimberly Snyder 9:06pm July 28, 2011)
Please enter me in this fantastic contest to win a copy of What a Goddess Wants and it truly sounds like fantastic reading. Yes, it is great to have a bunch of dedication and organization in your life and yes writing would be a fantastic career and a family truly needs to understand that working is important too. Thank YOU very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 9:10pm July 28, 2011)
Concentrate? Aren't the hectic events of our lives what makes us hyperfocus on ANYTHING other that what is happening at the moment ;)
(Darci Paice 10:16pm July 28, 2011)
Thank you all so much for reading about my juggling act. Some days, I drop more of those balls than I catch. I think we all have days like that.
(Stephanie Julian 11:12pm July 28, 2011)
I've always needed absolute quiet around me whenever I had to write any letters or essays. I definitely, even under those circumstances, have written anything creative. Congratulations on doing it with two young boys. At the moment, I have to live pretty well "noiseless" in order to function. I'm very easily distracted, even by music.
(Sigrun Schulz 8:25am July 29, 2011)
Kudos to you! I wish I had your talent for writing. Thanks so much for the contest!
(Susan Navidad 3:48am July 31, 2011)
I don't write but I've always been great at multi tasking. I was in a car accident and am in a neck brace and can't do a think. It is driving me crazy!
(Brenda Rupp 9:38pm August 28, 2011)
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