Author Guest Post
Why Writing While Raising A Toddler Stinks
By: Author Becky Monson
I have a two year old. And she is evil. Not evil as in spawn-of-the-devil-type-evil (although, there have been times when I wonder), she is just… well… evil. She has two older siblings and they never acted the way she does. Well, perhaps they did and I repressed it. But, I digress.
In a perfect world, ideas and thoughts for writing would come to me only during naptime or when she goes to bed at night. But unfortunately, for me, ideas tend to form during awake time and/or tantrum time. Which for my two-year-old is pretty much the same thing (awake time = tantrum time).
This makes it difficult for me to write like I want to, which is all the time. I would love to write all of the time. But I am a full-time mommy, and so I must share my time with my love for writing and my three babies. In truth, the raising of my kids is my most important role, and I work every day at making this my most important role… even when I sometimes would rather get in my car and drive far, far away.
This means that the bulk of my writing has to be done at night. When everyone is asleep. Namely, evil toddler. The only problem with this is now I have to ignore my husband because nighttime is our time together. Lately though, our time has been spent with him on the couch doing something work-related on his laptop, and me ten feet away writing in the office. Our conversations consist of yelling things back and forth to each other. It’s very romantic.
I sometimes dream about having a clone of myself who could spend time with my family, while I write. But then the real me would miss out on all of those wonderful things that happen while my babies are growing up. Things I can never get back. Like today when my evil toddler stripped down completely naked and went streaking through our back yard. That kind of stuff.
So for now, I will be a mommy during the day, a writer at night, and somewhere in there I will find time to be a wife too. I’ll continue to be haggard from the kids and sleep-deprived from the writing. It’s my life, after all. And it’s a great one. Even with the evil toddler.
About The Author
By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't.
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Thirty-Two Going On Spinster by Becky Monson ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours
Book Review
Thirty-Two Going On Spinster by Becky Monson
Book 1: Spinster Series
Publisher: Exclusive Publishing
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Format: Paperback - 348 pages / Kindle - 458 KB
ISBN: 1481128345
ASIN: B00AMS2L0C
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Thirty-Two Going On Spinster
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
When handsome hunky Jared Moody is hired in HR at her company, her life begins to change in ways she never saw coming. Is Jared the catapult to get her moving again?
Book Excerpt:
Anna is what my mom calls an “accidental blessing”. My parents thought they were done after my younger brother Lennon and I were born. They had a neat little matching set - a perfect family of four. And then when I was ten and Lennon was eight, they sat us down and told us that we were getting another sibling. We were not thrilled. I did not want another sibling, especially a sister. I liked having all the attention I needed from my parents. I didn’t want to have to share my toys and my clothes and my room… I think I actually cried when my dad called from the hospital, to tell us it was a girl. Lennon cried too, but not for the same reasons. He would have loved a brother.
Anna lived up to all of my expectations. She was the most spoiled rotten little thing wrapped in a cute bratty package. Everyone would say how adorable she was, or how cute her little pigtails were, or how witty she was. It was annoying. At that point, I was no longer in the cute stage – I was in the awkward-bad-hair-with-braces stage. It was not pretty. Everything she did was so adorable to everyone. Everything I did was just… awkward.
We never quite got along, me and Anna. We have completely different tastes in everything. I like to bake, she likes to go shopping. I like to read, she likes to go shopping. I like to watch my shows, she likes to go shopping.
Since high school graduation, Anna has been in and out of school, trying desperately to figure out what she wants to do with her life. I’m sure right now she is telling my mom about her newest idea and how this is “for sure” what she wants to do.
So far Anna has wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, a dentist, a hair-stylist, an esthetician, a court reporter, and I think the last time she dropped by, she was extremely excited about becoming an elementary school teacher. Her excuses vary for why she changes her mind, but they all have one thing in common – it takes actual work to get a license or degree in each of her ideas. And Anna does not like to work. She likes things handed to her, a trait my parents are fully to blame for. I have reminded them of this on many occasions, and they do not deny it.
Anna lived up to all of my expectations. She was the most spoiled rotten little thing wrapped in a cute bratty package. Everyone would say how adorable she was, or how cute her little pigtails were, or how witty she was. It was annoying. At that point, I was no longer in the cute stage – I was in the awkward-bad-hair-with-braces stage. It was not pretty. Everything she did was so adorable to everyone. Everything I did was just… awkward.
We never quite got along, me and Anna. We have completely different tastes in everything. I like to bake, she likes to go shopping. I like to read, she likes to go shopping. I like to watch my shows, she likes to go shopping.
Since high school graduation, Anna has been in and out of school, trying desperately to figure out what she wants to do with her life. I’m sure right now she is telling my mom about her newest idea and how this is “for sure” what she wants to do.
So far Anna has wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, a dentist, a hair-stylist, an esthetician, a court reporter, and I think the last time she dropped by, she was extremely excited about becoming an elementary school teacher. Her excuses vary for why she changes her mind, but they all have one thing in common – it takes actual work to get a license or degree in each of her ideas. And Anna does not like to work. She likes things handed to her, a trait my parents are fully to blame for. I have reminded them of this on many occasions, and they do not deny it.
My Book Review:
Thirty-two year old Julia Dorning is living the definition of a spinster's life: she's unmarried, stuck in a job that she hates, and has been living in the basement of her parent's house with her cat Charlie for the past ten years. She has always seen herself as a plain nobody, a recluse, and a loner who doesn't have a social life. She used to have hopes and dreams, but she has settled for a pathetic life without much to dream about. Her world consists of working, watching television and baking (which has always been her passion). Resistant to change, she doesn't want to live the life of a spinster, but she has a hard time taking the first steps to making changes in her life, that is until a handsome new co-worker named Jared Moody shakes up her world.
Thirty-Two Going On Spinster is an entertaining tale about a thirty-two year old woman's journey of self-discovery and transformation. Written in the first person narrative, sassy down-to-earth Julia Dorning takes the reader along for the ride on her journey that is filled with trials and tribulations and awkward predicaments that are endearing and humorous.
I really loved Julia's dry and witty personality, it was so much fun to follow her transformation. I found myself either laughing or cringing at her crazy antics, and cheering her on as she came into her own. This fun story has enough family and workplace drama and a subtle romance that keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages. From the gossip sessions with her co-worker Brown, to her romantic crush on Jared, to coming out of her comfort zone with the help of her younger sister Anna, Julia is a person that the reader can relate to in one way or another, there is a little bit of her in every one of us.
Thirty-Two Going On Spinster is a delightful debut novel by author Becky Monson. This entertaining chick lit tale will tickle your funny bone.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
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Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Tour Schedule:
August 6 – A Spoonful of Happy Endings – Review
August 6 - A Spoonful of Happy Endings - Q&A
August 9 – Chick Lit Plus – Review
August 12 – Steph the Bookworm – Review
August 13 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
August 15 – Brooke Blogs – Review
August 19 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
August 20 – Leigh Bennett – Review, Q&A & Excerpt
August 21 – Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
August 22 – Read Baby Read – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
August 23 – Karma For Life Chick – Review
August 26 – Book Freak – Review & Excerpt
I have friends of both genders who are spinsters and quite happy with their lives. Of course your job doesn't have to be hated and you don't have to live in your parent's basement for this condition to exist either. LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Nora, thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your fantastic review! And for hosting my book on your blog. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Becky! I really enjoyed reading Thirty-Two Going On Spinster, it was a fun read! Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. :)
Delete