Sunday Snippet: The What Makes Me Interesting? Edition

Several years ago, I did an interview on another author’s blog—in the hot seat myself after all the interviews I’ve asked my guest authors to do. I had a good time answering the questions, and they were great questions, ones that really made you stop to think. One that particularly intrigued me was this: If someone wrote a book about your life, what would it be called?

Hmmmm… that was a tough question because I had to start with the whole concept that someone would be interested enough to want to write a book about me. I can probably count on the fingers on one hand—maybe just using only three fingers—the people who would want to do that. My husband is that interested in me, maybe my kid is, but who really knows what goes on in the mind of a 40-something male, and most likely, my mom. But she passed away over thirty years ago, so that’s out.

To answer that question, I had to think about what made me interesting. Another hard concept because to me, I seem very ordinary, except that I’m an author and okay, people do seem to find that kind of intriguing. Particularly fascinating to others is that I’m a romance writer. When that is revealed, most folks stop to gaze at me for a moment, as if they’re trying to picture this rather round, Baby Boomer involved in a ménage-a-trois or some other torrid activity. Because you know, all romance writers are out there doing stuff that the average post-menopausal woman wouldn’t dream of doing.

Sometimes, I just gaze back and let their imaginations run wild. If I’m with Husband, they’ll occasionally give him a raised eyebrow or a knowing smile. He’s the spouse of a romance writer, and by golly, his life has to be awfully darn… um… fun. I would tell them that we’ve pretty much got the same life that most long-married couples do, but I don’t, because unlike some long-married couples, we’re still kinda silly about each other. Even after 52 years, I still think Husband is the sexiest guy out there. And, well… maybe I do take some of what I write from my own experience.

My heroes are always gentle, uber-intelligent guys—sexy nerds, if you will—who are artsy and a little (okay sometimes a lot!) geeky and want a happily-ever-after just as much as my heroines. The women I write are closer to me than I might admit, although often, physically, they’re the me I’d like to be (read skinny and gorgeous here). They’re also confident, but a little unsure; intelligent, but sometime prone to thinking with their hearts instead of their heads; and always, always apt to overthink most situations.

My answer to the book-about-me question was SNAP OUT OF IT. It was my mom’s best advice when I worried too much about stuff over which I had no control because I’ve always believed I can fix everything for people I care about. If Mom had written the story of my life, I’m sure that’s the title she would have chosen. She was right. She still is, although I’m not as bad about worrying as I used to be. I do need to relax, though, let life do its own thing, and stop believing I’m responsible for other people’s happiness. I guess I still need to snap out of it.

So, how about you? If someone wrote the story of your life, what would the title be? Tell me in the comments and I’ll send you an e-book ARC of my upcoming new release, Forever Cowboy. It’s my first Western romance, and yeah, I confess, even my cowboys are betas. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a gentle guy who thinks too much.

Gratitude for this week: Cool lovely days and crisp nights–fall is in the air a little early and I’m okay with that. Words are being written. Had a good conversation with my newest CE client–a nice woman, a kindred spirit, I think. Evenings on the deck with a glass of wine. Watching narrow boating on Amazon Prime (seriously, it’s really cool!) . 

Stay well, speak out when you can–it’s how we resist, always choose kindness, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!