Andi Buchanan is the editor of three anthologies about motherhood, the author of MotherShock: Loving Every (Other) Minute of It (2003), and the co-author of The Daring Book for Girls (2007).
She was gracious enough to participate in an exclusive interview for my readers here at Metropolitan Mama...
ME: Is writing your full time job...and has it always been that way?
ANDI: Well, mothering is my real full-time job! When you work from home and you have small kids, that always seems to be the case! Writing is now my full-time job; when my kids were younger I worked as an editor and also did freelance writing and graphic design.
ME: What is a "book tour" like? (How long does it last? How much do you travel? Do you bring your family along? Etc.)
ANDI: It depends on the book and the publisher! I've done weekend trips and 10-day excursions, with and without kids.
ME: How many children do you have and how do you find time to write?
ANDI: I have two kids. Now that they're both in all-day school, finding time is no longer the problem it once was, but when they were younger I wrote basically whenever I could -- during naptime, late at night after a feeding or diaper wake-up call, in the snips and snatches of time when I had a moment to myself. My fear when the kids were little and I had to squeeze all my work into unpredictable and intermittent amounts of time was that without regular "practice," I'd forget how to do it -- that when I finally had the uninterrupted time I craved, I'd discover my writing muscle to be atrophied beyond repair. I also found it hard to imagine a time when I would have more time (or any time).
ME: What tips would you share with would-be writers?
ANDI: If I could go back in time to those years and tell myself anything, it would be to be patient. Because as interminable as it seems, that time really does pass!
WIN IT! One lucky winner will receive a copy of the acclaimed book, "The Daring Book for Girls" (read my full review here). To enter, leave a comment and your e-mail address on this post prior to Wednesday, November 28th, at midnight. The winner will be announced and contacted on Thursday, November 29th. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATED * The winner is #3 Brooke. Congratulations!
What a great idea for a book! Thanks! [email protected]
This was on my list for my niece this year for Christmas! What a treat it would be to win! Thanks for the awesome chance!
sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com
This looks like a great book! I can't wait to read it.
[email protected]
I'd love to have this book!
[email protected]
I would love to give this to my daughters for Christmas. There's so much we could get out of it together! Thanks!
pianogirl001 at msn dot com
I have a daring girl at home that this would be perfect for! THanks!
I have heard so many positive things about this book, Would love it
[email protected]
I would love to win this book for my new daughter (and me!).
kelli
taureau AT yahoo DOT com
Count me in.
[email protected]
I would absolutely love to read this book and then pass it along to my daughter someday!
ksrutledge(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would love to win this book!
shan9452(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'd love to get my hands on this book!
[email protected]
It would be great to win! I have four nieces and hope to have my own little girl someday!
Steph
I'd love to win this book for my daughters. :)
Great interview - as a writer and a mama, I needed the reminder to be patient. :)
adashofsassitude (at) gmail (dot) com
I would love to win this book for my 14 year old niece. Thanks!
cpamomva@hotmail dot com
count me in :-)
wendy at wendy cook dot com
me please!
taryn237 at yahoo.com
My daughter needs this! I'm sure it would remind me of times when I was a child that I could relate to her as well.
barb at perfectlynaturalphotography dot com
Thanks for this opportunity!!
My daughter would LOVE this!
I have been wanting this book . . . I hope I win! :-)
grantspy at comcast dot net
Im so excited to read about the two fingered whistle! Please enter me!
I'd love to win this!
I have seen several sites giving this book away & I've read many reviews. It would be perfect for my god-daughter for Christmas. She just turned 12 and I think she would indeed LOVE it!! (Maybe she'd let me borrow it?? :)
Thanks.
[email protected]
Sounds good for me and my girls! [email protected]
What a great way to reacquaint girls with activities girls have done for generations before them!
I'd love a copy for my 8 and 10 year old girls.
superdewa at gmail dot com
I've heard nothing but good things about this book. I would love to win it for my niece. Thanks for a great giveaway!
renae18[at]gmail[dot]com
What a nice prize. Thanks for the chance to win!
These books are all over the place! Now I'm curious and I want to read it!
I have been reading about this book and would love to read it!
I have been wanting to read this book .
[email protected]
DD is begging for this for xmas - it looks like a fantastic read!
I would simply love a copy of this book. Thanks! ( [email protected] )
This sounds like such a fun book!
I've been hoping to get this book for my daughter for Christmas. It looks like such a good read.
Can't wait to read this! Thanks!!
I would love to win a copy of this book.
blogged ya: http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/11/monday-edition-of-contests-galore_26.html
when I first heard about the boy book I was hoping a girl version would come out.
I would just love to win this book! It looks fantastic!
I'd love this book!
I'm lusting hard after this book!
bebemiqui82 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Would love to win this I want to get it for my daughter for Christmas.
I would LOVE to win this book for my daring girl!!
[email protected]
Oh I would love to get my hands on this book!
[email protected]
This book would be wonderful! Thanks. saubleb @ gmail.com
I am thinking about giving this book to my niece for Christmas. She is just the right age! My email address is in my profile! Thanks for the chance to win an awesome prize!!
Darn, I missed the deadline! Good interview, though. I'm glad there's a Daring Book for Girls. My husband got the Daring Book for Boys (we have a boy).
I love your new blog look, too!
I'd love this book.
mclanek[at]gmail[dot]com
What a brilliant idea for a book!I've run across some similar in antique stores, but I know my daughter would love to share this with me.
[email protected]
I would love this book! Thanks! [email protected]
I've seen this book at the stores and it looks like so much fun for a young girl (makes me wish I had one when I was a girl!). Great giveaway, and just in time for Christmas! Sign me up!!!
I have the dangerous book for boys and would love to win a copy of the girls one for my daughter.
Hi, I have been wanting this book for awhile now. Please enter me in your contest. I appreciate it! Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Nice giveaway!
this looks great!
superdumbsupervillain at cox.net
I have heard this is a great book. Would love to have it. [email protected]
I've been dying to get a copy of this book.
I've heard this book has directions to make a juice-powered clock. I'd love to check it out for myself!
Would love this for my granddaughter Kelsi.
I want this for my nieces! Enter me please!
I have 4 girls--please enter me!
Please randomly select me!!!
I love this idea would love to read! here is my address [email protected]
I fell in love with the Daring Book for Boys - it was perfect for my little boy. But let's face it - I'm a girl and I want this book for myself! Thanks!!