A ‘Divine’ Balancing Act

I am also so very lucky to have Amy Lignor (my secret sister switched at birth, I think) to guest post for us.  Your going to love her, I promise!   Amy began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut (dang cold up there) where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.  Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.  She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research.  (Hint folks, this is the type of person that can help us learn what is involved to become a writer!)  As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.  Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico (where it is much warmer).

Her book   Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 is now out and ready for us to gobble up.  Let me tell you a lil of how it goes.  Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.  When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about.  From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

Amy sent me this note too.  Lynette, I first want to tell you that I believe we were separated at birth.  I love Crazed Mind and your blog is absolutely fantastic - not to mention realistic and true.  Thank you for letting me a part of it with UntilNext Time.  I have to add in....that I totally agree with Amy and think she needs to be sitting with me having coffee right now!  Well here is Amy.

My Mom always told me that a crazed mind was an active mind, which meant I would read my books and stay out of trouble. (That worked…sort of).

My mind became more crazed as I aged, and everything went from carefree to a 24/7 experience. I’m doing what I love, but life is making my once pretty auburn hair resemble Einstein’s.  I was really lucky as a kid because I had fantastic parents and my mom, being a career librarian, made every book in the world available to me, making me a reading fanatic.  I also began to write when I was 13 - just a whole bunch of stories because my imagination was always going crazy. 

Right now I have a nineteen-year-old daughter who is about ready to swim with sharks.  Nope.  Not kidding.  She wants to be a marine biologist and is ready to dive into that ocean.  All I can do is sit by and listen to the Jaws theme play in my head. 

Dad passed suddenly and my Mom is now living with us.  We come from back East, but when I was younger I took off to meet people who I hoped would someday become characters in my books. I loved traveling the highways and listening to all the stories out there, but when it was time for Shelby’s schooling we settled in Dallas, Texas. I loved the Lone Star State, but for high school (and research on a book) we ended up in New Mexico.   

As time moves forward it presses down on my Mom, who has osteoporosis and can barely walk without pain.  Shelby helps but it’s her ‘time in the sun,’ so to speak, and I want to make sure that she’s able to ‘take flight’ and live her dream now that it’s arrived. 

Until a little over a year ago, I was working full-time at one of those jobs you really can’t stand. (You know the ones, where watching a car rust is more exciting?)  But gradually, more magazines, sites, clients, etc. began hiring me to write articles, reviews, commentary…and I started up a company called The Write Companion.  With my earlier background in publishing, I was beginning to get a bit upset that debut authors were not being looked at.  There were some great plots and memorable characters out there, but the polishing and marketing became an impossible expense for writers. I understand.  I know about ‘bill worrying’ and the fact that there will never be a J.K. Rowling income in my life (although, you guys could help me with that. LOL.)  I was lucky when The Write Companion became bigger and made a name for itself, and the fun I get to have meeting new authors, polishing their novels, and then working to see them go on to publish is just a thrill I can’t explain.

There are a great many times when I feel like I have a stack of fine china in each hand while I’m taking care of Mom, making sure Shelby’s following the path she wants, working to make sure manuscripts are finished in time and the authors are happy, reviews are done and then - for the last two seconds before the next wave begins - trying to throw a word or two on the computer to write a book.  Some days I feel like the dog has raced under my foot and the china has now smashed all over the floor, but the desire and passion I have for what I do seems to keep the dishes safe - precarious, but safe.

I have always believed in angels.  No matter what religion you are, where you live, what you have faith in - it doesn’t matter.  Angels are those protectors that stand behind you when you need support, beside you when you need someone to talk to, and in front of you to defend and protect.  My angel has been doing that job for a long time, and I can’t tell you how much this crazed mind thanks him for that!  By the way?  You have one, too!

Until Next Time, Everybody.

Amy

Now I know everyone is going to want to reach Amy...so here are all the ways you can stay in touch with her!  

The Angel Chronicles web site:
The Angel Chronicles Facebook page:
Until Next Time GoodReads page:
Amy Lignor's Facebook:
Amy Lignor's Twitter:
Amy Lignor's Website:
Amy Lignor's Blog:
Amy Lignor's GoodReads:

 

I want to as always thank the amazing Nicole of Tribute Books for hooking me up with these amazing people and books.  

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