If you follow my blog, you already know that I entered The Great Love Inspired Author Search. And boy, am I glad I did! On September 3rd, I received an email from Tina James, Senior Editor at Love Inspired, asking if there was a covenant time to call and discuss my manuscript. I squealed out loud, startling my 7th grade students. I’ve never heard of an editor calling to tell someone their manuscript was rubbish, so I knew this was good news.

I quickly emailed back and said any time would be convenient, and then I went next door to ask another teacher to come into my classroom to watch my students. I also saw my assistant principal and told her what was happening. We don’t have good cell reception in our building, so I had to run outside when Tina called. I was out of breath and had to explain the situation. She told me she could have called after I got off work, but I told her my students were as excited about the call as I was so I couldn’t do that do them.

I felt so bad for her though because I talk really fast (with a heavy Southern accent), and I was a babbling, giddy mess! However, she was so gracious and didn’t seem to mind. To add to the excitement, my assistant principal followed me outside and took a picture of me talking on the phone with Tina, getting the news that they wanted to publish my book.

Don’t wait for “someday” to write. Start chasing your dream immediately.

Hi all! I’ve been MIA on the blog lately, so I wanted to fill you guys in on what has been going on in my life.

I told you of my plans to enter The Great Love Inspired Author Search. Well, I’m happy to announce that I made it to the second round! This means I’ve got to figure out plot issues and crank out words. I also have to make sure to leave enough time at the end for a final read through and edits.

So, for the past month, I’ve been balancing work, family life, and writing.

Sometimes, the balancing act is easier than others. Right now is an extra-busy time at work. You see, I’m a school teacher, and we’re at the end of the school year. That means end-of-the-year activities, semester exams, awards day, etc. It also means coming home at the end of the day so exhausted that all I want to do is eat a bowl of cereal and climb into bed.

Fortunately, this is the last week of school for the 2018-2019 year! After Friday, I will have one last thing to juggle.

However, with doctors’ appointments, workshops, and other things that fill up a teacher’s summer, I’ll simply be changing one balancing act for another. Also, I’m not as far along in my manuscript as I had hoped to be at this point, so my days will be a different kind of busy.

My dream of a publishing contract is within my reach. I just have to successfully make it to the other side of the tightrope. I can do this!

Some things that I do in my everyday life to help with this balancing act include cooking one dish CrockPot and InstaPot meals, not stressing if clothes aren’t folded and put away as soon as they come out of the dryer, and drinking lots of coffee.

What about you? What are some of your best tips for balancing all that life throws your way?

I’m a guest on the blog Seriously Write today. If you get a chance stop by and find out the four writing tips I learned while eating chocolate. Hope to see you there.