Energy = Desire + Purpose Back to Blog
Update: Marie’s winner is…Cories! Congrats, Cories!
By: Marie Force
Thanks so much for having me today, Cynthia!
Yesterday I received the following words of wisdom in a fortune cookie: Energy is equal to desire and purpose. I loved this. It totally sums up my life right now. I work full time—from home, but full time nonetheless. I’m the communications director for a national membership organization similar to RWA, but we work in the accounting field. With our annual meeting bearing down on us, we’re busier than ever. So of course that’s the best time to bring out a new book, right? NOT!
When I sold Fatal Affair to Carina Press, I knew it would be out in June. How could I have known in February that my June 21 launch date would exactly coincide with the week the 100-page program for the conference was in final production? Oh and did I mention my kids were finishing school (the youngest ending his elementary school tenure) the same week? To say that last week was utter madness would be putting it mildly. I worked several 13- and 14-hour days, answered blog comments on lunch and dinner breaks and late at night while writing more blogs for subsequent stops.
People often ask me how I do it. How do I balance a more-than full-time job, two busy kids, a husband, a puppy, a home, and a writing career in which everything I’ve been working years to get to seems to be happening all at once? To be honest, some days, it gets kind of ugly around here. My kids run out of clean underwear. The milk jug runs dry, and I don’t notice (mostly because I wouldn’t touch the stuff if I was parched). The house becomes a Super Fund site, and again, I barely notice. Lately, I’ve taken steps to address some of these issues: I bought my kids more underwear and bit the bullet and hired a weekly cleaning lady. Something had to give and it was either going to be the underwear or my head was going to explode. Buying the underwear seemed like a pretty damned good investment in my mental health. The cleaning lady? Well, she was just necessary to keep the board of health from showing up at my front door. Plus I found out my friend Rebecca was hogging the cleaning lady, and I couldn’t let her get away with that. 🙂 I taught her to share and share alike.
So how does it all get done? The energy comes from desire and purpose. I love my kids more than anything and adore the ages they are now (almost 15 and 11). I love my job. If my literary ship came in tomorrow and it was the size of the QE2, I’d probably keep my job. I love what I do, I love the cause we’re working for (bringing accountability to government), and I love a lot of the people I get to interact with every day—all without leaving my house. And I love my writing “job,” too. Lately, that’s what it’s started to feel like, and that has been negatively impacting the writing—the truly fun part. I’m trying to get reconnected to the words now that the initial promotion frenzy for Fatal Affair is coming to an end. Fingers crossed that the desire and purpose will bring me some writing energy!
I’m wondering if your life’s desires and give you purpose and fuel your energy reserves? Do you find a way to make it all happen? Do you sometimes have to buy more underwear to keep your head from exploding? Tell me I’m not alone! I’ll give a copy of Fatal Affair to one respondent. Look forward to chatting with you today!
About Fatal Affair:
On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O’Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator’s killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.
It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term. Buy the book at http://ebooks.carinapress.com.
And about me:
Marie Force’s first romantic suspense, FATAL AFFAIR, was released on June 21, 2010 from Carina Press. Book 2 in the Fatal Series, FATAL JUSTICE, is coming in January from Carina. She is also the author of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” A third contemporary, EVERYBODY LOVES A HERO, is due out Feb. 1, 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909 and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.
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Marie, thanks so much for blogging with me! And, woman, you are not alone! My milk jug is currently empty. Doh! Another emergency run to the market is in my near future.
Congrats on the release of Fatal Affair!
Thanks so much, Cynthia! Glad I am not the only one who lets the milk jug run dry and refuses to feel all that guilty about it! 🙂
Best of luck on your release this month, too! Nice to see us both on the RT list of “future stars” in RS. I like the sound of that!
With all that you have going on in your life, you continue to keep your sense of humor! Yes, I have bought underwear when I couldn’t get the laundry done. I was widowed at 42 and have 4 children They were 14 yrs to 6 yrs and juggling became my life. I learned to keep a daily list and enjoyed crossing them off the list as they were completed. I still keep a list, but it’s not as long as it use to be as my children are young adults now.
It is amazing what we can accomplish. I actually work better under pressure, but I demand perfection of myself.
I wish you well on the release of your 1st book. No one deserves it more than you!
My milk jug is currently empty too…LOL!!! I am a single mother of 4 kids ages 18 to 6, one dog and just inherited two stray kittens. Needless to say my life is full to the max. Creating lists is helpful if I can remember where I put them!! Definitely a calendar for all the appointments they have!! I also try to laugh everyday and not get caught up in the small things that don’t get done.
Yes, I have bought underwear when laundry has gotten out of control…that and socks. It is usually five minutes before they leave for school that my 17 year old son says…Mom, I don’t have any uniforms clean!!!
Mostly, by the end of the day, when I am settling into bed, I think…Whew made it another day…LOL!!!
Hi Marie,
I found when I quit my 14 hr 6 day a week job to stay home and “just” run the family that I didn’t get as much done. Your saying is spot on. When we have the desire and purpose all is accomplished. Thanks for the excellent post. Congratulations on your 1st release.
Energy is equal to desire and purpose. I love these words and they hit close to home for me. There is so much truth in them!Thanks for sharing them with us today!
Congrats on your new release! I would love to read your book, it sounds awesome!
I love those words too!!! But boy, did I get tired reading what you’re doing these days….phew!!
I’m a Mum of a large family, I work part time, I balance the books (what book? Hehe), I am right now in the middle of sewing five dresses for my daughter’s upcoming wedding party. One is done, two are almost done, just need a final fitting, one is in the middle and hopefully, one will still get done by next weekend…phew!!! In two weeks, the dear hubby will be taking two of the kids away for a couple of weeks…that will be sooooo nice…lol!!!
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
It’s my friends who keep me sane when I start woking like a crazy woman! I don’t have a husband or kids, so that probably makes my life a bit easier than yours but still. Those 15 hour work days can be killer! Congrats on surviving!!
You are wonder woman.
I am like Casey ho husband or children. But for a long time there it felt like I had way to many balls in the air. With two jobs, aging parents etc. Things have settled down some but one thing I learned was to let things go. So what if I didn’t get to clean, going to my nieces game was more important.
Congrats on the new release
I really enjoyed your post!! Sounds very familiar for me at times also. Just know it will all come out in the wash. My children are grown and grandchildren are well on their way to adulthood and I have survived 😉 Your books like very good reads!! Congrats on new release!!
Watching my almost 2 year old nephew makes me feel like I am caught up in a whirlwind… I like things simple and planned out, but he changes all of that! 😀
Patty,
I try to laugh my way through life! I give you so much credit for enduring all that you did with your sense of humor intact. I hope my kids will remember that the milk may have been empty from time to time but I was always here for them. They were with me the other day when my friend’s sister started shrieking when she was introduced to me because she loves my books. Normally, they’d be sure to make fun of me to keep me humble, but that time they both said, that was kind of cool. I love them so much and feel lucky every day to have them in my life.
Wow, Kara! You win! Holy smokes! Single mothers have my undying respect. I don’t know how you do it. I am forever dumping something on the DH and he rolls with it pretty well. I am so lucky to have him (don’t tell him I said that, I like to keep him thinking his approval ratings are always in negative numbers–gives him something to work toward) LOL. God bless you and ALL single mothers. I hope your kids appreciate all you do for them.
Hi Viki,
It’s so true that busy people are the most productive, isn’t it? I worry all the time that if I didn’t have so much else going on I’d be so lazy I wouldn’t write a word! LOL! Fatal Affair is my first romantic suspense. I have two other contemporaries out, too: Line of Scrimmage and Love at First Flight, although I’m hearing L@FF is out of print, Borders supposedly still has it. Glad someone does! Thanks for coming by!
Hi Quilt Lady,
I loved that saying in the fortune cookie and it came JUST as I needed an idea for Cynthia’s blog, which is the last stop on a rather frenetic two weeks of blogging. The schedule lightens up considerably next week. Phew! Just in time to go to Orlando for work. LOL It’s always something! Glad the book appeals to you! Hope you enjoy it.
Valerie!
Sewing bridesmaid dresses?!? Stop the madness! I bow down to you. I can’t sew to save my life. Funny story: all three of my husband’s sisters and his two brothers’ wives (one of them now ex) are accomplished seamstresses. I used to bemoan my lack of skill in that area and my dear departed father-in-law used to say “Don’t worry, you have other skills.” I was never really sure what he meant by that and if you knew him, you knew it was better not to pursue it. LOL! Best of luck finishing up that huge job and enjoy the wedding and then the break from the family! You will probably sleep for two straight weeks!
Forgot to say to Viki: my husband is the “seamster” around here. He’s handy with a sewing machine, which he sees as just another power tool!
Casey,
15 hour work days are killer no matter what else you have going on. Make sure you’re taking time to smell the roses. No one lays on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at work. I love that saying, which is probably found on fortune cookies, too, right?
Judy,
You are so right about making sure priorities are properly aligned. The bad thing about working at home when my kids are off from school is that they have to feel like they are waiting in line behind work and all my other “stuff.” I make sure to tell them every day that they come first with me, but I do have to pay the bills and work so they can have all the things they need. They get that, and I’m so lucky they do!
Hi Judy C.,
I know these years are going to go by SOOOOO fast with them so I’m focused on enjoying the small moments with them. Last week, in the midst of MANIA, I took a night off and the three of us went to see Toy Story 3 together, which was so perfect since we watched the other two over and over and over again when they were younger. This week, after everything for the conference was at the printer, I took a few hours off to go put my feet in the sand with them. We had a lovely afternoon just lounging on the beach and chitchatting. Emily is already going into 10th grade and Jake into 6th (middle school–yay!) so it’s going by faster and faster. Can’t imagine having an empty nest. I think that has to be a really rough adjustment!
Colleen,
Kids have that effect! They upend our entire lives (as do puppies, I’ve discovered recently!) With our kids 15 and almost 12, we’re finding we can sneak out to dinner by ourselves once in a while. It’s been so long since we could just DO that, that we’ve forgotten how! We’ll look at each other and say, we could actually go out BY OURSELVES right now. Whoa! When did that happen? The big thing is catching Emily when she’s home and letting her know she’s babysitting for her brother, who doesn’t appreciate being “baby sat” by anyone, let alone his sister. So we’ve learned to say they’re both in charge of each other but if the house burns down, we’re blaming her. LOL. Enjoy your nephew, they grow up so fast. My darling niece just graduated from high school. I still can’t believe that! She was a baby five minutes ago!
Hi! Wow, your life sure is busier than mine! My work comes in waves. Still, I try to get some exercise in so that I can let go of some stress – can’t live on caffeine alone. 😉
Congrats on your new release!
Congrats on the new release, Marie. There are days where I have the energy to everything on my agenda and then there are days where I can’t even get one thing done because I’m either tired, stressed or just can’t concentrate.
I look forward in starting this series; it sounds great.
There just never is enough time. The important thing is to remember to squeeze in the most important things, washing underwear seems at the bottom of the list so good for you = purchasing more!
Do I find a way to make it all happen? Do I sometimes have to buy more underwear to keep my head from exploding?
I had to give up trying to be everything: super mom, super wife and super cleaning lady. So now I only do what I can: wife and mother, those are the most important; anything else can either wait or not get done at all. If there’s an extra layer of dust, well I’ll get to it but if there’s a graduation ceremony, I’m there.
I have three pets, and it looks like there are hair-tumbleweeds in my house. Not a pretty sight. I do keep up with the wash, though. Usually.
Your book sounds fabulous! Great blurb!
I find that the more time I have available, the less I get done. Somehow, when I’m are busy, I always seem to find the time to squeeze one more thing in, whereas if I’m off work and hanging out, I barely manage to make it out to the grocery store and that’s it for the day LOL.
Hi Cories,
I definitely need to get more regular about the exercise. That’s one thing I’ve really gotten bad about. There just aren’t enough hours in the day! Thanks for coming by to say hi!
Hi Jane,
Not every day is a good writing day, that’s for sure. Once I’ve taken care of everything and everyone else, the gas tank is often empty. That’s why I never set writing goals. I wouldn’t want to set myself up for failure right out of the gate. I do what I can and I tell myself it’s enough. It has to be!
Hi Tracey,
So glad the series sounds good to you. YAY!
Stephenia,
You are so right–underwear is last on the list! 🙂
Diane,
I totally agree with your approach. You have to stay focused on the most important stuff!
Hi Edie,
Nice to see you here! We used to have a dog who shed like crazy. As much as I miss her, I don’t miss the hair. My puppy Brandy doesn’t shed. Love that! See you soon at Magical Musings!
Jen,
I soooo agree that the more I have to do the more I seem to get done. That’s why I worry that if I ever didn’t work full time, I wouldn’t write a damned thing. Crazy, I know, but a real worry! LOL
Wow you are a busy lady. You are a new author to me. More books to add to my reading.
Thanks for coming by to say hello, Sue!