By Heather Huffman
A couple of days ago I was talking about the fact that once I had kids, I seemed to forget how to be me. I found myself so wrapped up in being Mom, I didn’t bother to take care of myself or pursue my dreams. I think that’s a difficult balancing act all mothers face: being there for their children without disappearing altogether.
About four years ago, I came to the realization that by forgoing my dreams to be a writer, I’d given up more of myself than I was okay with. It’s been an interesting journey; when I began, I never would have imagined just how far it would take me.
But even now, as a fulltime author, I struggle to find that balance between writer and mother. As I type this post, I have to stop every five minutes to break up a spat between the two youngest brothers because the summer doldrums have officially set in. (I’d wait until they went to bed at night to catch up on blogs, but lately between children and farm chores, I’m barely responsive by the time the sun goes down!)
It’s a fluid process, figuring out how to be me and Mom. About the time I think I have it figured out, the kids enter a new development phase or something new comes up with the books.
Since being a mom is so integral to who I am, it’s often something that shows up in my writing in some form or another. In my novel Jailbird in particular, my main character finds herself navigating motherhood in multiple facets at once as she gets to know the daughter she’d given up for adoption while learning to be a step-mother at the same time. Of course, Neena was also balancing an alternate identity and fighting off bad guys at the same time. Blog posts and farm chores aren’t quite in the same league – although some days, I might question that.
About Heather
Heather Huffman writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense with strong female leads who refuse to lose hope. She sees her books as a way to not only entertain, but to also raise awareness of the realities of modern day slavery. She shares the passion of her resilient heroines to make a difference, and so dedicates both her time and a portion of her book royalties to organizations that fight against human trafficking.
Heather was born and spent her early childhood in Florida, but now calls the beautiful state of Missouri home. Her greatest joy, aside from writing, is to hit the road with her three boys for adventures unknown.
She is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Suddenly a Spy, Ring of Fire, Tumbleweed and Devil in Disguise. You can find out more about her writing and charitable work on http://www.heatherhuffman.net
No comments:
Post a Comment