Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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  • Tag: life

    • #Am Week 32: Balancing Life and Writing #MFRWauthor

      Posted at 10:28 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on August 9, 2019

      It’s time I get back to the 52-Week Blog Challenge after a brief hiatus. I’ve been finalizing two books to come out this year, and I wrote the end to another book also coming out in 2019, but that has nothing to do with this blog hop other than I’ve been busy, busy, busy!  ❤  #WritersLife

      This week’s topic sounds like a similar topic from the last two years:

      Week 32: For an author, does life exist outside of writing?

      I can only answer for me and whether life exists outside of my writing world. This answer is twofold. Putting words to paper took the back burner for a lot of years while I grew from a child to a teen to a young adult to a wife. I raised a family and worked outside of the home. These were happy times, but the need to write was always there.

      Through the years, I always scribbled down words be it a poem or a short story, and I knew one day I’d write books. It just wasn’t the right time back then because I had a life outside of writing. What I didn’t know was how important it would become one day. Or how much time it would take to keep up with the business side.

      Moving forward many years when everything about my life changed. Kids live their own lives, but I still receive much joy from spending time with them. Retirement allowed me to write full time, so nowadays, creating stories is my life, and no, I don’t have much of a life outside of this career, but I do make sure to find a balance that works for me.

      I still have friends that I had when I was young and raising a family, plus new friends. They know of my dreams. We still go out to walk together, take little day trips, socialize, and continue to talk about my writing and books. However, I don’t do as much with them as they’d like.

       

      Family and most friends understand that this is how I roll these days. Still, they would prefer I had an equal balance of life and career. I do keep my heart and soul in harmony. If I won the lotto or sold hundreds of books a day, I’d be happy to give the same amount of time to work and life–maybe even more to LIFE.

      What about other authors? Participants in this blog challenge will tell you by visiting the 52-Week Blog Challenge blog for links to their blogs.

      I appreciate your visit today. Enjoy what’s left of summer. It goes by too fast.

      And now, I’m going for one of those walks.


      The BALANCE sign is made of metal and hangs on my refrigerator by magnets on the back. While shopping with my son and daughter-in-law, I purchased this at a quaint little store in a small town nearby. As soon as I saw it, I had to have it! ❤

      Balancing rocks credit: Pixabay

      Posted in #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 12 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge, Balance, Balancing Life and Writing, career, Does life exist outside of writing, Harmony, life, living, Marketing for Romance Writers Blog Challenge, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, past present future life outside of writing, Week 32 Blog Hop, writing
    • Week 44 #MFRWauthor 52-Week Blog Hop Challenge

      Posted at 1:00 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on November 3, 2017

      This post is late because I wasn’t sure there would be a post today. How could I not continue the roll I’ve been on with so few weeks left? OMG, it almost hurts to say “so few weeks left” in the year. I’m publishing two books this month, and I’m so busy, but no busier than most others at this time of year. So, folks, here I go…

      Week 44: A Person Who Inspires Me.

      This topic does not have one answer. The world inspires me. Music inspires me. Life inspires me.

      You’re asking me for a person who inspires me?

      In Life:

      My boys, Chris and Jim, inspire me. They are strong and have faced many obstacles in their lives. They’ve faced hurts and have known happiness. Somehow, they always find their way. They are strong. Both of them are there for me in my time of need–both positive and negative needs. Both of them tell me how proud they are when I publish a book, or when I have come through the crap life has thrown at me. They’re grown men now and face what life throws at them so they understand. I can only hope to be an inspiration to them, as well. They inspire me.

      Copyright: creativembers

      Copyright: creativembers

      In My Writing Life:

      Other authors inspire me and always have from as far back as I can remember. I’d look at a book in my hands while I dwelled on the author’s name. I dreamed… I knew. One day I’d have my name on books like they did–as they do. Maybe one day, at least one person can be inspired by me as an author.

       

      In Friendships:

      My friends inspire me. What would life be like if I didn’t have their shoulders to lean on? Their ear to listen? Their smiles and pats on the back? I’ve lost a BEST friend. I do know what it’s like. Fortunately, I have other friends. Patti and Karen are two friends who inspire me. I dedicated one of my books to them.

      It’s no surprise that I colored outside of the lines with this post and didn’t stick to a person who inspires me. If I thought about it and wanted to write a longer post, I bet I could come up with more, but for now, this will do because y’all have other authors to visit, if you choose to follow me on this Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Challenge Blog Hop.

      Marketing for Romance Writers (and many other genres) celebrated its eleventh year birthday this week. Its creator is Kayelle Allen. Many volunteers help to keep the organization running smoothly. Kayelle is an inspiration.

      Have a nice weekend. Thanks for reading.

      Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 14 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge, Authors Life, blog hop, children, cowboys, inspiration, life, Marketing for Romance Writers, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western Romance Author
    • My Year in Song

      Posted at 7:37 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 31, 2011

      Have you ever made a playlist for 12 months of your life? I came across the idea somewhere and I started compiling ideas. I came up with songs that in one way or another, fit my last year. Please accept the invitation to listen to any of your favorite songs on my list of songs for a year in my life. If you ever made one for yourself I’d love to listen. Farewell 2011. Thanks, but I don’t want a replay.

      January  My Immortal  Evanescence

      February  Hallelujah K.D. Lang

      March  Haven’t Seen the Last of Me  Cher (from Burlesque)

      April  Here Comes the Sun  George Harrison

      May  Reflections of Passion  Yanni

      June  Schools out for Summer  Alice Cooper ( Retirement)

      July   Exhale Whitney Houston (Ignore the intro commercial if you can)

      August  Change in my Life Leap of Faith (Praise God!)

      September  Peace Train  Cat Stevens

      October November Rain Guns N’ Roses — I have to repeat a song here for October. My Immortal

      November  The Climb  Miley Cyrus

      December  Gonna Fly Now  Bill Conti

      Posted in #AmWriting | 3 Comments | Tagged life, music, playlist, year in song
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