I’m sure you’ve heard that Jamaicans have something like eight jobs a piece. At least someone told me that once. Well, I am here to say that is pretty much the average for writers as well.

Now I would love to keep the beautiful myth alive that all writers get out of bed when they feel like it, are served mimosas, croissants and omelets while kicking up their heels on their eighty foot yacht equipped with either a loin clothed Matthew McConaughy look-a-like or a scantily clad Angelina Jolie look-a-like (depending on what you prefer) to serve you. Then the writer with a brush of the hand in the air calls forth the muse and viola! The Magic takes place, and she/he writes a masterpiece and continues to hit the bestseller lists and earns seven figure advances. Yeah. That’s not exactly how it is.

Most writers have to work a day job or a night job and do all the other stuff in between like taking care of families, writing their books and also marketing their books. Times have changed where no longer does a writer receive book tours (unless they are a multi-bestselling author) or ads, or TV shows, or radio shows and if they do get those things many times they are paying for it from the day or night job money. I’m not trying to sound jaded here, but I am being realistic. If you want to write, you better love it and have a passion for it. If not, take up something else.

I am one of the masochists who love this whole deal. I love to write and market and talk to readers. I love to teach writing and read other people’s work. I love to talk about writing and hang out with writers. I am one of the crazy ones. I am also one of the lucky ones (no I don’t have the yacht). I have found a way to support my writing and at the same time combine what my day job (actually more of a night job) with my writing and get a win/win.

Many of you may know that I write the Wine Lover’s Mystery Series (book 4 out now! A VINTAGE MURDER; run, run, run as fast as you can to the bookstore. Run because I know what gas costs these days and it’s summer and looking good in a bathing suit has its place. So, run to the bookstore and buy my damn book. Or else order it online if you’re already svelte) and because I write the Wine Lover’s Series you can assume that I sorta like wine. I am actually fascinated by the way wine is made and how it can be viewed as an art form. I am intrigued by how you can get grape juice to have flavors of lemon and toffee in them or cherry and smoke. It’s through the aging process but it is really cool. So, I’ve studied a bit about the process and I write these fun mysteries that I want to keep writing and now times are tough (all over). What am I doing then? Check this out. I am now a consultant for Wine Shop at Home. It’s pretty cool. You do parties just the way Tupperware used to, but way more fun than Tupperware and I sell the wines, but I am also selling books this way. It’s a unique way to grass root promote books and I’m meeting fun people who may find semblances of themselves in one of my books. LOL.

I hope you will check out my new book. For a chance to win an entire set of the four books in the series go to my contest page at www.michelescott.com and enter. And if anyone wants any wine, e-mail me. I think I can hook you up.

Cheers,
Michele.

P.S. HAPPY FOURTH! I planned to do something patriotic but every time I try, I want to cry. I am a bit of a sap and holidays make me extra sappy. Have a wonderful day and weekend.