Tuesday's Tribute-Published Author

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What is it?
Well, we'll tell you what it is NOT... It's Not About YOU. It's about SOMEONE ELSE. It's our chance, each of us, to shine our light on someone else.

Huh? Whaddya mean?
We each spend a lot of time talking about ourselves and our lives, but we are also fairly GIVING people too...Tuesday's Tribute is a chance to talk about OTHER people, OTHER blogs, OTHER lives.

Now's your chance to shine your light on someone else.

It's only fitting that I TRIBUTE one that has done what I only aspire to do. If I had a magic wand I'd ask that I learn how to be a good wife and mother while finding the time to write the things that I want to. It would be nice if my works were published. I wouldn't mind my book being on the best sellers list either.

It could happen? Right?

Nicole O'Dell makes me think it's a possibility. So today, it's all about Nicole because she's done what so many of us only dream of.

Nicole O'Dell (mom to 6, including triplets!) has become a published author, and I couldn't be happier for her. I was thrilled to be able to "pick her brain" and pass along her thoughts.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes and no. Yes, I always did "want" to be a writer and I have always written for myself, but I didn't ever really pursue the possibility of publication until about two years ago. It was something that I always daydreamed about and thought that I "could" do, but I thought I needed more experience, better contacts, a better education, more credibility, etc. etc. etc. I was wrong. :)

How do you find the time and concentration to write with your children, especially triplets?
I've just had to learn how to compartmentalize. I'm a very driven person and when I have something on my mind as being an important task, or something creative that I want to do, it's really, really hard for me to tear myself away and set it aside until later. I'm also very hard on myself. If I don't accomplish massive amounts of tasks in a day, I don't feel that it was a successful day. Trust me, I'm NOT saying these are good qualities; they're just the truth about me.

So, in order to keep sanity and also to be a good mom with time for my kids, I've HAD to learn how to let things go until later and how to say "no" or "not now" to some things. Recently, I actually had to back out of some very cool writing groups and opportunities in order to keep my priorities straight. As difficult as that was for me, I am happy and proud to have done it.

By compartmentalize, I mean that I save the big, creative tasks for when I have large chunks of uninterrupted time rather than trying to do them while bouncing a baby on my lap. When the kids are all around, I answer emails, post to blogs, upload pictures--things that I can easily walk away from when necessary. For me, it's a matter of knowing what I can do and when, and not trying to go outside of those boundaries.

Has writing been rewarding for you?
Is it crazy to admit that I got teary-eyed when thinking about that question? This past year has been the single most exciting and rewarding year of my life. My triplets were born (totalling six kids) and I submitted the completed manuscripts for Truth or Dare and All that Glitters, the first two books in my YA, Christian-fiction series, Scenarios. Now, I'm awaiting their release on August 1st. I can't possibly adequately express how fulfilled I feel at this moment.

What advice would you give others that aspire to do what you've done?
Find a way to turn off the voices in your head that tell you not to bother. You know, the ones that say you're no better than the 50,000 other people who want to write a book. The ones that tell you to stick with what you already know you do well--diapers and laundry. You know those voices? Don't listen to them! They're wrong.