The Non-Traditionalist

If you're in the mood for a happy-go-lucky rainbow fairy blog entry today, I suggest you thumb through my archives. Living like a nomad will put anyone on edge, and I'm no exception. All of our possessions are on a ship somewhere, our apartment still won't be move-in ready for weeks, and we've been living out of suitcases for almost three months and counting. No – there's nothing glamorous or fun about this part for me. We've been playing The Waiting Game all year, and although good things come to those who wait, it's not so comforting when you don't have a choice in the matter.

On top of that, Now that we've relocated to the US, I feel as though I have to make a public announcement about something I had established abroad years ago. Admittedly, I rarely thematicize what I do professionally of my own volition, excepting very close friends and family. Since we've been stateside, I've been asked a few times what I intend to "do". Obviously, when you start over, you have to start over in every way. That includes employment. Usually, it takes too much effort to clarify, because I intend to do what I've been doing for years now. It's not a typical 9-5 thing; to use the official term for tax purposes, being a writer is an "Art Occupation". Moving from one continent to another and then cross-country won't change that.

But don't be deceived – this isn't an easy choice, and it's not always easy to follow through. I have plenty of bumps and scrapes and bruises, but battle scars are inevitable. Like many people, my profession has chosen me. I work my butt off doing what I love – reading by night, writing by day. Did I need a Ph.D. to do this? I guess so, because while doing that and working a traditional full-time job, what I loved most about it (besides my colleagues) was spending time after work conducting research and, oh yeah. Writing. Every night. Until 3 or 4 in the morning. Writing is a compulsion for me – it has been ever since I could hold a ridiculously large pencil in my hand. Seriously, that thing was like a wooden sword. I could wrap both of my hands around it. Ever since then, I truly believe the (slightly amended) quote attributed to Shakespeare: The pen is mightier than the sword – especially when used as a sword.

When it's a labor of love, you quickly repress the terror of birthing pains, so I've been told. I can equate my limited understanding of this to writing and producing novels. It's not just about creating a finished product. The entire process is beautiful, but it's not without effort, even if you can’t always see it. Believe me, it's a heck of a lot of work. I am forever grateful to my husband, who's been my biggest cheerleader, and my dear family and close friends who’ve been so supportive of me, my artistic ways and, ahem, mood swings for over a decade.

So, ask me what I do. (A lot.) Ask me where I work (Everywhere. Yesterday it was on a rooftop overlooking the Bay.)

Feel free to ask me about my workday, just as you would anyone else who works a typical 9 to 5. I'll be happy to share in a sentence or two, most likely without complaint (*gasp*). But, by all means, please refrain from asking me if I'm interested in getting a "real" job. I understand what you mean, but believe me, this is as real as it gets. It may not include health insurance or a 401K, but that's why you set up individual coverage, savings and retirement plans. Like you, I have good days and bad days at work.

When the day comes to a close, I'll drop my pen, shut off the electronics and enjoy a lovely California sunset. Tomorrow, I'll get back up and go to work: Create something out of nothing; make sure that it's good. Battle my inner critic, learn to love the product, package it, present it, and sell it. Stay sane. Repeat to infinity.

Have a great week. xoxo CountryEuroCityMouse

©2012-2013 CountryEuroCityMouse™. All rights reserved.

A Book Fiend's Paradise

Our new city is beautiful. On top of that, there are more bookstores and libraries in the area than I ever could have hoped for. In addition to the expected Barnes & Noble or two, there are numerous privately owned bookshops that maintain the wonderful age-old tradition of “buying, selling & trading” new and used books. Heaven!

My addiction to reading and writing began at the tender age of three. It couldn’t be helped; I was mercilessly exposed to that kind of environment from the start. Everyone around me was doing it – my mother, my father, my sister – it was nearly impossible for me not to give in to the temptation and indulge as quickly as possible. As expected, once I got a taste of it, there was no turning back.

They started me off with picture books and nursery rhymes, but it didn’t take too long for me to move on to harder stuff such as fairy tales, legends and children’s literature. As I matured, practically no mainstream genre was left untouched. When reading words wasn’t enough, spicing things up by reading music worked for a while, too. But to this day, nothing can replace the allure of a collection of words on a blank background, be it on delicious paper or a flickering screen. (Okay, see you know I have a problem when I can’t resist calling paper ‘delicious’. NEVER leave me in a stationary store unattended. I may never find my way out.)

We’ve shipped 39 huge boxes of books from Germany to California. There’ll never be enough time to extend my library to the expansive size that I want it to be; despite every book added, it remains a book too few. Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear that the library has a life of it’s own. Similar to the musical The Little Shop of Horrors, my library is the plant, and I’m hapless Seymour, feeding my voracious library book after book – yet it’s clear that there will never be enough of them to satisfy it. During a recent visit to the British Library, I realized that I was irrationally jealous of the collection. The British Library, people. At that point, it occurred to me that my addiction is likely incurable.

Oh well.

During my last few months living in Germany, I’d been obsessively trolling bookstores in my city, desperate to fill unknown holes in my collection by discovering one more perfect treasured book after another. My enabling husband seemed to view my compulsion with a combination of amusement and exasperation.

On a more specific note, if you’re as addicted to German Literature as I am, hopefully you already know that you can get your fix for free by accessing the Gutenberg Project online. Hundreds of books in the original German or in English translation are available to us all worldwide! Bwah ha ha.

Gotta love those tech-savvy suppliers.

xoxo CountryEuroCityMouse

©2012-2013 CountryEuroCityMouse™. All rights reserved.