Guest Blogger–Lena Nelson Dooley

If It’s the Fifteenth, I Have a Deadline!

Writing is my full-time job. However, it is not my full-time life. I try to spend at least six hours a day for four, five, or six days a week. If I’m on a tight deadline, it becomes the five or six figure.

In addition to being an author, I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, friend, a small-group leader at church, and I volunteer in the bookstore and the Global Ministries department.

Thankfully, my husband understands deadlines. He is extremely supportive of my work, but he knows that after my personal relationship with the Lord, he is most important. We make sure we spend special time together almost every day. He works in the afternoons and evenings, so sometimes that’s hard, but we find creative ways. We often go walking in the morning. We talk, laugh, and enjoy our time together. Not only is he my husband, he is my best friend, and I love him more than life.

Both of my daughters are grown, married, and have children. They have full lives, but we spend time together as often as we can. One lives about six miles away and the other maybe thirty. One of my sons-in-law often calls me from wherever he’s driving his truck that day. Right now he’s stopping in Wal-Marts across the US, looking to see if they have my most recent release, Minnesota Brothers. We know a store in Maine has it already.

One grandson is in Germany in the army, and we mainly stay in contact through the Internet. The other three live close, so I see them often. We like to go shopping. Grandma will often take them to places that have a little more expensive clothes. These three also go to the same church, so we see them almost every weekend. James and I sometimes take them out to eat.

The small group I lead is a Reading Group. I’ve been a part of another book club for several years, and I enjoy getting together, sharing a meal, and discussing a book.

When I chose which area of the church to volunteer in, the bookstore sprang to my mind. What better place for an author to fit in. And the work I do for Global Ministries includes writing as well as some design work.

James and I are part of a Family Life Group that meets on Wednesday evenings, and I’m a member of a Ladies’ Life Group that meets on Tuesday mornings. In addition, I have other friends who know that I will drop everything to go out to lunch with them. That’s how we keep in touch with friends from other churches and ministries.

On Mondays, I do laundry. When I don’t have a tight deadline, I cook our meals, make many of my own clothes, and do the mending. My husband likes to clean house. I learned long ago to just let him. Now it is a blessing to my writing.

Yes, I am a full-time author, but my life is so much more. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Come on by my web site. I give away a book a month, and I have a monthly newsletter on the site. Sign my guest book for a chance to win the book!

I also have a blog. Most weeks, I feature an interview with the author of a recently released book. We give books away on the blog, too. Leave a comment on the post for a chance.

Tricia here:
Thanks Lena for letting us know about your REAL LIFE and REAL WRITING!