A Day in the Life of . . .
I thought about what the notion of the writing life that I had as a child, when I first dreamed of this career. Back then, in sixth grade or so, I became enchanted by Emily Dickinson. My head was in the clouds, and frequently, buried in one of her poems. The fact of her premature demise didn’t daunt my visions of writing, nope not at all.
In my childhood dreams of being an author, I held a pen (computers weren’t around yet, eghads), a thick notebook of blank, unlined paper and I was always sitting on the beach. From middle school I moved on to high school, and more adventurous writerly dreams – of being an ex-pat in Paris with Hemingway or at writing about fabulous parties like Fitzgerald.
At Vanderbilt University, I was an English major, especially enamoured by the Southern Writers of the 1940s and 1950s. Eudora Welty – amazing. Have you read One Writer’s Beginnings? You must!
The more practical aspect of becoming a writer always evaded me. I never quite had the courage to go for it, not until five years ago. Instead, I wrote for newspapers. For magazines. I wrote advertising copy, and radio scripts. Press releases and brochure copy. Television spots and speeches. Next, I joined my husband and we built a company together for almost 10 years. It was a great ride, an amazing experience.
But all along, I kept the dream alive. The dream of being able to say: I’m a writer. So when we sold our company, I put the dream into motion. And today, finally, that’s what I say: I’m a writer.
So what’s my day like? It’s awesome. It’s not glamorous, but it’s just what I dreamed and more. Here’s why. First, I’m actually living at the beach! For a girl who lived in Ohio most of her adult life, this is a big deal people. When I look out the window from my office, and it’s sunny, and I can see the Pacific Ocean. Well, that’s heaven.
Another factor adding to my incredible luck is that all four of my kids are happy. (knock wood) If you’re a parent, you know what I mean. And if you’re a writer, you know there’s nothing worse for writer’s block, than when one of you kids is unhappy. You’re really only as happy as your saddest child, by the way.
I’ve met a bunch of authors and that’s super cool. Both here in Laguna Beach where I live, and online, where I spend a lot of time, women writers are the most supportive, coolest people on the planet. My days are so much better because of this community.
Bottom line. My days, like yours, are a gift. To be able to do a job I’ve always dreamed of is a blessing. To have readers who enjoy my stories is simply the best feeling in the world. All in all, a day in the life of Kaira feels very wonderful right now.
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About the Author
Kaira Rouda is an award-winning and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction. Her books include: Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs; Here, Home, Hope; All the Difference; In the Mirror; and the short story, A Mother's Day. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four children and is at work on her next novel.
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About the Book
What choices would you make if you knew you might die soon?
From the multi award-winning, best-selling author of four books, including Here, Home, Hope, a gripping and heart wrenching novel about a young mother who has it all. The only problem is she may be dying.
In her previous works including All the Difference, Rouda's characters "sparkle with humor and heart," and the stories are "told with honest insight and humor" (Booklist). "Inspirational and engaging" (ForeWord), these are the novels you'll turn to for strong female characters and an "engaging read" (Kirkus).
In the Mirror is the story of Jennifer Benson, a woman who seems to have it all. Diagnosed with cancer, she enters an experimental treatment facility to tackle her disease the same way she tackled her life - head on. But while she's busy fighting for a cure, running her business, planning a party, staying connected with her kids, and trying to keep her sanity, she ignores her own intuition and warnings from others and reignites an old relationship best left behind.
If you knew you might die, what choices would you make? How would it affect your marriage? How would you live each day? And how would you say no to the one who got away?
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