The Day Job vs. the Passion for Writing:  Finding the Balance

By Larry Yoakum III

            Greetings, I am Larry Yoakum III and I am an author.  Right now I still have to maintain a day job in order to pay the bills.  Just like everyone else in this world, we all have to pay money to keep our homes occupied, our refrigerators full, our electric on, and hopefully have money left over for a weekend trip to Las Vegas, or even Branson, Missouri.

            One thing we have to remember as authors is that we are basically artists.  Instead of paint on canvas we put words on paper.  That in itself is quite a feat of artistic skill.

            For those of us who haven’t hit it big yet, we have to keep doing the day job.  The main benefit of the day job, at least for me, is medical and dental benefits.  Having insurance through your company is also much easier than fiddling around with doing it on your own.  Convenience is the thing that makes it almost worthwhile to get up earlier than you like so you can drive in horrendous traffic to a job that slowly eats away at your fledgling sanity.

            The balance, well, that is something I think is unique to each individual.  I can’t speak for anyone other than myself, so that is what I’ll do.  My way works for me, and it might for you, too.  If not, just keep searching for that balance.  We’re all unique and have to find that sweet spot where we can make the time to create our worlds of words.

            I allocate myself one hour minimum each night after the day job to work on something writing related.  It could be tweaking my outline for my next project.  It could be rereading what I have so far and catching some continuity errors.  Sometimes it might even be me staring at the screen, my eye on that blinking cursor as it mocks me as if to say “Come on, chucklehead.  Do something constructive!” 

            In addition to the one hour minimum, I also set aside one of the weekend days to do some major work.  As soon as I get up, provided I don’t have to do yard work or take the garbage to the road so that it can be picked up, the first thing I do is put on some coffee.  Once that smell hits my senses, it gets me in the mood.  Go into my office, fire up the laptop, take a swig of that liquid ambrosia, and…

            There are mornings where I type and type and type.  Others where I get that mocking imaginary voice from the cursor.  Don’t force it, but be persistent.  Write.  Just write.

            There is one thing in particular that really helps me out.  If I find myself stuck with nothing coming to mind about whatever I’m working on, I’ll start a different project.  At any given time, I have two or three works in progress.  Having issues with that next exciting chapter of your novel?  Try writing a short story that is completely different from your current work.

            The day job is important, too, don’t get me wrong.  I suggest that between the hours of 8 to 5, or whatever your shift is, try not to think about writing.  YEAH RIGHT!  That’s when I seem to get a lot of ideas.  Well, that’s normal author thinking.  What can I say?  We can’t simply turn it off.

            In life, we often do things we don’t want because it’s necessary to make ends meet.  When doing these things, we often want to be doing something else.  Which brings me to another area of difficulty in writing.

            Don’t think of your writing as a job.  I don’t care if you get a million dollar contract and an unreasonable deadline.  Don’t think of it as a job.  If you do, you might start thinking you’d rather be doing something else.  Above all, your writing should be your passion.  Do it because you love it.  A labor of love is something where you’ll strive and thrive, not just do to survive.  Hey, that rhymed.

            Basically, this is what I am getting at with this article.  When at the day job, do the day job.  Make your mental notes, send yourself emails with ideas so you won’t lose them, write ideas in a notebook.  Just don’t let your manager see you.  Kidding, not kidding. 

            Allocate yourself time to write at home, but don’t forget to spend time with your family and friends.  They will be your biggest supporters, even if they never read a word of your work. 

            I almost forgot one of the biggest parts of writing.  Read a lot.  Reading is exercise for the brain.  If you don’t exercise it, your imagination can atrophy.  You need to keep those neurons firing so your creativity will continue to be fed. 

            I hope that this has in some way helped you along the rocky road of finding that balance between the day job and the passion of writing.  So, until you’re that next big superstar going on a national book tour, stay sane at your 9-To-5 and never give up on the written word.  After all, it is the best escape from the daily grind for a lot of people out there.

I did the thing in a country called Vietnam.

Book synopsis:

A new administration is in power in the U.S. promising to enact a 'solution that is final' to the 'immigrant problem'. In spite of the rhetoric, no one seems to care that immigrants are going missing in increasing numbers, as their fellow compatriots continue with their daily lives watching their telenovelas like any normal day. Meanwhile, a mysterious ash falls across the U.S. and Mexico, and no one knows its true source. 

When Marco, a reporter for the Daily News Report, is assigned to investigate rumors of a secret immigrant panel headed by the president's staff, his investigation uncovers truths too dangerous to reveal to the general public, and he is taken off the story. 

Facing the choice of keeping the truth in the dark, or telling the world one way or another, Marco decides to go underground and head all the way to Mexico City to reveal the plot against all people of Mexican descent. Along the way, Marco is triggered by people complacently sitting around in public spaces watching telenovelas in cafes and hair salons, which drives him to shoot the TV sets to send a message, but no one seems to get it. 

Will Mexicans stop living vicarious lives of fantasy through their telenovelas and live life to the fullest? Or will time run out once Marco reaches his destination and reveals the news of an impending Mexican apocalypse?

REMEMBER THESE AND NEVER FORGET THAT...

We can speak in tongues and miss heaven.

We can win souls and miss heaven.

We can see vision and miss heaven.

We can prophesy and still miss heaven.

We can cast out devil and miss heaven.

We can perform miracles and still miss heaven.

We can read the whole Bible and miss heaven.

We can attend all church services, fellowship activities and camp meetings and miss heaven.

We can have anointing and miss heaven.

We can be a church leader and miss heaven.

You can be a deacon or an elder and miss heaven.

You can be a church worker and miss heaven.

We can have all spiritual gifts and miss heaven.

We can be rich, prosperous and wealthy and still miss heaven.

We can give and sow seeds and still miss heaven.

We can wield power and be influential and still miss heaven.

We can have a powerful voice to sing and miss heaven.

We can also have fame and popularity and miss heaven.

BUT we CANNOT LIVE A HOLY LIFE and miss heaven.

HOLINESS IS THE REAL DEAL!

Therefore; "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye HOLY; for I am HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

 “For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45

 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

1. "I had no knowledge of the places or events which existed overseas..."

When I was a little girl, I read every scary novel I could get my tiny hands on. 

They were long intriguing tales that I was incapable of putting down. Even though I was only between the age of eight and eleven, books written by Stephen King and Dean Koontz would make it impossible for me to look under my bed or open the closet door at night.  I was never too afraid to finish the story I had been forced to put down the day before.

Those lengthy creations should have been impossible for me to read and comprehend, but I was never the average kid. I would grab novels from my mother’s stack of tales which she had already finished… of course, and with the help of a dictionary, I would search for the meaning as well as the pronunciation of words. I would also use the Encyclopedia Britannica to locate the places those books discussed. This process meant that it took me three times as long to finish a story than it did the average person. Now, that I consider the fact that I was also involved in three years of speech therapy at the time, I can see why I was eager to learn more than anyone would ever imagine.

I had no knowledge of the places or events which existed overseas or throughout antiquity before I read of them in these stories. This gave me an idea of what I was dealing with when I read of creatures and clowns capable of taking the life of someone as young as myself. But no matter how scared I was, I had to know what happened. I was so inquisitive I would risk being terrified because I wanted to know how it would end.

Fast forward a few years and I find myself living the life of a typical teenage girl in Southwest Arkansas. I fell in love with romance novels, of course. 

I had chores and responsibilities around the house. When my mom and dad finally released us from the grueling daily tasks, I would climb on my ten-speed bike and find the nearest open field to lie in as I lost myself the stories such as those of Judy Blume and later Sandra Brown. 

Each time I carried a blanket carefully wrapped around the latest romance novel I'd found at the local library, I was eager to lose myself in whatever teenage angst filled book, medieval tales of worlds in the Emerald Isles of Ireland with their ancient Celtic Tribes, or the Highlands of Scotland with their Kingdom of Moray. 

At that time, I had no knowledge of love or romance whatsoever. I was more interested in the authors’ abilities to paint a romantic picture of a time long ago but not forgotten. I was drawn to that time and had the strongest desire to visit it whenever it was permissible.

2. "Taboo" subjects not to be discussed even though...

The time I spent reading Harlequin and Silhouette romance novels cultivated in me a desire to tell stories I’d witnessed in real life but hadn't yet seen between beautifully designed book covers featuring Fabio. 

The late-night meetings of the Caucasian businessman and the woman of color were "Taboo" subjects not to be discussed even though everyone talked about it. A woman in the neighborhood, who was obviously African American, would disappear and re-appear as if she had taken a ten-month vacation, yet low and behold, a brand-new baby would also be in tow.

Now, far be it from me to question the nationality of anyone, but it seemed rather suspicious that so many obviously biracial children were identified as being part Native American when the only person close enough to that description fit the Caucasian businessman who frequented the neighbor approximately nine to ten months prior to the arrival of a bouncing baby bundle.

These are the romance novels some of us have been dying to see for the better part of twenty years, give or take a few years.

3.  "They were hard pressed to believe a teenager, in the year 1990, understood..."

At the ripe old age of fourteen, I was determined to write my first novel. 

For several months, I completed the same chores and was released to go and be a young adult. I worked side jobs and made sure I had the money I needed to buy writing as well as other art supplies. For hours, I utilized the time in which I was not working for my family or myself to daydream my stories into existence.

After an hour of meditation, I would write down whatever I dreamed about in a color coordinated spiral notebook. I would take a break and look at the clouds for a short time to clear my mind and then I would read my dream out loud. From that open audition to speak my characters and ideas into life, I would then begin to write the novels I had yet to read anywhere else.  

This was my continuous routine for two years. During that time, I wrote three full-length eighty thousand-word novels. I allowed my family members and family friends to read my stories. Often, the people who were avid readers, would tell me I was lying when I said I wrote the stories. They were hard pressed to believe a teenager, in the year 1990, understood the concepts of writing a novel.

What they hadn’t considered was that I spent hours in the public library. Of course, I was smart enough to go there to read reference books on how to write a novel. Most of what made sense to me was to copy the style of my favorite romance author. I also had to change up the characters, their names, and the situations.

Disbelief because they didn't think a kid would have the talent to write something as good as what I put on paper was quite an unfortunate side effect of writing at such an early age when their were very little to no resources for writers of color. Even though I won art contest and poetry contest I’d entered through my school, I rarely received anything beyond an offer to include my poems in different anthologies.

4. "Publishing should create more opportunities for more diverse people..." 

In truth, back then there would probably never have been an outlet for me to bring my stories to life. Diversity in Publishing was nearly non-existent. 

As a young African American female writer, I had none of the experience or the notoriety needed for a publishing agent or publishing company to take note of me.

Even though some people began to express amazement over my talents, the ribbons I'd won for writing, and my ability to focus my energies to create such beautiful works of art, possessed no power to do anything more than lend me a pat on the back and a praise for good work.

It is now a new day. The world is a smaller place. We can communicate with so many different people on different continents than was possible over thirty years ago.

Publishing should create more opportunities for more diverse people to express the stories representing the lives they have lived. 

We didn't all grow up touching and connecting with the world around us in the same way. Hungry readers crave and love stories about beautiful people in faraway lands. They desire to read about Kpop stars such as BTS and Rain, Africa’s biggest stars such as Nigerian musician Burna Boy and South African comedian Trevor Noah. More people want to know about East Indian entertainment royalty such as actress Deepika Padukone and actor Shah Ruhk Khan.

5. "... as their anticipation grows from the sensation of approaching the end of a real book they had the pleasure of stroking from..."

The world is a place full of culturally blinded aromas, colors, and flavors which have transformed the way we create, eat, and live. 

It is truly time to represent the whole world in every area of publishing.

Encouraging real Diversity in Publishing has nothing to do with publishing companies selecting a hand full of artist from different parts of the world in order to shine a little bit of sunlight on their work.

There are 12 months a year. That is also 52 weeks in a year. This means publishing companies could devote each month to one diverse group of people to showcase their brand of storytelling. With a potential to feature 365 to 366 different minority individuals receiving a showcase to push for the encouragement of these newly developing countries to read more books and therefore focus some of their economic growth on the publishing industry, this type of campaign becomes a win win for the publisher brave enough to make it work.

It is time to encourage real Diversity in Publishing by bringing the uniquely untold stories of authors and writers to the forefront because it is time to break down the barriers in the publishing industry before monster publishers find themselves in the same fix as the giant cable companies who are struggling to remain relevant in a time when the internet and hand held devices are taking over the world.

Why not control the e-feel of reading online as well as the deliciously hypnotizing addiction people enjoy when they get to turn one page after another as their anticipation grows from the sensation of approaching the end of a real book they had the pleasure of stroking from page one until they reached the end.

Thanks so much for reading taking time to read this article. I look forward to your comments regarding this article and all topics on Publication Diversity.

Andera Tumblin

Abraham is a believer who God called alone, instructed and he too stood alone to what God has told him. On many occasions, God commanded Abraham to do some peculiar things, and Abraham addicted to it without sharing it with his parents or his wife. For instance, when God told Abraham to leave his land and go to a strange that he does not knowing, Abraham did not delay to leave. So also, when God told him to take Isaac and offered him as a lamb sacrifice on the far mountain. 

In Isaiah 51 verse 2, God speaks of Abraham, “Look unto Abraham you father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” 

As an Abraham was called alone, so also you are called by God alone. Salvation is a personal issue not collective issue. When you are called by God unto salvation it is an individual matter. Each person must respond personally to that call. Your wife or your husband or your parent or your wife are not responsible for any actions you take against or in support of God’s calling or instructions. 

Furthermore, as Abraham leave his homeland and his family in answer to that call, so also God is expecting you to leave some things behind to response to His calling. Like Abraham, each Christian is called alone, and we must response alone. You must make the decision alone. Responding to the vision may involve leaving home and family, leaving job and business, leaving association and friends, etc. If you want God vision concern your life to fulfil, there is need for you to leave and forsake some things that is not worthy.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

Fulfilling God’s vision and inheriting God’s blessing requires total separation from things of the world. Undoubtedly, it will involve stepping out from among unconcerned believers who have not yet caught the vision and not ready to change or doing the will of God.

The Christian that stand alone are the Christians that become a hero of their generations. Noah standalone, and God used him to build an Ark that save the first generation from destruction. Joseph standalone he became a Prime Minister in the strange land of Egypt. Gideon standalone, he became a hero that change the history of his nation from captivity. Daniel standalone and he was a leader under four different kings. Esther standalone she became a queen in a strange land. The three Hebrew boys standalone and turn the heart of a wicked king to surrender to the Almighty God. David standalone and he became a young boy that killed Goliath. Peter, John and others standalone, and they win the evil world for Christ, and Abraham standalone and he became a pillar of faith for the entire world.

Nobody has fulfilled the purpose and plan of God for his or her life without been standalone. Be alone is a key that will make you stand out from the crowd. Remember, you are born alone, called alone and definitely you will die alone and judge alone on the judgment day of God. Hebrews 9:27

Beloved, are you standing alone for Christ or anti-Christ? Are you standalone for holiness or standalone for worldliness? Are you promoting the Kingdom of Christ or you are promoting the kingdom of Satan? Don’t forget, you cannot be neutral is either you standalone for Christ or standalone for Satan. What you are doing now and actions you are making is an evidence of whom you stand for. 

For you to standalone for Christ Jesus, you must mortify any sinful attitudes like fornication, smoking, kidnapping, stealing, uncleanness, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, filthy communication out of your mouth, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-9.

In the 1950s, born to a poor family, Joshua Jenks is a black man who rises to the challenge of becoming a Senator for Memphis. Privileged to be taken under the wings of Sam McLeod, the patriarch of a rich white family for whom his family worked under, he is given an education the envy of many of his friends and peers.His dreams though puts him directly in the line of racism even as he confronts the world of politics and power. Terrorism and its threats play a huge role in his line of work as a Middle East advisor with direct access to the President himself. Joshua Jenks’ story takes its readers on a journey as it weaves in and out of suspense and intrigue.

Genre: Blazingheart.com, Mainstream MF, Contemporary Urban Romance, Intrigue

Length: 24, 559 words

                          The Black and White House

In the 1950s, born to a poor family, Joshua Jenks is a black man who rises to the challenge of becoming a Senator for Memphis. Privileged to be taken under the wings of Sam McLeod, the patriarch of a rich white family for whom his family worked under, he is given an education the envy of many of his friends and peers.

His dreams though puts him directly in the line of racism even as he confronts the world of politics and power. Terrorism and its threats play a huge role in his line of work as a Middle East advisor with direct access to the President himself. Joshua Jenks’ story takes its readers on a journey as it weaves in and out of suspense and intrigue.

Genre: Blazingheart.com, Mainstream MF, Contemporary Urban Romance, Intrigue

Length: 24, 559 words

INTERVIEW by https://thisiswriting.com/author-interview-with-gigi-sedlmayer/

Surviving cancer, but couldn’t go back to work, I decided to do something with my life. And the best thing I came up with was writing short stories and books. But then I thought, what can I write about? I loved animals. So, I started with that.

Since I was rejected in school and suffered much, I wanted to let parents and children know with my stories that they are not alone and that they can achieve their dreams and longings when they put their minds to it. With determination, one can achieve the things they dream about.

Please tell us something about yourself and your book/s

Gisela (Gigi) Sedlmayer was born on 19 May 1944 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin in Germany. Her family escaped to the West just before the infamous wall went up. They moved around in Germany, following where her dad got work. That meant she had to change schools 9 times. In the end, she never had friends again of fear she will lose them again.

Finally, they settled in Munich where Gigi studied architectural drafting and met Albert in 1965, marrying in December 1967. She worked as a civil drafts-person in various private consultancies in Munich.

Since her uncle was a writer, she tried to write short animal stories herself. Nothing further came of it, but she developed a love for the written word and started to consume books.

In May 1975, Gigi and her husband moved to New Zealand. Because of language challenges, she started a handcraft business. As a specialty, she made colourful parrots in several sizes of which she sold thousands in a few years.

In 1988, they decided to adopt and became adoptive parents of twin girls the year after. They lived in New Zealand for eighteen years and moved to Australia in September 1992.

One year later Gigi was diagnosed with cancer. After operations and radiation, she withdrew, thinking that she would probably soon be dead like her friend who died of cancer, but, her two little girls gave her the courage to keep going. After a few years, still among the living, her brain started to work again so she thought, 'Get a grip on yourself and do something good with your life'.

She remembered the time she wrote short stories and got inspired again, seeing her husband Albert writing the story of their adoption. Her English became increasingly better so she pressed on to develop her creative writing.

Albert taught her how to use a computer after scribbling in notepads. She wrote many short stories. She entered them in competitions and often got very good reports back which gave her the confidence to go on writing.

One of these short stories was about Talon. Thinking the story through, she decided to make that story into a series. In the next several years she spent bringing the story and the characters to life.

She now loves writing and spends most of her time at the computer, developing new storylines. She also loves traveling, 4x4 touring, swimming, gardening, handcrafting, reading, fossicking and enjoys good adventure DVD's or going to the movies.

What inspired your story Talon Come Fly With Me?

I wanted to write a story about a handicapped girl to show readers what they can achieve if they focus on the positive and not the negative side of things. 

And since I love birds, I decided to let the main character, Matica have a bird. But then came, what bird? And then the idea went even further. What is if she could fly on the bird? Adventure. That would be something. But to do that, she has to have a disability to be very small. But again, the bird has to be big as well. And there the condor came to my mind. I loved the condors before. Amazing birds. They are the biggest land birds (vultures) on our wonderful earth. And so, the story about Matica and Talon came to existence. But then I had to set the scene in Peru close to the great Andes where the condors live.

Give us 3 words that you associate your book with

Adventure, inspirational, acceptance

What has been your favourite part about Talon Come Fly With Me?

That would be chapter 34, where the little chick is hatching, and Matica calls him Talon. And chapter 57. Flying.

How different is the finished product from the original idea?

Well, not much actually. I tried to get the book published with conventional publishers but since that didn’t work out, I re-wrote it many times until I found a self-publisher.

How do you form your stories?

I don’t form them. I just write what comes to my mind. Sometimes it seems to me as if my fingers have their own lives. They fly over the keyboard and then I see what they have written down. Sometimes, it's really funny to see.

How do you select the name of your characters?

My daughter made up the name Matica. So, I adopted it for my main character. The other names, I have a book with names. 

Do you have a single approach in editing or does it vary for every book?

No, not really. I do re-write a lot. I say, the first draft is the skeleton. The next re-write is muscles, the next the veins. And so on. But I have to say, I at least re-write 7 to 10 times, until I'm really satisfied.  And then my editor still does the editing.

What’s the useful piece of advice about writing that you’ve been given?

I have been told never to give up because you never know what will come. If you give up, you might miss something very important, like the selling and success. I have to tell myself that again and again. It’s not easy to keep going especially when one doesn’t see any sales.  And that I should read a lot and write every day.

How do you promote your book?

I try to do advertising and send my book to many sites for awards.  Talon, come fly with me received the following:

• Top 10 Finalist with Authors Academy Awards 2018
• Silver Medal Award with Reader's Favorite in Children's' adventure 2018
• Finalist with: Book Excellence Award, 2017

• Finalist with: IAN Book of the Year Award 2017 - The Independent Author Network 
• Silver for Book Cover competition with Authorsdb 2016
• 5-star Review by Readers’ Favorite
• 4 out of 4 stars review by Online Book Club

What are you working on now? What can we look forward to seeing next from you?

I am writing at the sixth book in the Talon series. I have published 5 books up to now.

Talon Come Fly With Me

by Gigi Sedlmayer

The adventure of a young girl will captivate one’s attention in this beautiful book. The words soar off the page and into your heart as you read this imaginative story.

Enjoy seeing the family dynamic from the first moment with her brother, to the gentle times with her mom, and the exciting scenes with her father.

A young girl, Matica, is jealous of her brother, Aiken's ability to have friends. But Matica's ability to form friendships is extraordinary. The trust and camaraderie between Matica and the condors is truly wonderful.

The way the author revealed each situation was fun to read and it made me anxious to see what's next. Acceptance was eloquently woven into the story without being blatant. And the other thing I learned was that when certain things happen, you don't always know why and just maybe something goodwill come of it.

Talon, Come Fly With Me is not only magical but inspiring. The author is expressive every step of the way and painted such vivid pictures with her words.

INTERVIEW by https://thisiswriting.com/author-interview-with-gigi-sedlmayer/

Surviving cancer, but couldn’t go back to work, I decided to do something with my life. And the best thing I came up with was writing short stories and books. But then I thought, what can I write about? I loved animals. So, I started with that.

Since I was rejected in school and suffered much, I wanted to let parents and children know with my stories that they are not alone and that they can achieve their dreams and longings when they put their minds to it. With determination, one can achieve the things they dream about.

Please tell us something about yourself and your book/s

Gisela (Gigi) Sedlmayer was born on 19 May 1944 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin in Germany. Her family escaped to the West just before the infamous wall went up. They moved around in Germany, following where her dad got work. That meant she had to change schools 9 times. In the end, she never had friends again of fear she will lose them again.

Finally, they settled in Munich where Gigi studied architectural drafting and met Albert in 1965, marrying in December 1967. She worked as a civil drafts-person in various private consultancies in Munich.

Since her uncle was a writer, she tried to write short animal stories herself. Nothing further came of it, but she developed a love for the written word and started to consume books.

In May 1975, Gigi and her husband moved to New Zealand. Because of language challenges, she started a handcraft business. As a specialty, she made colourful parrots in several sizes of which she sold thousands in a few years.

In 1988, they decided to adopt and became adoptive parents of twin girls the year after. They lived in New Zealand for eighteen years and moved to Australia in September 1992.

One year later Gigi was diagnosed with cancer. After operations and radiation, she withdrew, thinking that she would probably soon be dead like her friend who died of cancer, but, her two little girls gave her the courage to keep going. After a few years, still among the living, her brain started to work again so she thought, 'Get a grip on yourself and do something good with your life'.

She remembered the time she wrote short stories and got inspired again, seeing her husband Albert writing the story of their adoption. Her English became increasingly better so she pressed on to develop her creative writing.

Albert taught her how to use a computer after scribbling in notepads. She wrote many short stories. She entered them in competitions and often got very good reports back which gave her the confidence to go on writing.

One of these short stories was about Talon. Thinking the story through, she decided to make that story into a series. In the next several years she spent bringing the story and the characters to life.

She now loves writing and spends most of her time at the computer, developing new storylines. She also loves traveling, 4x4 touring, swimming, gardening, handcrafting, reading, fossicking and enjoys good adventure DVD's or going to the movies.

What inspired your story Talon Come Fly With Me?

I wanted to write a story about a handicapped girl to show readers what they can achieve if they focus on the positive and not the negative side of things. 

And since I love birds, I decided to let the main character, Matica have a bird. But then came, what bird? And then the idea went even further. What is if she could fly on the bird? Adventure. That would be something. But to do that, she has to have a disability to be very small. But again, the bird has to be big as well. And there the condor came to my mind. I loved the condors before. Amazing birds. They are the biggest land birds (vultures) on our wonderful earth. And so, the story about Matica and Talon came to existence. But then I had to set the scene in Peru close to the great Andes where the condors live.

Give us 3 words that you associate your book with

Adventure, inspirational, acceptance

What has been your favourite part about Talon Come Fly With Me?

That would be chapter 34, where the little chick is hatching, and Matica calls him Talon. And chapter 57. Flying.

How different is the finished product from the original idea?

Well, not much actually. I tried to get the book published with conventional publishers but since that didn’t work out, I re-wrote it many times until I found a self-publisher.

How do you form your stories?

I don’t form them. I just write what comes to my mind. Sometimes it seems to me as if my fingers have their own lives. They fly over the keyboard and then I see what they have written down. Sometimes, it's really funny to see.

How do you select the name of your characters?

My daughter made up the name Matica. So, I adopted it for my main character. The other names, I have a book with names. 

Do you have a single approach in editing or does it vary for every book?

No, not really. I do re-write a lot. I say, the first draft is the skeleton. The next re-write is muscles, the next the veins. And so on. But I have to say, I at least re-write 7 to 10 times, until I'm really satisfied.  And then my editor still does the editing.

What’s the useful piece of advice about writing that you’ve been given?

I have been told never to give up because you never know what will come. If you give up, you might miss something very important, like the selling and success. I have to tell myself that again and again. It’s not easy to keep going especially when one doesn’t see any sales.  And that I should read a lot and write every day.

How do you promote your book?

I try to do advertising and send my book to many sites for awards.  Talon, come fly with me received the following:

• Top 10 Finalist with Authors Academy Awards 2018
• Silver Medal Award with Reader's Favorite in Children's' adventure 2018
• Finalist with: Book Excellence Award, 2017

• Finalist with: IAN Book of the Year Award 2017 - The Independent Author Network 
• Silver for Book Cover competition with Authorsdb 2016
• 5-star Review by Readers’ Favorite
• 4 out of 4 stars review by Online Book Club

What are you working on now? What can we look forward to seeing next from you?

I am writing at the sixth book in the Talon series. I have published 5 books up to now.

Talon Come Fly With Me

by Gigi Sedlmayer

The adventure of a young girl will captivate one’s attention in this beautiful book. The words soar off the page and into your heart as you read this imaginative story.

Enjoy seeing the family dynamic from the first moment with her brother, to the gentle times with her mom, and the exciting scenes with her father.

A young girl, Matica, is jealous of her brother, Aiken's ability to have friends. But Matica's ability to form friendships is extraordinary. The trust and camaraderie between Matica and the condors is truly wonderful.

The way the author revealed each situation was fun to read and it made me anxious to see what's next. Acceptance was eloquently woven into the story without being blatant. And the other thing I learned was that when certain things happen, you don't always know why and just maybe something goodwill come of it.

Talon, Come Fly With Me is not only magical but inspiring. The author is expressive every step of the way and painted such vivid pictures with her words.

In an era where going “green” is of expanding interest and necessity, society is embracing more methods of preserving the earth.  One of these ways is through green building, a method of construction that uses energy-conserving techniques.  These structures can consist of components, such as solar panels, for the conservation of electricity and heat, or they may be earth homes, also known as underground or earth-sheltered homes.

Earth homes are typically built with steel and concrete, and covered with earth on the top, back, and sides.  This type of construction is an enormous electricity saver, and in fact, many require no heat or air conditioning, since the earth maintains a nearly unwavering temperature in the home year round.  An added benefit is that earth homes are virtually disaster proof in tornadoes, hurricanes, and even structural fires.

A popular misconception is that earth homes are dark inside, due to the reduced number of windows; however, structures that face the southern direction tend to allow more sunlight in, making the interior nearly as bright as a traditionally built home’s interior, especially if the windows are larger in size.

Another fear is that these homes are leaky or damp inside, but this, also, is not the case.  The structures are heavily waterproofed, many times with bituthene, a rubberized type of waterproofing, which expands with water, fully protecting the structure’s interior from dampness. 

Though some earth homes are built with flat roofs, many are dome shaped and can even be two story homes.   They are environmentally friendly, insect free, virtually maintenance free, and they have up to 90% less pollutants and allergens inside than a traditional home.  Many are constructed in such a traditional manner that they are difficult to distinguish as an earth home, and the cost of construction is usually about the same as a traditional home.

Though building permits are easily obtained, financing can sometimes be tricky, as appraisers in some areas are still unfamiliar with earth homes.  Additionally, some insurance companies remain cautious; however, those who do provide coverage on the structures say that the energy-efficiency and safety aspects of earth homes are a money saver when it comes to insurance.

Companies like Formworks Building, Davis Caves, and Earth Sheltered Technology, Inc. are providers of earth home construction systems and detail the home types and process, complete with photos, on their websites.

This topic is of particular interest to me because, in addition to aspiring to be an engineer, I have actually lived in an earth berm home that my parents built in North Carolina years ago which, naturally, was sustainable and very energy efficient.  Constructed of steel and sprayed on concrete, or Quickrete, the dome house was insulated with thin, foam panels and waterproofed on the outside with a bituthene coating, and it used the earth as a natural insulation for temperature control, therefore not requiring heat or air conditioning.  Another option that my parents utilized was the southern exposure, which lent natural light and heating from the sun into the front of our house, especially since the other three walls were covered.  It proved that an earth home doesn’t live by the stigma of being damp and dark inside.  These are just a couple of examples of how to better design a structure with energy efficiency.

So much technology has been created in recent years to pioneer energy efficiency in homes and other buildings, and there are numerous methods of achieving it with some even functioning entirely off the grid.  When I think of tips to design a building with energy efficiency, there are certainly multiple.

Solar

We see more and more homes utilizing solar panels on the roof because of its energy saving benefits.  Solar panels take advantage of the sun’s natural light to provide power, and it has been proven to be extremely effective, cutting electric bills to a minimum, which can offer a huge savings.  Some people view the upfront expense of the panels as a deterrent, but they have proven to pay for themselves through saving money in just a couple of years. 

Sealing & Insulating

These are seemingly obvious options, but many structures are surprisingly not constructed with sufficient insulation, and doors and windows are often not tightly sealed, letting cold air in and heat out.  We especially see in older houses and buildings, where seals are cracked or missing completely and insulation was attempted with inefficient materials.  Some older homes, like my grandparents’, had no insulation at all.

Eliminate “Dead” Space

Nowadays, we see a lot of homes and buildings being built with high ceilings to make a small space look larger.  Though the concept is smart, it can really run up the costs of heat and air conditioning.  Many homes, while aesthetically pleasing, leave a lot of unused space, in foyers with high ceilings, for example.  The more that these “dead” spaces can be used or eliminated, the more energy efficient the home or building becomes.

Green Building

Using the proper sustainable materials can be hugely beneficial in energy conservation.  Some, like my parents, are using earth for insulation and temperature control, others have used things like wool bricks, grass, recycled plastic and tires in place of concrete walls.  Triple glazed windows can also provide a valuable option.

Water Conservation

Many water-saving techniques are being used for better energy efficiency.  One of the ways this can be achieved is by installing low flow water fixtures, which controls the flow of water usage, and it is a great way to conserve.  In taller structures, another method is roof mounted water tanks for obvious reasons.  The less distance that water has to flow through water lines, the more one can save on usage.

These are just some of the ways to design buildings and homes with better energy efficiency, and much of it is also tax deductible.  I believe that building with more sustainable and energy efficient methods are the future.  Not only is it better for our wallets, it is better for the environment, as well.

Repurposing

Repurposing, or reusing, the various materials around us can provide a great benefit to a home.  Often times, things that many of us throw away can actually be reused for another purpose.  For example, the wood from an old barn can be repurposed for a fence or even furniture pieces, and we see more and more examples of wood pallets being repurposed.  Some beneficial assets can be found in scrap yards and recycling centers.

Lighting

So many energy efficient products are being made available now and one example of this is energy is in light bulbs.  LED and fluorescent bulbs can bring energy costs down hugely while also conserving energy. 

Appliances

Another creative way to conserve and create energy efficiency is by purchasing energy efficient appliances and there are many options, like water heaters, stoves, refrigerators and washing machines, that can conserve water and electric while also saving money through tax credits.  The refrigerator is touted as one of the more energy using appliances but there are steps that can be taken oneself to make it more efficient.  Aside from choosing manual defrost options and properly adjusting temperature settings, doing minor things like using the frigid winter temperatures outside to freeze and cool before putting them in the refrigerator or waiting until food is cooled before putting it into the refrigerator can actually save a bundle.  Cleaning the coils twice a year and checking refrigerator seals can also be a great benefit.

Autism, a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 150 children in the United States alone.  This rapidly growing and diverse disease is not prejudice, targeting both male and female children and nearly unnoticeable if one doesn’t know what to look for.  There are several types of autism, and children, and no two cases are exactly alike, but most can possess many of the same characteristics and can be diagnosed as early as age two.  Autistic children look like other children but are seemingly unable to interact socially with other people, tending to encase themselves in a world of their own, their comfort zone with solitary and familiar surroundings.  Rarely do they allow hugging or touching, even from their mothers.  Most will not make eye contact, and many are extremely impatient.  Some may even inflict injury to themselves, banging their heads, biting themselves, or hitting themselves, as it is believed by some physicians that an autistic child’s pain tolerance is much stronger than a child without autism.  Rather than playing with toys, an autistic child is more likely entertained in a repetitious manner, such as spinning plates on the floor or opening and shutting doors, even for hours at a time.

Though this disorder appears to disconnect the child from the world, many can understand communication and commands through keywords.  For example, using a keyword of “eat” rather than asking “Are you hungry?” may produce better results.  In fact, individuals with autism tend to be extremely intelligent, especially musically.

Experts have long debated the cause of autism.  Some believe that it is a gene in one or both parents that carries through to the child while others feel that the mercury in childhood immunizations may be the cause.  Even with the uncertainty, it has been shown that the brain of an autistic individual is different in both shape and size than the brain of someone without autism.  Further research is ongoing in the quest for answers.

Through the eyes of an autistic child, even the most miniscule details are taken notice of.  A non-autistic individual usually looks at something and sees the big picture, so to speak, not necessarily taking notice of the details.  For example, if you walk into a room, you will likely see only what stands out, things such as furniture or the television sounding in the background.  If an autistic child walks into the same room, he would probably notice the details, such as the television sounds, people talking in the room, room décorations, curtain colors, even the second hand on a clock.  People with autism tend to process their surroundings differently, seeing things in detail and even hearing noises differently, where loud noises may be soft to them and soft noises may sound deafening.  Things like the vacuum cleaner or telephone ringing may annoy or frighten an autistic child.  Still, many individuals diagnosed with autism are very intelligent, able to understand what you communicate to them, and even without speech, many can communicate back with you if they need something. 

Years have passed with the assumption that autism has no cure, and though there is currently no medication available, research has shown that there are other treatment methods that can assist in overcoming the symptoms.  A common one is a gluten/casein free diet, removing dairy and grains from meals, as well as adding a B12 vitamin supplement.  Speech therapy is usually implemented, and some have suggested a process of removing the mercury from the child’s body.  Many autistic children have made tremendous improvements through these therapies, even to a point where they are nearly autism-free.

When I began writing my fictional trilogy about the South, I, like many Americans, felt well-informed on the subject. As a student of history, researcher, and writer, I felt particularly well-versed in the period before the war (Antebellum) through the war years (1861-65). But as I began the final book in the trilogy, I soon found out how little I knew about the immediate aftermath of the war (Reconstruction) and the shocking depredations spawned during this critical transition.

The Civil War ended in 1865, freeing from slavery four million blacks (freedmen and freedwomen) who owned no land and had little money or education, which was often proscribed for slaves. Believing education would keep them from returning to slavery and enable them to prosper, freedmen immediately began establishing schools for themselves. “They sprung up like mushrooms after a rainstorm,” as one Southerner described the phenomenon. Creation of these schools was aided by the Freedmen’s Bureau, established by Congress to help the impoverished black population with food, medical care, and education. By 1870, over 4,000 of these schools had been established throughout the South, attended by a quarter million children and adults.

Legal Obstacles

The legal challenges blacks faced proved far more daunting. Abraham Lincoln was shot five days after the war ended, to be replaced by a Southerner, Andrew Johnson. Johnson wanted the Southern states restored to the Union as quickly as possible, requiring new state constitutions be established. Because Johnson’s plan only allowed whites to vote for convention delegates or to participate in drafting the new state constitutions, not one of the states granted the right to vote to blacks. As the provisional governor of South Carolina made clear at his convention: “this is a white man’s government.”

And who were called upon to create these new constitutions? Politically powerful former Confederates. In Mississippi, for example, the 1865 constitutional convention included twelve men who had been delegates to the secession convention of 1860, including the president who entered the motion for secession; a number of Confederate generals; a Confederate senator; and a Confederate governor. Subsequently, many ex-Confederate leaders won elections for state government offices and for Congress.

Black Codes Instituted

State legislatures quickly moved to restore de facto slavery throughout the South, in essence, reversing the verdict of the war by passing laws called Black Codes in various forms that limited the freedom of former slaves. These laws replicated colonial statutes, restricting blacks from voting, serving on juries, traveling freely, or working in jobs of their own choice. Even their marriages weren’t considered legal.

For example, the severe penal codes for slaves were retained, merely replacing the word “slave” with the word “freedmen.” South Carolina’s Black Codes even established a racially separate court system for all civil and criminal cases that involved a black plaintiff or defendant. It allowed black witnesses to testify in court, but only in cases affecting “persons of color.” Crimes that whites feared freedmen might commit, such as rebellion, arson, burglary, and assaulting a white woman, carried harsh penalties. Most of these crimes carried the death penalty for blacks, but not for whites. Punishments for minor offenses committed by blacks could result in forced labor (“hiring out”) or whipping, penalties rarely imposed on white lawbreakers.

Within two years, these specific Black Codes were rescinded by Congress. Nevertheless, new state laws and practices were instituted to replace them, reproducing the same effect. Eventually, of course, Jim Crow would further enshrine into law the black community’s subservient status.

The Supreme Court’s 1954 “Brown v. Board of Education” decision, ruling that separate schools for blacks and whites were unequal, and Lyndon Johnson’s Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped put an end to the most egregious of these practices.

Dr. King stated that “history bends toward justice.” Looking back at the troubled Reconstruction era, and in light of Black History Month 2019, we can see how far social justice has progressed in the United States. We must do our best to maintain and advance that progress.

Ed Protzel is a novelist and author of the Civil War-era DarkHorse Trilogy: The Lies That Bind, Honor Among Outcasts, Something in Madness (late-2019). He lives in St. Louis. Find him at: www.edprotzel.com.