I am very pleased to welcome Karen White, author of The Girl on Legare Street to Peeking Between the Pages today. I’ve read a few of Karen’s books and am a loyal fan now. She has a wonderful writing style that I really enjoy. I just reviewed this book yesterday and you can peek at my review right here to see what this lovely novel is about. Let’s sit back and relax with our favorite drink of choice and see what Karen has to say about how she finds time to write and where she writes…
Two of the most frequently asked questions I get during my book club rounds are how do I find time to write and where do I write? Believe it or not, the answer to both questions is the same—whatever works!
I’m the mother of two active teenagers, have a husband who frequently travels for work, and am responsible for the care and feeding of a dog and guinea pig. It’s a wonder I can find time to write the grocery list, much less two 100,000+ word books each year.
We’ve all heard the old adage “necessity is the mother of invention.” I realized that if I wanted to carve out a career as a writer out of my already very busy life, I would have to figure out how to squeeze more time out of the day—sort of like the way the IRS squeezes money out of me that I didn’t think I had. I’m not a big believer in “I don’t have time.” We’re all given twenty-four hours each day to make of it as we wish. Well, minus the demands on my time of two children who shall go nameless…
In the beginning, when I was just starting out and didn’t have a contract, I wrote in my home office on my desktop computer while my children were napping. When they woke up signaled the end of my daily writing time. After I signed my first contract and had a deadline to meet, I’d wake up half an hour earlier and once a week paid somebody to pick them up from preschool to give me a couple of extra hours.
Then the kids grew a little older, got a little more active and I got my first laptop. I’d bring it to swim lessons, horseback riding lessons, football practice, piano lessons. I joke that I should credit my car for helping me write during those years.
Still I struggled with being forced to write during times that I didn’t always find productive. My best writing time has always been—and still is—first thing in the morning when no other thoughts besides my book have entered my head. By getting up two hours earlier than the rest of the bed-hogs in my house on Saturdays and Sundays, I can get more writing done during that time than I usually accomplish during the week.
But now that I have two big deadlines each year, I’m writing all the time. For instance, I’m in the car right now (don’t worry—my daughter’s driving
I no longer wait for the muse to hit me—I can’t afford it! I write every day whether or not I want to. Especially now with a book due in about a month. Writer’s block? Can’t afford that either. I just sit down and write. It’s always easier to fix a bad page than a blank one.
This end-of-book time is always the hardest. My favorite time is starting a book. I sit out on my huge screen porch that overlooks woods and horse pasture with a notepad and pencil—the only time I don’t use a computer—and just jot down what comes to my head. At least until the phone rings, or the dryer buzzes, or one of my children comes home from school and tells me they think they have strep. Nope—things haven’t changed all that much in the years since I first sat down and started to write my very first book. Except now I know that I can write at least a page while sitting in the pediatrician’s waiting room.
__________
Karen, thank you so much for joining us today with this terrific guest post. I certainly look forward to reading your next novel! All the best to you!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I have two copies of The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White, courtesy of Joy (thank you Joy), to share with my lucky readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
- For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, thank you and let me know please.
- For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.
This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only as the publisher will be sending the books out. I will be drawing for the winners on Sunday, December 27, 2009. Good luck to you all!
This is the second guest post I've read by Karen, and I've decided she and I could be friends. I've got so much admiration for her. I know what my life is like (including two kids, five cats and a guinea pig) and she does all that plus write books. Ha! She writes guest posts in the car – I love it! I cannot think of two books right now that I want more than those I've been reading about. Please enter me (I'm a follower!).
Please count me in.
I follow.
simplystacieblog at gmail dot com
I'd love to read this – please enter me too
msboatgal at aol.com
Oh I'm also a follower
msboatgal at aol.com
I am enjoying this book tour and look forward to reading The House on Tradd Street sometime soon (I purchased that book ealier this year based on bloggers' recommendations).
I have such wonderful things about her writing style, and am anxious to experience it myself.
Please count me in to win this wonderful book.
fmlj94 at yahoo dot com
I follow
fmlj94 at yahoo dot com
I read and reviewed Tradd Street just a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I would love to win this book and read it.
bthgordon[at] yahoo [dot]com
I also follow
bthgordon [at] yahoo [dot] com
I have read a couple great reviews on this book and would love to have the opportunity to read it.
I follow the blog through Google Reader.
ktulanko AT aol DOT com
I was really intrigued by your review yesterday so I would like to be entered!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I follow via Google Reader.
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks for offering this great giveaway.
I follow your blog and can be reached at
sleepingbette at yahoo dot com
I'm always excited to see a mom succeed while raising her kids at home. Gives me hope! amythomas at gmail dot com
I follow!
wow, she must be a really focused person if she can write a book while watching swim lessons, etc. She sounds like a really dedicated writer. I'd love to win this one.
florida982002[at]yahoo.com
I'm a follower.
I love this guest post, but I don't know how she could write in the car – that would make me sick. No need to enter me – I have the book.
I've been anxious to read both of Karen White's recent novels since reading several very positive blog reviews. I liked her comment today about it being 'easier to fix a bad page than a blank one' — Thanks for the giveaway.
And I am a follower through Google Reader.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
+1 Karen, I love to read about a writer's process and I think that's very good advice – just sit down and write; it's easier to fix a bad page than a blank one. Must remember that.
+2 I am a follower of this blog
+3 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Margay/status/6466375628
Margay
Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com
I read The House on Tradd Street and loved it so I've been wanting to read the sequel. I'd love to win this.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
I follow your blag.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
Please enter me
I also follow your blog
pk4290@comcast.net
Love & Hugs,
Pam
BTW the book sounds really good
I would love to win and read this book!
Thank you for the entry.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
I am a follower.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
Sounds good, I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com
I'd love to enter your contest Dar!
I'm also a follower.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com
I would love this one! This is such an interesting series.
I am a follower!
jgbeads (at) gmail (dot)com
Great guest post and thanks for sharing this with us, Karen.
Dar, no need to enter me since I reviewed this book already and loved it.
I'll post this in my sidebar for you!
I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)coom
I just became a follower of your blog. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)coom
This book looks great! I hope to read the first one soon as well. Thanks for the giveaway… and I follow you on my Google Reader!
Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
I'd love to win!!
I follow you!
stacijoreads@gmail.com
This book is on my wish list. Both of my sons live in Charleston.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I follow
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/sumrthyme/status/6476167091
mj.coward{at}gmail.com
Thanks, Dar, for the review–I'm so glad you've been enjoying the series.
I'd like to mention that there will be 2 more books coming–one in Fall 2011 and one in 2013. I'd love to have them out earlier, but I've got three more books in between (not in the series) that should keep ALL of us busy while we wait. 🙂
PS The oddest place I've written lately is in the waiting room for my last mammogram (yes, wearing that funny robe).
Hey, you do what you have to do!
Please enter me for this book. 😀
linna.hsu at gmail dot com
I follow.
linna.hsu at gmail dot com
I really liked this post and I am inspired by how she manages to squeeze out extra time on her day for writing. I need to follow her example! I'd love a chance to win a copy of the book as well, so please enter me in your giveaway. I am also a follower of your blog as well.
I really liked this post and I am inspired by how she manages to squeeze out extra time on her day for writing. I need to follow her example! I'd love a chance to win a copy of the book as well, so please enter me in your giveaway. I am also a follower of your blog as well.
I really liked this post and I am inspired by how she manages to squeeze out extra time on her day for writing. I need to follow her example! I'd love a chance to win a copy of the book as well, so please enter me in your giveaway. I am also a follower of your blog as well.
I'd love to read this one – I love her work!
areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com
I also follow!!
areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com
I love the idea of taking a laptop and writing at after school activities…brilliant! Please enter me – I would love to read this book. I'm also a follower. And you can find my tweet at @testeinbock.
tabitha.steinbock[at]gmail[dot]com
Great guest post! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I'd love to win this book! It sounds awesome.
I follow
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
This book sounds so good! Enter me please!
+2 I am a follower.
emily DOT wittenberg @ gmail DOT com
Great post. I loved The House on Tradd Street.
I am a follower.
Linked on sidebar here: http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/
bacchus76 at myself dot com
HI Dar, there's no need to enter me for the giveaway, but just dropping to say hi to you and the author! 🙂
Count me in please.
-I already follow
kiris089 at gmail dot com
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Please enter me in the giveaway. This is such a great series. Not the same old thing, that's for sure.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
I am a follower via Google Friend Connect.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
I posted about the giveaway on my blog here:
http://bookblogs.ning.com/profiles/blogs/peeking-between-the-pages-2
Love Karen White's novels…please count me in.
karenk
kmkuka*at*yahoo*dot*com
I blogged about your contest here.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com
Please count me in . Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win this.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I loved the description that Karen gives of her writing process. I totally understand how the morning before anyone gets up is the best and most productive time during the day for writing or doing other jobs. I look forward to reading this book. Please enter me in the giveaway.
I am a current follower through Google Friend Connect.
bstilwell12 at comcast dot net
I tweeted about this giveaway:
http://twitter.com/pine1211/status/6578414819
bstilwell12 at comcast dot nret
I really want to read Karen White's books. They sound wonderful and I love her guest posts.
Thank you for hosting this giveaway Dar!
Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com
I listed this giveaway on my sidebar at Sidebar Giveaways!
Thank you!
Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com
I would love to win this book! My book club is reading The House on Tradd Street right now!
+1 for comment
+2 I am a subscriber through Google Reader.
Thanks for the giveaway!
isaacson.holly[at]gmail.com
OOO! It would be great to win a copy of this book! Thanks so much for the chance.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
. . . and, I'm a Follower.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
and, here's my Tweet!
http://twitter.com/ASeaOfBooks/status/6872759230
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
This looks like a great book! Please enter me.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Tweet! Tweet!
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/7041518131
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I'd love to read this book.JD
SamneneD@aol.com
This looks like a good book – please enter me. Thanks!
megalon22 at yahoo dot com
I follow in GFC
megalon22 at yahoo dot com
I'd love to read this book. Please include me.
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
I'm a follower.
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
In no time they get the perfect home for them; three bedrooms,
three baths and around three quarters of your acre Shawanna Gaunce this is
the reason people turn to short-term loans when you will obtain the
money a good deal quicker compared to some high street loan.