What does a writer do when not writing?

http://www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com/

I always cringe when asked that question. I believe, for the most part, a writer is always writing. We may not be putting words on paper, but other than when we’re sleeping (and even then dreams are often writing related) a writer is always doing something that has to do with writing. Plotting while driving, building characters while waiting in line and ‘people watching’, taking vacations that include research, attending conference, workshops, and groups, etc. etc.

So, what do I do when I’m not sitting at the computer?

Spending time with my family. That is number one for us. We have three granddaughters, two step-grandsons and three granddogs and lots of family activities. I am one of eight children and my husband is one of four so rarely does a weekend go by when we aren’t gathering at or hosting a family event. 

We have property in the northern part of the state, about six hours from our home, and especially during the summer months, we travel up there as often as possible. 

Our home is five miles from town, and though we don’t have any animals to tend, (other than an inherited little dog) we do have fruit trees, raspberry and strawberry patches, and a garden. (The granddaughters have grown to expect us to keep them well supplied with jams and jellies all winter.)

 Hubby and I are both NASCAR fans. I also enjoy cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, knitting, wood crafts, reading, flower gardening, and pistol shooting. Oh, and hubby owns an auto repair business he runs out of our home, and I work full time for a senior companion company.  

Therefore, when I’m not writing, I could be doing any number of things, but there’s always a story flowing in the back of my mind.

Books released in 2012:

January 1: Disobeying the Marshal (Harlequin, Mills & Boon)

February 1: Testing the Lawman’s Honor (Harlequin, Mills & Boon)

May 1: The Sheriff’s Last Gamble (Harlequin, Mills & Boon)

May 23: Sing to Me, Cowboy (The Wild Rose Press)

August 29: Sheriff McBride (this had been part of an anthology and is being re-released as a single title (The Wild Rose Press))

September 1: What a Cowboy Wants (Harlequin, Mills & Boon)

September 18: His Christmas Wish (All A Cowboy Wants for Christmas Anthology (Harlequin, Mills & Boon))

October 16: Unclaimed Bride (Harlequin, Mills & Boon)

Release date yet to be determined: A Soldier for Christmas (this had been part of an anthology and is being re-released as a single title (The Wild Rose Press))

The other question I’m always asked is which book is my favorite. They each trigger special memories and hold special places in my heart for various reasons. If I had to choose from the stories released this year, The Sheriff’s Last Gamble is the one that flew onto the page. I couldn’t type fast enough to get that story out, and Sing to Me, Cowboy was so fun because it’s part of the Honky Tonk Hearts Series. See, even in that I can’t choose just one. And of course, the one I’m writing right now is my favorite at the moment. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving, Pardner!

Genuine period couple
Kate and John R. G. Clemmons

In the true Old West, I doubt Thanksgiving was the big deal it is today. In my opinion, it was a day of giving thanks to God celebrated with friends and family and not that much different from their usual Sunday dinners. No Black Friday sales for which to plan (I have my list), no GardenRidge Thanksgiving sale (of course I’m going), no television football (thank heavens, my husband doesn't watch football!). Just giving thanks with family and friends. Wait—it’s sounding better and better!

Here are just a few of the things for which I’m grateful:


A grateful bird!

First, I don’t have to kill a turkey, strip off the feathers, clean the bird, and then cook it. If I did, turkeys everywhere would be grateful, because my family would eat cheese sandwiches. Seriously! I'm a writer, not Martha Stewart or Paula Deen, remember?

Our two daughters are joining us for dinner. This is a big thing for my husband and me. The eldest has been seriously ill and almost died from a physician's misdiagnosis and treatment, and both daughters have had health problems this year. We are so grateful they are both alive and well enough to have dinner with us and that each lives within easy travel distance. Here’s the catch. Each daughter has two dogs. 


Our Webster, a
precious guy

  What a wild time it is to have our Webster (a black Shih Tzu), plus our eldest daughter's Amber the elegant white standard poodle and Sandy the eager red Australian cattle dog, our youngest daughter's Brendan the gregarious black chihuahua and Findley the amazing black Shih Tzu whom we love so much he’s the reason we adopted Webster.



Findley, cancer survivor

 Findley has just recovered from a lengthy cancer treatment for which the vet credits our daughter's care with saving Findley's leg and probably his life. Another reason for thanks!

A bit of a problem at our family times is that I have two cats and Sandy finds them irresistible—and I don’t mean as companions. LOL We play trading spaces with big dogs and little dogs and cats during the visit. It starts to resemble a circus. And now in the center ring, I mean the family room . . . My husband and I don't care; we enjoy having out daughters visit us!

Everyday, I get to write in my little pink cave of an office on a nice computer with me wearing whatever I choose to wear that day at whatever hours work for my husband and me. I admit I’d hoped to be highly paid for my writing and to make the NYTimes bestseller list by now, but let’s not quibble about small details, okay?

Our church's sanctuary
last Christmas

I give thanks that I live in a country in which I can worship God as I choose and attend any church I wish—or none if that were my choice—and no one can force me to do otherwise. 
Wonderful friends at the church we attend accept me as I am and pray for and with me.  They know I'm, um, shall we say, a crazy writer and probably pray for me more than I know. LOL During times of trouble they've encouraged and supported me, brought meals, called, sent cards, hugged me, and cried with me. During happy times they've rejoiced with me.

Writer Friends

Terrific writer friends online and face-to-face encourage me. They nurture me, cheer me when I’m feeling down, laugh with me, and talk writing until we are exhausted. Having writer friends who understand what writers face and experience is such a boon. Writing is a solitary profession—we writers need other writers to give feedback and support. And to meet frequently for group therapy! And chocolate.

So not my car!

As much as I love tales of the Old West and writing about hunky cowboys and strong western women, I’m grateful I'm alive NOW. I admire the men and women who were pioneers and I respect all they endured. But I love air-conditioning, hot showers, cell phones, Kindles, electricity, and modern appliances. Not that I dislike riding a horse or buggy, but I’m so grateful I have a nice car to drive where I wish.

Hubby and me--
still in love after
all these years

Last but definitely far from least is for my crazy, eccentric family. My sweet husband supports my writing habit by helping out whenever he can with household chores, troubleshooting computer problems, and supplying whatever I need—or simply want. He tells me he loves me every day and the amazing thing is that he means it! He is and has always been a wonderful husband and father who puts the welfare and happiness of his wife and daughters way before his own. In my opinion, I'm the luckiest of women!


 Our sweet daughters are kind and compassionate toward others, and work to help the downtrodden. They are thoughtful toward my husband and me and willing to lend a hand when we need help. So maybe they treat us as if we are slightly decrepit and senile, so what? You say we are? Hey, watch it!  Remember old age is your age plus fifteen years.

What more could I ask for? Nothing. Well, other than that NYTimes bestseller thingy, right?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from all the Sweethearts of the West!