Guest Post: Is it time to leave the day job?

 

Today's guest post is from Amita Murray, author of Confessions of a Reluctant Embalmer

Is it Time to Leave the Day Job?

This is an excellent question, and one that most writers and artists who love doing what they do will ask at some point. I asked myself this question repeatedly (some might say, obsessively) for over a year before I left my full-time job about three years ago, went part-time/freelance, and decided to spend more time and energy writing fiction. By this time, I’d written (not published, just written) about three-and-a-half novels, and a handful of short stories.

In the last three years, I’ve told myself there were many reasons for this move, but when it comes down to it there was just one. Writing novels felt natural to me – having a full-time job that I wasn’t happy in felt depressing. It was like not only my mind but my body was reacting against the situation I was in, like I was physically fighting a war – a war between doing what I craved and staying in a job that just wasn’t working for me.

About a year ago, a top London agent took on my novel The Pre-Raphaelite Seamstress. At that time, leaving a full-time job felt like the best decision I’d ever made. It was complete vindication. But then publishers turned it down, saying they loved it, it was compelling and beautifully written, but it didn’t fit a clear market. At that time, leaving a full-time job seemed like a very, very bad decision.

So, is it the right thing to do? Here are some of the things you need to think about.

What is your financial situation?

When I left my job, there were a few things working in my favour. I’d anticipated this move, so I had some savings (not loads, just some.) I had some part-time and freelance work on offer.

So, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Do you have any savings?


• Do you have any part-time/freelance opportunities?


• Might you need a mortgage in the next few years? (Sad though it is, it is harder to get a mortgage if you are freelance than if you are on a salary, even a part-time salary.)


• Are you likely to need maternity-leave in the next few years? (Remember, no salary, no maternity leave. Only a maternity allowance, which you will have to do a fair bit of paperwork to get.)


• Do you have a partner with a more stable job than yours? (Not crucial, but it can help.)


• Are you likely to need further training in doing the thing you love?

While you’re asking yourself these questions, think about this. Why do you want to leave your job? Is it to get more time to focus on the thing you want to do? To have more energy? Because it’s more satisfying doing what you love? Or just because you don’t like the job you’re in? None of these are bad reasons. But it takes a while to make it as an artist in any discipline. If you can find the time and energy to do what you love, while working part-time, then that’s a pretty good middle ground.

One more question – are you actually good at the thing you love doing? Are you getting really good feedback from people who know what they’re talking about? Or is it only your mum that reads your work? If so, then you may need more training. For which, you may need more money! And, therefore, some sort of salary.

Is your creative side going nudge-nudge and is it starting to hurt?

Okay, so, leaving a full-time job is not so great for your finances. But what about your creative side? I have to say that even though I’ve been a little sad (read, in a death-wish inducing panic) about my finances at various times since leaving full-time employment, I’ve worked on some fantastic freelance projects. These have had variety, really cool people to work with, had me thinking on my feet, and made me resourceful. Meaning, even the work I have taken up that was not related to writing novels was fulfilling and meaningful.

So, in terms of your creative side, leaving a job that is not working for you will definitely free up energy and time, give you more time with family and friends, and make you resourceful. But it can be very tough on your finances, and that can unhinge you, given enough time spent on decisions about whether or not to buy eight-pound pantyhose.

Remember one more thing. Leaving your full-time job may not be a permanent decision. You can rethink it as you go. In some cases, especially depending on what you’re doing part-time, you may have the option to easily go back to full-time work. In other cases, it may be harder.

Check out my romantic-comedy Confessions of a Reluctant Embalmer – think Six Feet Under, but more slapstick, with a dash of The Royal Tenenbaums – on Amazon. Publishers Weekly says the book is randy, fascinating, and very funny. And get in touch! I’d love to hear from you. Get this book for 99p on a Kindle Countdown deal on Amazon, from June 16-22, 2014.

Get in touch @AmitaMurray and amitamurray.com. I’d love to hear from you.

 

 

Thirteen Weddings

Last year, Bronte left Sydney for a wedding in England, where she met newly single Alex. After a night of passion they parted ways, and Bronte returned to Australia. Now working on a picture desk for a magazine in London, Bronte is about to meet her new colleague, who turns out to be all too familiar. Although awkward at first, as Alex is now engaged to the girl he was on a break from when they met, they soon become friends. But as the two get closer, and the wedding day looms, it is clear that Alex and Bronte have unfinished business…

My opinion: This was the first Paige Toon book I have read, despite having a couple on my Kindle for some time. I don't know why I have put it off so long and know I want to read more soon!

Australian Bronte is at her friend's hen party in London when she meets Alex. Alex has just split up from his girlfriend and he and Bronte are instantly drawn to one another. He ends up back at her hotel room and one thing leads to another. But in the cold light of day he receives a text from the girlfriend he has just broken up with and he heads back to her while Bronte goes back home to Australia. A year later, Bronte is back in England working for a magazine and on her first day bumps into someone she never thought she would see again. That's right. Alex also works at the magazine.

I was lucky enough to win a signed copy of this book after requesting it on Netgalley, so I want to say thank you to Simon and Schuster for that. I have seen so many great reviews of this book and just had to try it for myself, and boy was I in for a treat! I wasn't quite sure if I liked Bronte at first, but really warmed to her when she moved to the UK. I also liked reading about her circle of friends in London, which was big enough to give a feel of a group, but not so big that I lost track of the characters. I thought I could see where the story was going, but it really kept me guessing as it kept twisting. I wasn't expecting lots of the things to happen, and I'm so glad that they did as they were totally the right things.

A great thing about this book is that it has got facets to the story that you just don't expect if you take it at face value. I totally devoured this book and only wish there was more of it! I hope we see more of Bronte at some point in the future, and in the mean time I need to catch up with those Paige Toon books that are sat on my Kindle!

My rating: Five stars

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Cherringham: Murder on Thames

Cherringham is a quiet and peaceful town in the Cotswolds. Time moves slowly here, and nothing out of the ordinary ever happens, until one morning a woman’s body is discovered in the river. Sarah Edwards has just returned to Cherringham with her two children following the breakdown of her marriage. Sarah had been friends with Sammi Jackson – the woman in the river –before they both moved to London and she’s certain there is more to her death than meets the eye. But juggling the school run and her job as a web designer doesn’t leave much time to solve murder mysteries.

After the death of his wife, former NYPD homicide detective Jack Brennan has retired to Cherringham hoping for a quiet life. He soon realises “peace and quiet” isn’t really him and, despite his misgivings, he’s persuaded by Sarah to help her look into Sammi’s death. It quickly becomes clear that the case isn’t as simple as the police hope. From her violent ex-boyfriend to her alcoholic father, it seems everyone has something to hide. Sarah and Jack will need to use all their wits to get to the bottom of this case.

"Cherringham - A Cozy Crime Series" is a series of twelve self-contained episodes. A new case for Jack and Sarah is released each month.

My opinion: Now I love a cosy mystery. My greatest pleasures in life include Midsomer Murders and Agatha Raisin mysteries. So, when I saw this book on Netgalley, I  was very intrigued and just knew I had to give it a try.

Cherringham is a sleepy and fairly boring town in the Cotswolds where nothing out of the ordinary seems to happen. Until a body is discovered in the river, and despite the best efforts of the police to make it look like an accident, the facts just don't seem to be adding up. Enter Sarah, former friend of the woman found in the river and local business woman. Sarah has recently returned to Cherringham from the bright lights of London following the break up of her marriage. She crosses paths with Jack, former NYPD detective, and together they start to put the pieces together to find out what really happened to the woman in the river.

I'm going to be honest and say that I was a little dubious about this book. Although I love cosy mysteries and was intrigued by this one, I have generally found that a lot of books let me down by being too fluffy or farcical. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It grabbed my attention, had a good story and amount of detail without being too gory, and as it was a short story I devoured it in one sitting out in my sunny back garden!

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Agatha Raisin and Midsomer, and will certainly keep an eye out for more in the series. A great quick read that still has some substance without the blood and guts!

My rating: Four stars

I was provided with a review copy of the book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Best Thing That Never Happened to Me

Holly has learnt that life isn't about seizing the moment. She might have harboured dreams about travelling the world as a teenager, but she let go of those - just as she let go of Alex.

But what if the feelings never really went away?

Alex wants to make every moment of his new job count. It's a fresh start in a new city, and he knows that moving to London has nothing to do with Holly. Well, probably.

How do you know if it was meant to be. or never meant to happen at all?

A brilliantly funny, feel-good story of first love, second chances and everything inbetween, perfect for fans of romantic comedies like Love Actually, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones.

My opinion: As soon as I saw the cover of this book I knew I had to read it. I know, I know, my pretty book shallowness has hit again. But it's brought me to some great books recently, and this one is no exception.

Holly and Alex were best friends as teenagers in the nineties.They had told each other everything, apart from the fac that they had feelings for one another. They manage to fall out just before going to uni and never see each other again. Spring forward to 2010, in their late twenties Holly and Alex's paths cross once again. Only this time Alex has followed his dream to London to teach in a London Borough and Holly is a PA with a boyfriend she adores and sees a future with.

The book not only tells the story at two different points in time, but also from two different points of view. Laura Tait writes Holly's story and Jimmy Rice writes about Alex. This is such a clever concept and I was really looking forward to see how this would work. I was very pleased that it worked as well as it does and it felt pretty seamless to read. I think the best thing about this approach was getting the male characters thoughts from a male point of view, whilst still keeping a clear female feel for Holly.

I immediately liked both Alex and Holly and was rooting for them both. Although at times it was shaky, I felt emotinally attached to both of them. I felt that the book was well paced and although I had an inkling how it would end up, I didn't know how it would get there. I really enjoyed reading about Holly and Alex getting to know each other again and becoming best friends once more. I could relate to a lot of the book as my best friend through high school was male - although we were never in love with each other as far as I know! It made me reminisce about all of the good times we had before he met his now wife and was no longer allowed to speak to me (deep breaths, don't get me started!!).

I'd definitely recommend this book and really enjoyed reading it. I hope that Laura and Jimmy write together again as it worked so well with this book and I think it's a great concept. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for more from them!

My rating: Four stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Guest review: The Nemesis Program

You may have noticed from the genre and cover of this book that it's something a little different. No, I haven't started reading boy books! My other half, Mr Sheli has read this book and has written the below guest review. I'm sure we will see more from him over the summer, and I'd like to welcome him to the blog! Take it away Mr Sheli...

The explosive, thrilling new BEN HOPE adventure from the top 10 bestselling author

A BRUTAL MURDER
While secretly researching the bizarre discoveries of Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla many years earlier, physicist Claudine Pommier becomes the victim of a remorseless and cruel murderer who breaks into her Parisian apartment. Is he just a serial killer, or is there more to her death than the Paris cops believe?

A SCIENTIST ON THE RUN
Maverick American biologist Dr Roberta Ryder receives a mysterious letter from her friend Claudine and travels to Paris to see her, only to learn of her shocking death. Before she knows it, Roberta becomes the target of ruthless men with a deadly agenda that only the letter can unmask. She’s alone and vulnerable. But she knows someone – the only someone – who can help her.

A PLOT TO KILL MILLIONS
Ben Hope, ex-SAS soldier and Roberta’s old flame, now trying to retire to a life of peace with his fiancée Brooke, suddenly finds his life turned upside down by Roberta’s sudden arrival in England. She needs his help; he can’t turn her down. In a frantic race to Paris and halfway around the world, Ben and Roberta battle to uncover the mystery of Claudine’s research, with the killers just half a step behind. In the process they uncover a global conspiracy that will claim the lives of millions of people . . . unless Ben can stop it.

Mr Sheli's opinion: I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of this book as I have read and loved all of the other Scott Mariani books in the Ben Hope series, as well as his Vampire Federation series, written as Scott G Mariani. I couldn't wait to see what happened next, and picked this book up as soon as it arrived.

We catch up with the main character, Ben Hope, about six months after we left him in The Armada Legacy. He is putting the final touches to his wedding to fiancee Brooke, when ex girlfriend Roberta turns up asking for his help. She has been sent a letter by her scientist friend, Claudine, saying that she thinks she may be in trouble. But when Roberta tries to go to her aid, she finds that she needs Ben's help and that he is her only hope to find out what is going on. Ben gets dragged in to help and action and mayhem ensue whilst the secrets finally get uncovered.

As soon as I finished The Armada Legacy on holiday last year, I knew that I couldn't wait to read the next installement in the Ben Hope series. I really enjoyed The Nemesis Program and much to Sheli's annoyance, it destroyed 3 days of my revision time when I couldn't put it down! (It was a little more exciting than revising for my exam!) The story kept me in suspense and I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next, and how Ben was going to get himself out of some of the situations he got himself in! Some of the scenes in the book are a little far fetched, but enjoyable nonetheless. Although this is the ninth book in the series, I still enjoy reading about Ben Hope as a character and am still rooting for him to get out in one piece!

Although this wasn't my favourite book in the series, I still really enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I'd definitely recommend this book and am already looking forward to see what a tenth book will bring!

Mr Sheli's rating: Four stars

An advance review copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Ice Creams at Carrington's

The third book in the delightful series set in Carrington’s Department Store.

Georgie Hart and Carrington’s Department Store have got the world at their feet. Since a reality TV series put them both on the map, life has been amazing! Carrington’s profits are in the pink, Georgie has carved herself a place in the nation’s heart and her romance with Tom, the store’s boss, has finally blossomed.

Now summertime has come to Mulberry-on -Sea and Georgie is in great demand. The town is holding a big summer festival and she and her mates from Carrington’s are planning on making sure that Mulberry puts on the show of its life!

But Georgie is about to get the offer of a lifetime – one that is just too good to turn down and something that will test her loyalties to their limits… Will Georgie be able to pull off it off once again, or has her luck finally run out?

My opinion: Anyone who has been following my blog or twitter for a while will know that I am a massive fan of Alexandra Brown and her Carrington's series. I fell in love with the characters and with Carrington's itself when I read the first book last year and was so excited to receive a copy of the latest installment for review.

We catch up with all of our favourite characters in this book, Sam, the fabulous Eddie and of course Georgie and Tom, along with all of the other characters who really make Carrington's come to life. Mulberry on Sea is to play host to a regatta and Carrington's are to be a major sponsor. Georgie has been tasked with ensuring that the regatta is a great success and that Carrington's gains lots of publicity as the store attempts to expand. But as often happens in life, things don't quite go to plan. The big question is can Georgie pull this off and more importantly get on the right side of Tom's mother?

I was so glad to read that after the reality TV show, Georgie hadn't changed, she was now just living the life she could only have dreamt of. Tom is as lovely as ever (although a little elusive due to being busy with lots of business deals) and most importantly, Eddie and his dog Pussy are as fabulous as ever!! Sam is trying to juggle motherhood with the cafe and is finding it a little difficult, although typically this clashes with Georgie receiving an offer she just can't turn down.

I loved this latest installment and feel like all of the characters are old friends. The only tiny criticism that I have is that I would have liked to have had a little bit more of the book based in Carrington's, but I also loved having the different locations in the book so it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I have just always enjoyed the descriptions of the store and the relationships within it in previous book. But of course, variety is the spice of life! I love Alexandra's easy writing style, it's like speaking to your best friend! I only hope that this series will continue for a bit longer as I think that all of the characters have so much more to give and of course, I want to know what happens next with Tom and Georgie!

My rating: Another fabulous five star read from the lovely Alexandra Brown.

I received an advance review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

One Night in Italy

Is Italian really the language of love? A new class of students hopes to find out. Anna's recently been told the father she's never met is Italian. Now she's baking focaccia, whipping up tiramisu and swotting up on her vocabulary, determined to make it to Italy so she can find him in person. Catherine's husband has walked out on her, and she's trying to pick up the pieces of her life. But she'll need courage as well as friends when she discovers his deception runs even deeper than infidelity. Sophie's the teacher of the class, who'd much rather be back in sunny Sorrento. She can't wait to escape the tensions at home and go travelling again. But sometimes life - and love - can surprise you when you least expect it. As the evening class gets underway, friendships form and secrets from Italy begin to emerge. With love affairs blossoming in the most unlikely places, and hard decisions to face, it's going to be a year that Anna, Catherine and Sophie will never forget.

My opinion: I was really excited to read this book. I love a book with a beautiful Meditteranean setting and this book also has a gorgeous cover!

The book centres around three main characters, whose lives eventually become intertwined. Sophie has been travelling for years and is in Sorrento when she gets a call to say that her dad is ill. She ends up going back home to the UK and teaches an Italian class to make some money. She also has to face up to what she ran away from all those years ago. Catherine finds her husband in bed with another woman and when he leaves her she finds that their life together wasn't all it cracked up to be. She decides to make a new start and joins an Italian class to meet people and learn something new. Anna is a journalist who loves to cook. She has never known her father, but an elderly relative lets slip that he's Italian. Anna decides to learn some Italian so that when she eventually tracks her father down she will be able to converse in his mother tongue.

This book isn't small by any means, coming in at around 400 pages. But I really didn't want it to end. I loved this book right from the Harry Potter reference in the opening pages, right until I put it down and felt like I was leaving friends. I loved all of the characters and felt that I could have joined the Italian class and made friends with them all. I think my favourite was Catherine though and loved reading about her transformation from downtrodden housewife to independent woman.

This book also made me very hungry! The recipes cooked up by Anna (particularly the foccacia!) made my mouth water and I loved the bonus recipes at the back of the book. The book truly lives up to its beautiful cover and I would love to read more about any of the characters. I have always wanted to go to Italy and this book just made my ambition even stronger! A wonderful holiday read whether you are lying by the pool or having a staycation in the UK. I will definitely be reading more by Lucy Diamond.

My rating: A  bellisimo five stars

I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review