A Day in the Life of Kate

by Kate Richards

 

I start every day early, as most of us do, with the responsibilities that come with being a romance writer and wife. Because we work from home, and often don’t get dressed until the witching hour (half an hour before the husband pulls into the driveway), we are regarded as people with plenty of time on our hands. How many of us cringe when our friends—still prisoners to the evil “day job” say “Now that you don’t work anymore…”

So, for everyone who would like an insight into our glamorous lives, I thought I would share a little of my day. I am also an editor as well as doing a few other book related things, but it pretty much works the same for most of us.

Noon  Wake up and ring for my faithful attendant. Enjoy my coffee and freshly baked croissants. Plan my day. Perhaps I will work on my work-in-progress for a bit, maybe have a late lunch with my author friends, but I don’t want to call too early. The late night parties and galas we attend leave us exhausted and not everyone is an early riser like me.

NOOOOOOOOO, Okay here’s the reality. 

6:00 a.m. Stumble out of bed, head for coffee pot (prepared the night before) and hit Brew.

6:05 a.m. Take freshly brewed coffee to my home office/guest room and plant nether parts in chair. Write, edit, market, social media, etc.

Noon Stand up and stretch. Take advantage of standing to visit restroom, throw a load of laundry in washer, sweep kitchen floor, make sure pets all have water, feed parrot, take chicken or something out of the freezer to thaw, take out trash and dust something. Pour Diet Coke with ice.

12:15 p.m. Back in chair. Without Diet Coke. Head back to kitchen for soda and take advantage of standing up to move laundry to dryer, put away dishes, and wipe off countertop by toaster which contains crumbs invisible to everyone but me.

12:20 p.m.Butt in chair…you guessed it. Dash back to kitchen for beverage.

12:22 p.m.Butt in chair. Work.

3:00 p.m.Starving! Go to kitchen, make sandwich, refill beverage, and start dinner. Fold laundry.

3:15 p.m. Butt in chair.

4:30 p.m. Yet another break! This one to finish cooking dinner—or figure out to do with what has already burned up—and shower.

5:00 p.m. Eat dinner with husband, switch to laptop and join him while he watches crab fishing, pawn shop show, or some other guy reality show while I…work.

9:00 p.m. Husband goes off to bed, I gain control of the TV which makes an excellent backdrop to writing!

Midnight Wake up on the couch, laptop still on lap, and stumble off to join husband in nice, warm, cozy bed.

I think my day is pretty typical for an author who is lucky enough to make it her main job. Yet, laying it out doesn’t express the joy of the day. Every minute I am writing, I am flying through other worlds, leading the exciting lives of my characters as they meet, fall in love, and face the difficulties of any couple (or more) that love one another and want to be together. And I get to work with the fabulous authors of the 1Night Stand Series and The Edge, adding even more romance to my day!

Then, when that’s all done, I get to crawl into bed beside the man of MY dreams. I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone’s and it’s because of readers who are willing to buy my books and share my characters’ lives that this is possible. Glamour…heck no! But job satisfaction, yeah baby!

Leave a comment and tell us a little about your day. What makes it unique, special, dear to your heart. We will allow one lucky commenter to select an eBook from the 1Night Stand Series.