Does Your Gender Affect Your Writing Success?

Here is a loaded question, and I would be very interested to receive some responses in the comments below. I am currently reading On Writing by Stephen King, and I have reached the section of the book where he tells us that if we are serious about writing, we actually have to do it. We cannot keep putting it off and blaming our life circumstances, our lack of free time, and all the other millions of excuses we come up with.

Now, I totally agree with that. But one sentence in King’s book struck a chord. He wrote that he was fortunate to have a “self-sufficient wife” and she allowed him to hide away and write whenever he needed to. They have children, and he wrote his novels and short stories since before they were born and throughout their lives. Did his wife shoulder the parental responsibility, and do all the boring, everyday essential tasks of caring for the children before he found fame and fortune?

I would say that I have a self-sufficient husband. In fact, he is so self-sufficient that I am often left at home with the children, and I do 99% of the household chores, nurturing, caring, doctors’ appointments, etc. My husband simply works, in a demanding job that takes him away from the family home for anything up to sixteen hours every day, five days a week. He then spends the weekends ‘catching up’ on his personal affairs, and sleeping because he so exhausted from working all week. But he provides the income, and I must accept that.

In order to follow Stephen King’s advice, I need to change that model of behaviour. My husband refuses to make his work hours more flexible, or even to book time off that he is legally allowed (that is a whole other saga!). He did recently have a pay rise, however. Our cashflow is not brilliant, but if I am to look at the bigger picture, I need some help with childcare. To that end, I plan to investigate the costs of childcare, and see what I can fit around preschool and school. Then perhaps I can find time to finish the manuscripts I have languishing on my hard drive, and finally get my career established professionally.

How do you fit writing in around family and work?

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Reading My Christmas Gifts

You won’t be surprised to hear that I received some fabulous book related Christmas gifts recently. I am still reading one of the books I received, On Writing by Stephen King. It was a surprise present from my husband, and he earned some major ‘good husband’ points for this one! I am just over half way through the book, and it is brilliant. I feel inspired, invigorated, and enthused to get back into my novel writing as soon as the children return to school.

I also received a couple of quirky, fun Christmas presents from friends. They bought me a coffee mug with a funny quote printed on it, “Please do not annoy the writer, she might put you in a book and kill you!” They also got me a cute little bookmark that has a waving hand at the end of it. When my youngest daughter saw it she burst into fits of giggles, which was adorable. Did you receive any quirky, fun gifts?

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Happy New Year and Book Signing Event Plans

I might be a little ahead of myself since we are still technically in December, but let’s face it, 2016 has been a bit of a challenging year. It seems that every day we lose yet another famous face in the celebrity world. My personal life has been one of upheaval and drama throughout the year, and before that to be honest. So I for one am very much looking forward to 2017. I believe it is the start of a new cycle, a new beginning, and lots of new and exciting experiences.

One of those experiences is something I am especially excited about. On Saturday 4^th February, I will attend the West Midlands Valentines Book Signing and 1940s Ball. Hooray!  Unfortunately, I cannot attend the evening ball due to a prior commitment, but I will be at the event all day long to showcase my Redcliffe novels series and my contemporary English Gothic stories. Come and say hello, and why not try a few books while you are there?

Happy New Year, my friends. Thank you for joining me on this journey!

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New Books for Boxing Day

Alright, who got a shiny new Kindle for Christmas? Or a stack of books? Do share news of your hauls, I love to indulge. Perhaps I can interest you in some discounted books to download on your new device…

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Merry Christmas and Solstice Blessings!

The Winter Solstice is passing, and now we are preparing for the celebration of Christmas weekend. I have crammed in a week of blog writing, wrapped the last of my Christmas gifts, written my final Christmas cards, and prepared to visit family and friends on Christmas Eve. Enjoy the festival, my friends. Merry Christmas!

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What Does the Pagan Housewife want for Christmas?

You will probably not be surprised to hear that my Christmas wishlist consists mostly of books. Before I was a writer, I was a voracious reader, and books have always been the most favourite item in my Christmas gift pile (except the year when I received a junior typewriter from Father Christmas – now that was special!)

I took a glance at my Amazon wishlist and picked out two of the items that I would most love to receive for Christmas. The first is a book called What Dwells Within – A Study of Spirit Attachment. I am fortunate to be acquainted with one of the authors of this book, and I know that I like his work, so this is a must have for my collection. It would also be a great research tool for my ghost hunting 
pastime.

The second preferred Christmas gift is something a little bit fun and novelty. It is the Housewives Tarot – A Domestic Divination Kit. Well, it comes with the territory, don’t you think? And it would be a fabulous tool for my #365DaysofTarot challenge in 2017…

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My Christmas Wish List for Writing Inspiration

I was pondering my Christmas list earlier this week, and realised that it has altered a little bit in recent years. It has gone from a request for books about publishing, to books about writing, to other specific texts. Now I am seeking books about subjects that include Tarot reading and reiki. The Tarot reading is an interesting one, because inevitably, it includes Tarot card decks as well.

There are lots of beautiful Tarot cards available, and my current favourite is my Gilded Tarot because the artwork is colourful and passionate, which reflects my mood. Back in October and early November I favoured my Vampire Tarot cards because they were Gothic and dark, reflecting the shadows and gloom of my mood at that time. This week I am drawn to use my Universal Waite Tarot card deck for the #365DaysofTarot challenge. I like its simplicity and bright, bold design. What Tarot decks might I request for Christmas? Ooh, so many beautiful cards…

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