Teaching English as a Second Language was my second career. I then joined the administrative staff at The Literacy Council, a local nonprofit agency that teaches adults reading skills and English.
Then…I moved to France! The year in France awakened my joie de vivre. I had been writing a local newspaper column as a hobby since 2001. More and more newspapers picked it up over the years, and the columns from the year in France were especially popular.
That year away solidified my bond with readers and editors. The year was also a break from the crazy hectic American pace of life, and the kick in the butt that I needed.
Do you write full-time?
I do. Pinch me! When we moved back to the states, I decided to give writing a chance. The Man of the Place and I made a deal. I had to bring in as much money as I had made at my job at The Literacy Council. Lucky for me, nonprofits don’t pay well.
A friend turned me on to ghostwriting. I googled companies, sent my resume and some writing samples (besides my column, some of my poems and short stories were published in The French Literary Review while we lived in France.)
Call me a late bloomer, but I am making money doing what I love. I freelance and I ghostwrite. I’m also a speaker now as well. Readers of my column have invited me to various groups and my topics range from “Off the Beaten Path in France” to “The Lost Art of Love Letters” to “When Life Stinks, Find Joy.” I love it!
Some of my friends think I’m nuts to work so hard ghostwriting books for others. Maybe I am nuts, but I’m learning every day and I meet great people. I have my column, which is all me, my outlet to express myself, and I have When Life Stinks. I’ve launched a joy network now (When Life Stinks, Find Joy).
Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
When Life Stinks, It’s Time to Wash the Gym Clothes is a collection of my newspaper columns. Readers and editors kept suggesting that I make a compilation of columns in book form. Thus, a book was born.
Article comments
1 - Cheryl Malandrinos
Excellent interview. I have to laugh because when I saw that you call your husband The Man About the Place my mind wandered back to Laura and Almanzo Wilder. This is what Laura called Manly and I never thought I would hear that term again.
Read the book and loved it. Best of luck!
Cheryl
2 - kel e
I love you! I borrowed that phrase from Laura (with her permission - in spirit) for my first column and it stuck. NO ONE has ever mentioned knowing it was Laura's! I went to Rocky Ridge Farm in Missouri (and cried). :)