Cheryl Brooks – Author Guest Post & Giveaway

Hi, my name is Cheryl Brooks, author of The Cat Star Chronicles series of science fiction romance. Farrah asked me to discuss how I balance job, family, and writing career and possibly give some advice to aspiring writers. I’m not saying I’m any good at it, but since I’m currently promoting the release of my fifth novel, Fugitive, editing the sixth, and writing the seventh, have two sons, six cats, a puppy, four horses, a house and yard, a barn and pasture, and a husband to look after, plus, I’m a full-time nurse, working three twelve-hour night shifts a week in the ICU, I’ve at least had some experience. Without my two calendars—no, wait, there are three of them now—I couldn’t keep up with anything.

Having books published may sound like a dream come true, but it is also very stressful and time-consuming. When I was writing for fun, there were no deadlines, no rewrites, no edits, no promotions, no daily blog, and no Facebook. Now I’m trying to keep up with all of these things in addition to everything else in my life. My family sees less of me all the time. I might be home, but I’m sitting here at my desk in the back bedroom away from the rest of them. Watching television is such a thing of the past that I have to ask my son how to work the new TV every time I make the attempt—and we’ve had it since July.

I’m not alone in this, either. Ask any writer who has a day (or night) job and they will tell you the same thing. They simply don’t have a lot of free time. Recently, Hank Phillipi Ryan spoke to our RWA chapter, and as she was reciting all of the things she no longer had time to do, I muttered to the writer next to me, “Sounds like my life.” To which she replied, “Mine, too.

Fortunately, my family is very supportive of my writing, and as long as I keep the guys supplied with food and other essentials, they don’t complain. They help me clean the house, but we don’t do it nearly as often as we used to. My crockpot is my number one cooking appliance these days, and, fortunately, my husband likes homemade soup—which I can make out of just about anything. Sometimes I just have to decide that this day will be for catching up on paying bills or running errands. The writing always manages to sneak in there, though, because I still check emails and respond to blog comments—even when I’m on vacation.

As Dirty Harry once said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” The same is true for writers. At one point, I was trying to write a 90,000 word book every three months, but I finally had admit that I simply couldn’t do it and remain sane. I was anxious to promote my writing, and if the bookstores said “We need more books by this author!” I saw it as a challenge and reassurance that my books were being well received by readers. However, you have to look out for yourself in this business, particularly if you don’t have an agent to do it for you. Learning how to say no when something just doesn’t feel right will save you a lot of grief. I haven’t done that nearly enough, so I’m speaking from experience here.

As a caregiver to others, I’ve never been very good at taking care of me, but that is one thing I would advise any writer to do. Having to suffer in order to write the great American novel is a fallacy. You are the writer; therefore you are the most important person in the publishing equation. Looking after your health (mental and physical) is just as important as making sure your agent or publisher is doing what’s best for your career. Even though I may not get enough exercise or eat exactly as I should (who does?) I do try to get enough sleep—which, as anyone who works night shift can tell you, isn’t always easy. Sometimes when I’m up late trying to write, I come to a point when I have to tell myself to shut down the computer and call it a night.

All hassles aside, the best part about writing is still the opportunity to let my imagination take flight. When I’m involved in the story, most of my concerns seem insignificant when compared with the harrowing adventures of my characters, and their romance is just as important to me as my own. Writing science fiction romance lets me go to places I’ve only seen in my mind’s eye and take other people along for the ride. That’s the magic. That’s the fun. And that’s what makes all the juggling and frustration worthwhile.

Now if I could just quit that night job… 

FUGITIVE BY CHERYL BROOKS—IN STORES JANUARY 2010

When a Zetithian fugitive meets a beautiful Earth woman, their passion may cost them both their lives…

Manx is a Zetithian fugitive with a feline gene that gives him remarkable sexual powers. He has been in hiding in the remote jungles of Barada Seven ever since being marked for extermination by the violent Nedwuts.

Artist Drusilla arrives on Barada Seven, enticed only by the promise of finding a nature paradise there. But she discovers a wildlife she wasn’t expecting when she encounters Manx. Reckless with desire for the beautiful Earth woman, Manx risks his life to win her as his mate.

It’s only a matter of time until the Nedwuts find them, but it will take all of Manx and Drusilla’s passion, skill, and ingenuity to survive.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Cheryl Brooks is an Intensive Care Unit nurse by night and a romance writer by dayt. Previous books in The Cat Star Chronicles series include Slave, Warrior, Rogue and Outcast. Hero, book six, will be in stores August 2010. She is a member of the RWA and lives with her husband and sons in Bloomfield, Indiana. Additional Entries can be done by clicking on each link below or performing an action:

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This giveaway will run now through midnight on January 30th, with winner being announced February 1st. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Please check your emails AND your spam folders for an email from me if you are a winner.