The Secret to Success (IWSG edition)

Priorities. How do you make sure you get the most important things done in a day?

The IWSG question this month got me thinking--and not just about writing. The question is:

How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

I read this excellent article that wasn't even about the same subject. The primary idea behind the article was how we become products of our environment. The way it struck me, I started thinking about my surroundings. What things am I exposed to just because they're happening, and which elements do I try to control? Am I giving things passive permission to my brain--like a TV show, a radio song, or a debate because someone else is engaging in them around me? (Or because I didn't bother to silence those distractions?)

We all take the path of least resistance, but that doesn't mean we have to take whatever is put in front of us. We can create our own "path of least resistance" to our ultimate goals. It will take some work to shape the path, but once it's there, it's there.

So for me, writing in the day isn't a question of FINDING TIME, it's a question of MAKING TIME. And with 4 kids (1 a toddler and two full time home schooling students), I MAKE TIME. (Is it any wonder I write about time manipulation? LOL.)

What is hindering your productive time?

BTW, next week is my COVER REVEAL for TIMELESS (3rd book in my Maiden of Time series). Are you as excited as I am? (You know it's going to be epic.)

Two weeks ago, Mark Noce shared two truths and one lie with us. Anyone who guessed the lie correctly was entered to win a PRINT copy of BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

The game:

1. I once ate a package of plastic C4, thinking it was chocolate (it was nighttime people).
2. I take a car, two trains, and walk a mile-and-a-half in order to get to work each day.
3. I may actually be related to the second-most-prolific man in history (King Niall of Ireland).

The lie: #1. As fun a story as that would be, it's a total fib.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Quanie Miller!

Congrats, Quanie!

And now, how about ANOTHER truly great book up for grabs? (And yes, I read and reviewed this one. It is excellent.)

He came looking for a ghost. Instead, he found a girl. 

Tucker Boone is a war-hardened Marine on a ghost hunt. Fresh out of the corps, Tucker learns he has a missing half-sister, Maddy. The only clue to her whereabouts is a cryptic note…I’ve gone Mad, Mags. Tucker agrees to search for her and heads to Ocracoke, North Carolina where a ghost named Mad Mags is said to haunt the ancient graveyards dotting the island.

The note doesn’t bring him any closer to finding Maddy, but it does offer him a diversion to the doldrums of civilian life—his new island neighbor, Josie McCoy. Tucker is drawn to her quiet spirit. There’s something special about Josie…a connection he can’t quite explain.

By summer’s end, he’s mixed up in deception, murder, and the love of a lifetime. Logic tells him to head home and forget the truths he found on the island. But can he walk away? Josie offers him more than love; she offers him hope. When the clues pile up and it looks like she can never be the girl for him, he has to make a choice—play it safe and break her heart, or risk everything for a chance at being swept away.

Get Your Copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Elizabeth Seckman is a wife, a football mom, and a believer in dreams. She is a multi-published author and the best-seller on her street. There may not be any other writers on her street, but that doesn’t matter. She still outsells them all. 

She doesn't have a favorite cheese, but loves them all equally, even with jam. And she would eat cheese anywhere, be it land, sea, or cheesy air. Hold the questions, but never the cheese. That you pile on as high as you please!

Elizabeth gave me two lies and one truth to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out either lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of SWEPT AWAY. (Open internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, September 13 at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on September 14, 8 a.m. EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. My first week of college, I got the flu and threw up in the elevator. Fortunately, everyone on the elevator just thought I'd been drinking and didn't make a big deal of it.
2. When I was a little girl, my sisters tried to turn me into a beauty pageant queen, but I'd never walk on a stage.
3. The first time I took my driver's test, I backed into a police officer (barely bumped her...no harm done!) and failed the test.

Oh, and it's not too late to sign up for the cover reveal of TIMELESS. (But almost.)

So sleuths, which is the lie? Do you love romance stories? What is your great distraction?

Shocking Facts about Time & IWSG

Do you ever think about time?

A quick shout and thank you to Yolanda Renee who has me over today talking about 5 Reasons Not to Be a Psychopath. Check it out!


Back to time...

I write a series about time manipulation, so it's kinda par for the course, but lately I've been thinking about real time--and not just in a day, in a lifetime.

The average American spends:

26 years sleeping

11 years watching TV

10.3 years working

8 years shopping (for women)

5 years browsing online

4.3 years driving a car

4 years on the phone

3.66 years eating

2.5 years cooking

1.5 years in the bathroom

1.1 years cleaning

That's a whopping 77.36 years!

An article my brother sent got me thinking even more--one about actual time spent on relationships. It's super fascinating and you can find it HERE, but let me sum up some shocking facts:

In the first 18 years of your life, you've probably spent 90% of the time you will with your parents. For someone in their mid-30's, that leaves only about 300 more days with parents if they live to 90 years. The statistic is similar for siblings--leaving that number closer to 85% after leaving home. Trickle that down to other relatives, close friends, etc, and you begin to see how precious a few hours may be.

And that's why...

I spend an average of 10 to 12 hours a week on blogging. ("WHAT?!?" you say, "But you only post once a week!") It's true. I only post once a week. So how does that work?

• I spend between 30 minutes and 1 hour a week communicating with author's I'll feature, people who win prizes, calendaring, etc.
• about 1/2 to 1.5 hrs researching material to share and writing posts 
• 30 minutes prepping tweets to get the word out 
• and an average of 8 hours visiting blogs

That 10 to 12 hours doesn't even include time to reply to the comments on my blog!

That's 10 to 12 CONSCIOUS hours a week I don't spend playing with/teaching my children, or writing. (Both of which are my priorities right now--especially the children when considering the above stats.)

And here's what it boils down to: I'm going to drop back to blogging once a month for March and April. (Hoping that will get me through deep edits on TIMELESS.) There will still be giveaways. There will still be fun. There will still be cheese. There will also be some crazy editing happening here, around the crazy crazy of my wonderful family.

How are you spending your time?

Now how about a giveaway?

Last week Anna Soliveres shared with us CRIMSON EARTH, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win both VIOLET STORM and CRIMSON EARTH in eBook.

The Game:

1. Anna was once surprised by a friend whom she thought was coming to visit her, only to be roped to go for coffee and an awkward trip to the Museum. It later occurred to her that she was being taken on a date.
2. She saw the movie, Momma Mia, starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan; finding no luck in her dating life, she was convinced Greece might offer her the perfect romantic opportunity.

3. A date once broke up with her and then immediately offered her a donut. 

The lie: #2. Although Anna was inspired by Momma Mia, she went to Greece shucking off any ideas of romance, in favor of a grander adventure: finding her next story.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Julia!

Congrats, Julia!

And now for this week's feature...

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Sarah Ahiers has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and lives in Minnesota with three dogs and a house full of critters. She has a collection of steampunk hats and when she’s not writing she fills her time with good games, good food, good friends and good family.

Sarah writes Young Adult and Middle Grade novels and occasionally dabbles in Picture Books. Fantasy is her favorite genre, though she sometimes can be found playing around with Horror and other things that go bump in the night.

You might find her munching on a parmesan/gouda hybrid like A Dutch Hybrid Vincent, or a great cheddar like Kerrygold’s Skellig (which is a sweet cheddar), or having a meat, cheese and cracker tray for lunch.

Find Sarah online HERE!

Sarah gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to an print edition of ASSASSINS HEART! (U.S. Only)

You have until Tuesday, April 5, at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on March 6, 8 a.m EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I came in second place in my middle school’s spelling bee when I was in 6th grade
2. I played the violin for ten years.
3. I have had a myriad of pets, including: dogs, goldfish, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, squirrels, horse, anoles, tree frogs, & cockatiels.

So sleuths, which is the lie? How about it? Where do you think most of your time goes in a week? A month? Did you find any of these stats shocking? What do you wish you could spend more time doing?