When
I decided to quit my job seven years ago to fulfill my dream of writing romance
novels, I was determined to make it an early retirement, a fun time to relax.
RELAX.
R-E-L-A-X.
I
had more than my share of angst and excitement with exams and waiting for
results, dating and waiting for a proposal and a wedding, raising children and
waiting for them to grow up and turn into a man and woman of values, happy and
successful… Work has been a hectic roller coaster of ups
and downs with contracts and fun trips, with deadlines and late
hours in the lab— that often extended to the wee hours of the day to deliver
sample results on time to the customers.
I’ve
spent my life worrying about one thing after another, torturing myself with
anxiety and then celebrating with excitement. Overworked and burned out, I
needed my early retirement to read, write, walk, exercise, and start living
without pressure or stress.
 |
| Celebrating the publication of my first book in 2008 |
Little
did I expect that writing romance novels would soon turn into an obsession, an
addiction consuming my life and a new career bringing again a whole new set of
anxiety and excitement. Participating in contests and waiting for the phone
call announcing the finalists; submitting to editors and waiting for the letter
or the email with so much hope and so much anxiety, only to be crushed by a
form rejection. With time the rejection turned into a two-page letter with
suggestions and request for revisions, and then finally the “call” came,
bringing such a delirious happiness.
So
why the stress? The anxiety that burns my stomach and dries my throat?
After
twelve books published and republished—all became bestsellers at Amazon— the
ups and downs continue, waiting for reviews and fan letters, promoting,
blogging, participating in book signings…
Is
it part of my nature to take everything to heart, to grind my teeth or bite my
nails while waiting for others’ approval?
Do you suffer a hundred deaths when
you wait for the results of an important project? Does it cause you physical
distress to wait for and receive what you want so badly?
About
the Author: Mona traveled to more than fifty countries on business or vacation.
Eventually she left a scientific career to share with readers the many stories
brewing in her head. She writes contemporary romances, sweet or not so sweet,
with suspense elements or medical themes. Sprinkled with a good dose of humor,
her stories are set in the fascinating places she visited, from exotic Belarus,
and historical France, to the beaches of Greece, the monuments of Egypt and the
mysterious Islands of Seychelles--or more simply in Ohio, Florida, Boston and
Washington, DC. Her
titles garnered many awards. A winner of Best Romance Novel at Preditors &
Editors, Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite, Epic Award Finalist,
first-place wins in Enchanted Quill, Launching a Star, and Wallflower. Find
Mona on Facebook,
or Twitter, or visit her website.
Prequel to Holiday Babies Series: Available on Amazon