Today is Wizard’s birthday. So for Business Monday I’m going to share some of the reasons I consider my husband (aka Wizard) my biggest inspiration.

I had a secret dream of writing since high school. But for the first few years of our marriage, I was too busy. Once we had our three sons, Wizard went back to school to get his Master’s degree and I began to think that I needed a goal too. I loved our children and being a mom, but I needed my own identity too. When my sister gave us her old computer, I began writing while the kids napped or played, but I didn’t tell anyone.  Then after a few weeks, I worked up the courage told Wizard, “I’m writing a book.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

“Do you think I can?”

He met my gaze. “Don’t ask me. Show me. Write a book and I’ll read it.”

See for those of you who might think Wizard is all sweet encouragement…bwahahaha! Um no. Wizard is a real man who judges on actions. So I wrote a book. It wasn’t easy. I had no idea what I was doing. In those days, we were on a very tight budget. Wizard bought me books on writing for my birthday and Christmas.  He became friendly with the managers of our local Barnes and Nobles and Waldenbooks because he asked them for suggestions on books for me. Soon they had his phone number and would call him if a good writing book came in. I know this because I met the two of them and they told me how he’d search for just the right book for me.

He supported my dream with actions. Best gift ever!

And when I finished my book, he read it. Every single page. I don’t think he’d read a romance book in his life, but he read mine. That’s love people, because let me tell you, that book sucked. I sent it everywhere and was brutally and soundly rejected. But he never told me it sucked. He told me the things he liked, the things he thought could use work, and he came up with a better title than I had. I rewrote it and it sucked less But I still had a lot to learn about writing.

I joined Romance Writers of America. Wizard zealously protected my one Saturday a month meeting. He made sure he was home with the kids, or he took them to sports or family obligation so I could go to the meeting. Our extended families soon learned that I would not be available that one Saturday because Wizard made it clear. I knew then how amazing that was, but looking back, it honestly chokes me up. Wizard always knew there was no guarantee I’d get published. But he knew I loved writing and loved being a part of the community. That’s all that mattered.

Finally one day I was fed up with rejection. I’d been writing historical romances because they were big at the time but it wasn’t working for my voice. I decided to write a book that was just for me. I opened a new document on my computer and started writing about someone I liked and that I thought was fresh, fun an full of imperfections. I fell in love with Samantha Shaw, a newly widowed woman with two sons and running a dating service.

Wizard saw my happiness and asked to read a chapter. First time he’d asked since that first book. I sent it to his email to read when he had time. He was hooked. It became a game between us. I’d get emails and phone calls. MORE! WRITE MORE! We talked about the book all the time. We argued about plot points. I finished the book and did the usual submission process.

And one day, I came home from taking care of my mom (she was seriously ill at the time) and Christmas shopping to a message on my machine from Amy Garvey at Kensington books asking me to call her. I was stunned.

I returned the call and got her machine. I have no idea what I said.

Then I waited. And waited.

And then THE CALL came. Amy Garvey offered me a two-book deal! I was ecstatic. It took eight years and five manuscripts but I was going to be a published author. A lot of credit goes to Wizard who believed in me, pushed me, supported me and challenged me.

Sadly, my mom passed away before the book came out. She’d knew all about it, of course, and was so excited. She was very supportive too. As you would expect, it was a hard time for me in the months after she passed. But I had to finish the second book in the series, Dying To Meet You. I had a deadline, but I was…well…floundering. Wizard saw this and said, “I know how much you miss your mom and she’d read your manuscript for you. Let me read it and help you.”

I never told him that, he just knew it, understood that there is special kind of support we get from our moms. And frankly, I was scared. Could I do it again? The stakes were higher now that I had contracts and deadlines, and the book had to be good. The pressure had mounted on me just as I was dealing with grief. I wrote that first draft from my mom’s side while caring for her. This was also when I got sick with RA and the pain was unrelenting. I could only write for maybe twenty minutes before I had to take a break and ice my hands and wrists. Looking back, I don’t know how I did it. Except…

Wizard. He read the first draft. And I thought, okay, he’ll do what he usually does and talk about it.

Nope. He surprised the hell out of me. Wizard wrote up a two paged, singled spaced critique, detailing exactly where I could flesh out scenes and add more mystery, humor or drama. I have no idea where he learned to do that, he’s an accountant not an editor. He’s never done it before or since, but that book…I needed him. I was floundering in grief, fear and physical pain and he stepped in to give me that extra support I needed. But it was more than that–he turned that book into something joyful during a difficult time. Every time I look up at Dying To Meet You on my shelf, I think of Wizard quietly helping me hold onto my dream while I struggled with grief and my own health.

So when people ask me, who is the biggest or most powerful inspiration in my life?

I don’t care if it’s corny or cliché, I answer with the truth–it’s my husband.

And that is what I wish for all of you, that you find your true inspiration.

I’m late! We went out to a retirement party last night and I forgot to get a blog up before we left. In other words…I flaked out Which has been the theme of my week. I’m getting nothing accomplished but whining!

But the party last night was fun!

This weekend, I’m working to make up for all my flakiness. What are you doing?

Anxiety, some life worries and frustration are dogging me this week, but I am refuse to let them drag me down too much. Although my stomach is a bit more susceptible, but we won’t talk about that

The good news is I sent book one, now titled Savaged Dreams, off to my editor! I really am happy about that as I’m in desperate need of constructive, editorial feedback. It’ll be a few weeks which is fine as I really needed to step away from that book for a bit. I was going over, over and over the manuscript until I realized I had crossed over into slightly obsessive territory.

“SLIGHTLY??” Wizard shouts. “I had to threaten to take away your coffee, wine and chocolate to get you to hit send!!!”

Can you all see me rolling my eyes? I’m not that bad! And if Wizard says one more word, I will hide his jelly beans where he will never find them.

Okay, so now that Wizard has silently left my office, we can get down to business! Forget all our pressures and troubles to answer this one question:

Do you think a man who cooks is worthy?

The whole weekend just got away from me. I’m not sure how it’s happening but I’m constantly running around, cleaning or working, and I need to stop and catch my breath. And that’s my excuse for skipping Business Monday this week.

For those of you who didn’t see it on my FB page, here’s the Chocolate Shaving Cake I made for Easter.

It’s fun and pretty easy. I made a boxed cake (Devil’s food). Once that was cooled, I got a large chocolate bar and grated it on on large cheese grater. I spread those on wax paper and set them in the fridge to harden up a bit (so they are easier to handle) while I frosted the cake. Then I sprinkled the cold shavings all over the cake. Easy! And everyone seemed to like it.

This week, I need to finish editing the first rock star book (lots of company put me a tad behind, but I’ll catch up today) and then plot and outline a novella. In the meantime, book 2 of the rock star series is sitting there, half done and bugging me. I want so much to work on that, but this novella needs to be done too!

So how was your weekend? If you celebrate Easter, how was that?

Happy Friday! This whole month has been a blur. But I do have book one of my rock band series almost ready to go to the editor, so yay for that! I’m going to have to retitle the books, leaving, I think, the second book as SAVAGED VOWS. Quick & funny story about that. Yesterday while I was home recording a video for my Brazilian publisher and cleaning bathrooms (yep, that’s how exciting my life is, LOL), Wizard went to a luncheon at his old job. I was invited but I had to get things done

Anyway, he was telling someone there that I had a book coming out later this year titled Savaged Vows.

Only she heard Savaged Bowels…ROTFLMAO!!!! Umm..I don’t think that would be a romance…but it’s an attention grabber!

Anyway,  I also have good news, after a unforeseen delay the third book in The Plus One Chronicles is releasing in Brazil today! This is the cover:

Here are all three covers of the Brazilian portuguese version from the publisher Editora Charme:

I’m excited that Kat and Sloane get to hang out in Brazil. I’ve never been there myself, so I’m living vicariously through my characters So that’s my news, but now it’s your turn. I want to hear any good news you have, no matter how big or small. I really love hearing from you guys, so please share!!! It might be later in the day before I can respond as I have a bunch of early appointments, but I will read and respond as soon as I’m at my computer. So please, tell me one good thing in your lives.

Have a great weekend!

If you want to skip all my chatter feel free to scroll down to the Wednesday Worthy Candidate at the bottom of the blog!

And…the floors are done!! You guys have been awesome putting up with my whining I love the floors, most especially the tile. It’s truly beautiful. I  like the carpet very much too. There’s one room (my office) that I’d love to have tiled rather than carpet, but after much debate, we went with carpet in there too and it looks pretty. We have almost everything back its place, we just have some storage boxes to move from the garage back into an extra closet upstairs.

I want to quickly mention Bailey here too. We loved having him, but it was hard to see him in pain. The meds the vet put him on helped tremendously in the days, but at night after being asleep for a few hours, he’d cry. One night was pretty bad, and around four a.m. I finally sat in the recliner and he slept on top of me. It was like having a sick baby again, LOL. Yet the next day he livened up and played out back, having fun. I’m not sure if he’s tightening up and cramping/spasming when he tries to move or if it’s something else. He’s now back home now with the two people he loves most in the universe and they are taking excellent care of him. Middle son texted me last night that his girlfriend was babying Bailey and all I could think of was this lovely young woman came into Bailey’s life a couple years ago exactly when he needed her. And in turn, he gives her his boundless love.

Yesterday morning I got up to the news that Brussels, Belgium had endured a terrorist attack. Like all the sane and caring people in the world, I’m sickened and enraged by these atrocities. I don’t want to dwell on it as my goal is to keep this blog a place to get away from it all. But I want to send a shout out to our friends in Belgium that we care and are thinking of you.

I’m working away, rewriting scenes to get the book ready for the editor. This first book is going to be roughly 60K words, probably more by the time we’re finished with edits–which is why I need to split it into three books. For reference 60K is LONGER than each book in my Once A Marine Series; The Baby Bargain, Her Temporary Hero and Exposing The Heiress.  So I have been working, LOL! But man this turned into a project–but it’s a labor of love. I’ll have it ready for the editor probably by Monday and then we’ll see what she says.

And so…that’s what my month has been like so far!

Now I’ll stop rambling and move onto our Wednesday Worthy Candidate:

So what do you think?

Thanks for having me, Jennifer. My name is Carrie Ann Ryan and I’m a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas. I’ve also done all of that within four years, which, as some of you know, is a little crazy. Jennifer asked me here today to discuss a little about my process and how sprinting helps me get things done. My process happens to work for me for now, but I know that eventually I might need to alter it a bit.

To start, I’m a plotter. I know the titles of my books for each series, which character goes with each book, and the main plot of each one before I even put a word on the page. While that can change, having an idea of where I’m going helps me focus.

I’m also a mathematician and chemist at heart, so numbers make me happy!

I set myself goals for each day when it comes to writing, 3k, 5k, 10k for that day so I can slowly work on my book. If I think about each book in parts, it helps me relax. Rather than worry that I have five weeks to write 100k, I can work on things per day. I also know I can’t do things alone!

I’m in a Sprint Loop of ten or so romance authors where we not only discuss business, but do sprints. We use SKYPE but only the text part. There’s no need for video without coffee! We’ve done 15, 20, and 30 min sprints where we focus solely on writing for that time and at the end, report how many words we have. Its not a competition as everyone works at different paces, but it keeps us accountable. I can usually get around 900 words in 20 min, but I know that not everyone can do that. Sometimes I can only get 400 words, but I know that I focused for those 20 min and at least wrote.

Why do small sprints and not #1k1hr? (1000 words in 1 hr)

Well I can’t focus for that long. If I have to sit at my computer and try to write for 60 min, my brain wants to do something else. I’ll start moving in my chair, I’ll get distracted by a cat, or literally a bird outside my window. By doing it in small spurts, I can focus for a smaller amount of time with less distractions.

That doesn’t mean I’m perfect and won’t get distracted, but I do my best to focus for those 20 min.

After those 20 min, we usually take 5-10 min breaks for social media, talking to our spouses, research, or bio breaks. More importantly, we force ourselves to get out of our chairs and stretch. Many of us have joint issues from sitting for so long and other health issues, so doing a group stretch actually is working wonders!

Another thing I have tried recently is using my FOCUS app. I set it for 20 min and that counts as my timer. (I used to use my iPhone rather than a web browser so I wouldn’t get distracted by the internet!) The FOCUS App refuses to let me get on the internet yet still let’s me keep on my Skype loop. You’ll be amazed how many times you go to your browser for something once you hit a sentence that pulls you out of the story. My writing output has increased nicely when I started using it.

One more thing you can do is keep a record of your writing. I have a wordcount record for each month, book, series etc. I’ve always kept it because I like numbers and it keeps me on target for a deadline. However I’ve also been doing a hand written one for daily counts. It has what my goals are for the day in increments of 1000 words on the left side, and I write the time of day when I hit that goal. It gives me an idea of how I’m doing during the day and where I get stuck.

All of this though, sprinting, focusing, writing down word counts, all of it is so my brain can relax and I can dig into the story. It keeps me on track because writing is a business and I have commitments, and it lets me know when I need to push a bit and when I can breathe and work on a special project on the side.

I hope this helps you if you’re looking for a way to focus and if you ever need anything, feel free to email me!

Thank you so much and happy sprinting!

***

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

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