Hi friends,
I’m often asked what life as a suspense author looks like. Many people have this glamorous idea of an author’s life. They envision romance authors lying around on a chaise lounge penning away their stories and eating bon-bons. While suspense authors are fighting off danger and getting in the trenches to uncover a great story. While I’d love to say I got to live either life, or probably somewhere in between, I live a pretty average life. No bon-bons, but there is the occasional Take Five bar. No trenches, but I did recently get to be a FAA Witness for a flight incident.
Most writers are hardworking people who take care of their families, their outside jobs (many writers work two jobs and I salute them), their home life and their writing career. Yes, sometimes we do get to write in our pjs or our comfy clothes. Occasionally chocolate is involved and, in my case, copious amounts of coffee, but most of the time every writer’s focus is on the art and craft of writing.
A Glimpse into Dani’s Day
My day starts with exercise and coffee. If I don’t start with exercise when I first wake up, I’m not disciplined enough to get it done, period. In the warmer weather, that usually means taking Griffin (named after the hero from Cold Shot) for a walk. In the cooler months, that equals a Pilates or yoga class. Then it’s more coffee and onto Bible study. I’m a huge fan of Alistair Begg’s Truth for Life ministry and often watch a daily sermon as part of my study time. While my kids were growing up and I was homeschooling them we had ‘breakfast with Begg’ each day.
Next up, is my writing time. I grab yet another cup of coffee (are you sensing a trend?) and head to what will be my writing space for the day. It can be one of our sofas, an oversized chair, my desk (doesn’t happen often anymore), at the kitchen table, or at a coffee house (where I need headphones, so I have quiet. Otherwise, I start typing what people around me are saying—seriously!). I write for at least three-to-four hours and then meet my youngest daughter for lunch before her classes begin.
From there if varies by the day. Often, I write more in the afternoon. Somedays I work on writing my blog posts or newsletters. I read work from a fabulous aspiring author I’m mentoring. I spend it with my older daughter and grand-babies at the climbing gym or trying to haul myself out of a ten-foot foam pit (true story). It’s all in the day-in-the-life-of a suspense author.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse.
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Question for you:
What’s the favorite part of your day? Our routine? What do you look forward to most?
Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to spend some of it with me.
Have a blessed week!
Dani
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The favorite part of my day? . . . When I get home from work, do a bit of house keeping (a very little bit!) and sit down for a couple hours of reading. Books refuel me.
Books are wonderful like that, aren’t they 🙂
All right, Dani. That teaser about being an FAA Witness for a “flight incident” has my curiosity seriously piqued. Have you been sworn to secrecy or can you share the details? Enquiring minds want to know. 🙂
I haven’t been sworn to secrecy…let’s just say some men were beyond drunk and behaving VERY inappropriately and according to FAA regulations, they had to be removed from the flight (prior to take off of course–LOL).
Hugs,
Dani
Thank goodness you didn’t have to suffer through an entire flight with them nearby. Whew!
Definitely. Their behavior was atrocious.
I don’t know if I have a favorite part of the day??? I think it depends on the season that I’m in. In the spring and fall I love mornings, I will take my coffee outside and sit in my porch swing and take in the smell of nature, it’s calming and invigorating at the same time. (is that even possible???) I watch for deer, or any other critters that might appear, I spend time with my Savior, reading my Bible, or praying. Wow, I never even thought about that before! LOve your books and am looking forward to this new series!!!Hope you have a blessed day!!
Thanks so much, Pam. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend that time. I can just picture how calming and invigorating it must be.
Favorite part of my day is when I have a cup of great coffee in hand, my laptop in my lap and my cozy over-sized sweatshirt on, with my favorite tunes playing and writing the next chapter of my novel. Routine? Too complicated and long to type here. Would bore you to tears. What do I look forward to? Being an author with a best-selling novel and making enough money to be able to quit my day job. (said every new writer with only one published book under her belt.) Also, my next trip to Whidbey Island.
Great dream! Keep pursuing it!
Sounds like a wonderful part of the day.
My favorite part of the day is watching Joyce Meyer while enjoying my flavored coffee of a morning.
Sounds nice. What flavor do you enjoy? I’m a mocha girl myself.
My favorite part of the day is sitting in the quiet at work (library) before my co-workers come in. That time period can look different depending on the day…worship music playing, catching up on a television show, devotions, reading a book, but always coffee!
My favorite part of the day is the afternoon, just after my exercise. I sit to relax in my recliner and my kitty climbs up in my lap. I have a cup of tea on the tray next to me, a book in my hand and my kitty to pet. I love my afternoons!
I’m the same way with exercise, I’ve got to do it first thing in the morning. Then I read with my kids before they start school (we homeschool). Then I try to get all my housework done before lunch so I can spend the afternoon doing something fun; watching a movie, reading, going to the lake, etc. Sounds like a great life you have! I applied to be on your influencers team…here’s praying I’m accepted! 😊
I like the quiet time after my son and husband leave to savor a couple of cups if tea.