Interview with Amy Roberts - at Work.

by Doula Brandi

Welcome back! Amy from RaisingArrows.net joins us for round two, focused on the subject of work. Amy has authored an eBook: Psalms for the Grieving Heart, which she is sharing with MHW readers!! Download it for free here!

Making Home Work is all about helping other mothers successfully work at home with children around. I’m a mother of three and sometimes I feel so totally overwhelmed. I look to mothers of many children for inspiration and sometimes a sympathetic ear! What is the best time management principle (or principles) you use that helps you work while your kids are around?

My philosophy is that the blog comes second, so my work around the house and with the children has to come first. Once that is on track, I can take the time to work online. That means no internet first thing in the morning!

My blog depends on social media to get the word out. I use Hoot Suite to schedule my social media promotions so that I don’t have to wake up in the morning and go directly to my laptop to promote, and inevitably get lost in cyberspace in the process.

Let’s talk about space: How do you arrange your surroundings so that you have a place to work?

Every house has been different as to where I could put my workspace. I’ve had everything from the living room, to my bedroom, to the basement, to the kitchen bar (where I am now). I have to have a printer nearby as well as a way to store all my paperwork. I also need to be where I am still engaged with all that is going on around me. No matter where I end up “setting up camp”, I am looking for efficiency. For me, that means having everything I need within arm’s reach.

I know that you place high priority on your family, have you experienced times when you put work off in order to place family first? What advice would you have for other women who find themselves feeling like their work is “suffering” due to family issues?

I schedule out my posts on the blog so that weekends are mine. When we go on vacation, the blog goes on autopilot and I leave the laptop at home. Being in the public eye, it is sometimes tempting to believe I can never “let my readers down,” but truth be told, I am just another voice in cyber space and if Raising Arrows were to disappear, someone else would take my place in the hearts of my readers. The same cannot be said for my family. Far better for the blog to suffer than for my family to suffer.

What's your single, most favorite aspect of working from home?

That I never feel like it is work! I am a writer. I write because it is who I am. Having the blog gives me an outlet to write and allows me to reach others with the important Truths the Lord reveals to me every day. If I never made a dime from doing this, I would still do it!.

Amy of RaisingArrows.net is the homeschooling mother of 6 living children and one precious little girl named Emily being held in the Lord’s arms. Her days are filled with giggly girls, rambunctious boys and sticky baby kisses. At night, she writes about it all. Amy is the author of Psalms for the Grieving Heart, a 30 day devotional ebook for those who grieve. It is her deepest desire that out of the overflow of her heart, her mouth should speak…and her fingers type.

Author Interview~Meet Amy Roberts at Home

Introducing Amy Roberts! Amy is a wife & homeschooling mom, a successful blogger at Raising Arrows and author of an eBook "Psalms for the Grieving Heart".

Let's get started!

Amy, please tell our readers about your children: how many and their ages?

Blake – 13 – He’s a born leader. The talker of the bunch, he can often be found pontificating on all sorts of things from World War II to Christian apologetics. Very, very proud of this young man!

Megan – 10 – Creative and artsy (like her mama), she usually has a camera in one hand and a book in the other. A self-starter and deeply intuitive, you can be sure she never misses anything that is going on around her.

Melia – 6 – This little one has earned the nickname Sunshine. She’s the clown and actor of the group. She spends her days making up stories and loving on her baby brother.

Keian – 5 – Speech delays have not managed to hold this cowboy back! He loves to dress up and tell stories of the adventure kind.

Emily – forever 7 months – In her short life here on earth, Emily was a beautiful china-teacup of a child. She was content and serene, with one foot in Heaven from the very beginning.

Micah – 2 – I’m fairly certain that is mischief written all over his face! However, no matter what havoc he manages to wreak, God knew what he was doing when he made toddlers incurably delicious. This one is no different!

Garin – 8 months – The first thing you notice about this little guy are his dimples. Smiles and slobbery kisses abound!

What is your favorite activity to do with your children?

School. I know that sounds absolutely crazy, but I love homeschooling the children and learning right alongside them, watching the wonder on their faces, and hearing their first sounded-out words. School is my favorite time of day!

You’re a mom-of-many who homeschools and works from home, what do you find is your most challenging aspect of working from home while raising children?

Balancing the blog and the home. It is a constant struggle. I will think I have it mastered when suddenly I find myself spending too much time online trying to read one more email or answer one more comment.

When did you make the choice to stay at home with your children instead of pursuing an outside career? What influences did you have that helped you choose this path?

All my life I wanted to be the mother of children. I went to college because that is what you are “supposed” to do. As soon as I married, I quickly cast aside the desires to pursue any sort of career and focused my efforts on my home. I did finish my degree (in English) and I am using that training now, but I don’t know that I would have needed to go to college to be a writer. My mom has probably been the biggest influence in my desire to stay at home. She was a homemaker as long as I was in the home and it just seemed the right thing to do.

In what ways does your spouse support your efforts to work from home?

He’s very supportive! When I decided to take the blog to the next level, we spent hours and hours discussing and planning. He’s my sounding board for everything from what products to endorse to how to handle certain comments. When I have a webinar or something that requires me to concentrate, my husband is very good about helping out with the children. I also lean quite heavily on his business savvy and expertise in this area.

What one crucial piece of advice would you share with our readers about our role as “Mother”?

Being a mom must ALWAYS come first. If your home business gets in the way of your parenting, then the home business needs to be reevaluated. It would be awful to reach the world, yet lose my children’s hearts in the process.

Amy is sharing her eBook with MHW's readers. Please take advantage of this wonderful devotional book. Working through sorrow is something we all face eventually. Amy has shared a piece of her heart by writing this devotional:

"It is my deepest desire this devotional would reach grieving families everywhere,
offering comfort, peace, and hope that can only come through the goodness of a merciful God who sees every tear, hears every cry, and delivers us from every trial."

Please join us tomorrow as we explore more of Amy's life in our 'work' segment.



Amy of RaisingArrows.net is the homeschooling mother of 6 living children and one precious little girl named Emily being held in the Lord’s arms. Her days are filled with giggly girls, rambunctious boys and sticky baby kisses. At night, she writes about it all. Amy is the author of Psalms for the Grieving Heart, a 30 day devotional ebook for those who grieve. It is her deepest desire that out of the overflow of her heart, her mouth should speak…and her fingers type.

Interview with Author and Blog Contributor Mandy Goff: Work

Hello. We're back again today for the second half of our interview with one of our new blog contributors, Mandy Goff. Mandy is the author of The Blackmailed Bride, a February release with Love Inspired Historical.

Thanks for coming back again today, Mandy. What jobs have you attempted while working at home? What are the pros and cons of these jobs? Would you do them again?

For about a year, I was a pretty dedicated freelance copywriter and editor. The money was decent, and the work was fairly easy…but it was also mind-numbingly dull. I wrote more articles on insurance and investing than I care to remember. I think I can safely say that I’d prefer not to have to go back to that!

Writing articles on insurance and investment doesn’t appeal to me either. How do you balance the demands of work and family?

Sometimes I’m not sure! I rely a lot on my husband for help, and I’ve made the commitment to myself and my family that if they need me—no matter what’s going on in my writing world—they come first.

That sounds like a good mindset. How do you entertain your children while working at home?
I’m a big proponent of the all-day-nap (just kidding!). For the most part, when I’m working, my daughter self-entertains. She’ll teach her imaginary class, or make pretend dinner for her restaurant, or doctor invisible patients. (She’s decided she wants to be a doctor-teacher-baker-cat when she grows up).

Cute! Your little girl sounds adorable. How do you arrange the physical space in your house so you have a place to work?

Not very well at all. I don’t have an office at home, so I crash with the laptop wherever there’s a place to sit down. Sometimes that’s the kitchen table, sometimes the couch, or sometimes the bed.

I keep telling myself I need a home office area where I always write. Um . . . hasn’t happened yet. Do you have a schedule and always work at the same time every day, or is your work time random and haphazard? Why?

Definitely haphazard. I try to stick to a schedule, simply because I only have so much free time once I get off work. But for the most part, I have to work when creativity strikes…and unfortunately, sometimes that is the middle of the night.

Hmmm . . . I’m feeling sleepy just reading this. What's your favorite aspect of working from home?

Still getting to be around my daughter, even if I’m busy working. Just being near her makes me smile!

I always like money savings tips. What do you do to save money?

I’m an avid couponer. It’s like a game to see how much money I can save every week by combining store sales and coupons.

Thanks so much for taking time to be with us today, Mandy. We look forward to Mandy sharing a recipe with us next Friday.

Interview with Author and Blog Contributor Mandy Goff: Family

Hello everybody. Today I want to introduce you to one of our new blog contributors, Mandy Goff. Mandy is the author of The Blackmailed Bride, an inspirational Regency romance published by Love Inspired Historical. After graduating cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in English from North Greenville University, she followed God's call to write fiction that uplifts and entertains. She resides in Greenville, SC, with her husband and three-old-year daughter. Her second novel is expected from Love Inspired Historical in 2012.


Tell me a bit about your family. How many children do you have, and if they still live at home, how old are they?
My husband and I have been married for almost six years, and we have a three-year-old daughter.

Why did you choose to work from home rather than find a job elsewhere?
I’ve always had a full-time job in addition to working from home.

Wow. That must keep you really busy. I can't imagine handling all that. What is the most challenging aspect of working from home while raising children?
It’s definitely the fact that I don’t get to spend nearly as much time with my daughter as I’d like. It seems like there’s always some kind of work to be done, even if I’m between projects, so I have to juggle work and play time…which is much harder than it sounds. I think one of the biggest things I deal with personally is my feeling of guilt over having to split my time.

Sometimes I deal with those feelings of guilt as well, jut trying to balance writing and family. What challenges do working from home present to your marriage, and how do you compensate?
I think I’m really fortunate because my husband is really supportive of my writing career. He works a full-time job as well, but he’s always willing to come home and help pick up the slack around the house so I can work. That being said, it is difficult when I’m under deadline to find time to spend with each other. That’s something I’ve had to make a concerted effort at doing.

I think all writers have extremely supportive husbands. We have to. Then nature of writing demands it of our poor hubbys. If you could start all over again, what would you do differently? What would you do the same?
I definitely would have changed writing drafts that never worked… In all honesty though, I can’t think of one particular thing I would have changed, mostly because I’m fairly content with where I’ve ended up now.

In lieu of sharing a favorite recipe, I've asked Mandy to share her story of getting the manuscript acceptance phone call from Love Inspired Historical. It made me laugh, and I think you'll really enjoy it.

I was at work when I got “the call.” The phone rang, and I realized it was New York calling (yes, I had memorized the NYC area code for just such an occasion!) Then, I immediately started crying. A lot. So much so that my coworker was looking at me like I’d just gotten word my dog had died.

I managed to garble through my tears that I thought (didn’t know for sure, because I still hadn’t answered the phone) my editor was calling. I then explained that editors rarely call unless they are offering to buy. I’m not entirely sure, but I think she might have started crying then too.

At some point, I started thinking I was hyperventilating. My work buddy was trying to get me to answer the phone, but I was too busy making “I can’t breathe” motions.

I finally caught my breath.

The editor had left a message telling me to call back because she had good news. I cried some more.

At this point, I’d managed to draw quite a bit of attention, and my coworkers started coming up to make sure I wasn’t having some kind of nervous breakdown. Once they realized what was going on, everyone yelled at me to call her back. My boss ran to the bathroom and then shoved a bunch of tissues at me so I could “dry up and call!”

I did. And even then I was unable to have a conversation…I had to ask if I could call back once I got a hold of myself. To my editor’s credit, this request didn’t seem to surprise her. She was very gracious and understanding.
Thinking back on it, I sometimes wish I’d been a little more composed (or a lot more as the case may be). But I definitely can’t complain that the first “call” wasn’t memorable!

----

I just want to add that The Blackmailed Bride is a hilarious yet serious story. I read it and loved it. Here's a bit about the book:

The despicable Baron Finley is the last man Lady Olivia Fairfax would want as her husband, but what choice does she have? He holds the secret to a family scandal, and she must bow to his blackmail or see herself and her brother publicly disgraced. Steeling her resolve—and shielding her heart—Olivia is prepared to do her duty to her family…until Nicholas Stuart, the Marquess of Huntsford, complicates her plans. Nick is brave, honorable, infuriatingly attractive and unshakably determined to protect Olivia—even from herself. He won't let Olivia sacrifice her happiness for any price. Instead, he'll teach her to follow her heart…and pray that it leads her straight to him.

----

Right now, Mandy is working on revisions for her second novel with Love Inspired Historical. This novel will release in early 2012. If you'd like to learn more about Mandy, you can visit her at thiswriterspath.blogspot.com

Interview with Vickie McDonough: Work

by Melissa Jagears

This is day two with Vickie McDonough.

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of 23 books and novellas. Her books have won the Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest, Texas Gold, the ACFW Noble Theme contest, and she has been a multi-year finalist in ACFW’s BOTY/Carol Awards. Vickie and her husband live in Oklahoma. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four grown sons and grandma to a feisty five-year-old girl. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling.

Thank you for the insights on Monday on working with children while working at home. Now, I'm interested in what kind of things you did. I know that you did other things before you became an author. What jobs have you attempted while working at home?

Delivered Thrifty Nickel newspapers, worked as the nursery director at my church, balanced checkbooks for friends for a small fee, and started a Weekly Reader type company for Christian schools. Don’t know if this counts, but I also worked for a day-care where I could take the boys with me. The pros are that those jobs allowed me to be with my children, to make needed income for my family, and gave me a job with some flexibility.

Sure it counts. I take my baby with me to do the finance paperwork at my church, then I got set up on a remote desktop, so I can do some of it at home--so very nice. Your checkbook job for a small fee is making me think of possibilities. I'm strange, but I enjoy balancing my checkbook, hence my church asking me to help with theirs. Hmmmm.
How do you balance the demands of work and family?

I won’t lie. It definitely helps to not have small children any more. I don’t know as I balanced the demands all that well when my boys were younger. I tried to stay organized and to make the kids help, but I was often tired and frustrated and ended up doing things myself just to get them done. I probably could have been tougher, but that’s hindsight. Being organized and having structure is key to balancing work with family, but don’t forget to have fun, too.

Makes me feel good to hear I'm not the only one struggling. How do you entertain your children while working at home?

I no longer have to be concerned about this, but my boys read a lot of books, played outside with friends as they got older, and okay, I’ll admit, they watched some tv.

Are there times you wish you worked outside of the home?

Actually, yes, there are. Writing books may sound glamorous but it’s a lot of hard work. I mainly write in my living room, so it’s distracting when my husband or one of the boys is banging around in the kitchen or some other room. I work long hours to finish my books by their deadlines, and I sometimes think it would be nice to go to a job somewhere else, work, then come home and relax, but I love the flexibility of working from home.


How do you deal with those feelings?

I don’t pay much attention to those feelings to get an outside job. They usually come when I’m tired and on a tight deadline. In spite of the hard work, there are lots of good things about being a writer. I get to travel some—and it’s often a tax-deductable trip for research or to a conference, I’ve met and even become friends with many of my favorite Christian authors, and it’s really cool to see a book I’ve written in stores and to know that I’ve been obedient to God’s call on my life.


How do you arrange the physical space in your house so you have a place to work?

Well, I have an office upstairs, but after injuring my knee, I mostly write in the living room in my recliner.

Do you have a schedule and always work at the same time every day, or is your work time random and haphazard?

I usually write later in the morning and early afternoon. I get up and tend to things around the house and answer important emails then start writing. Some days, though, I have so much to do that I never get to the writing part, which is why I often have to scramble to finish by deadline. I believe there’s a word for that which starts with a P.

Would that word be, "Procrastination"? Because, I don't have problems with that, nope, no way, not at all the reason why I'm just fiddling with my blogs instead of writing the kissing scene my critique partner is anxious to read. ;P
What's your favorite aspect of working from home?

Being able to work in my jammies.

I personally like the fact that if I forget to put on deodorant or brush my teeth-- since I was too focused on diapers, feedings, etc. --then I haven't offended any coworkers. Maybe I've offended the four year old....but she's yet to voice complaint.
I always like money savings tips. What do you do to save money?

My husband has been laid off several times over the past couple of years, so when that happens, we stop spending. We go on don’t-eat-out, don’t-go-to-a-movie, and don’t-go-shopping mode. I’m more careful about what I buy at the grocery store and try to limit my driving. It’s hard but it does make a difference.

Many years ago, when we had to go on no spending mode, I'd make big paper signs to swap out on the front door to remind us, like: "Say No to Spending," "Don't Buy Anything...Ever," or "Read my lips: No New Spending." I got a kick out of trying to make something so limiting fun.
Any other words of wisdom you would like to share that you haven’t mentioned in the questions above?

Raising children is not an easy job, and when you throw in the element of working from home, the difficulties go up exponentially. But many people do both—and do them well. I guess if I have one word of advice, it’s don’t ignore your own needs. Find time to do what you love most—to do what refreshes you. For some gals, that’s finding a quiet spot to read or journal or play computers games, for someone else, that may be meeting the girls for lunch. Make time whatever recharges your battery, because you’re the one at the wheel, and if you’re not steering straight, everybody is in trouble.

Sounds like some good advice. There are days I feel like just staring at the wall because I feel like I just can't do it anymore, maybe I'll try to schedule in some more of those battery recharging sessions.
Before you go, can you tell us what you are working on right now?

I’m working on a book called Long Trail Home. It’s part of a unique project that I’m doing with two other authors, Susan Page Davis and Darlene Franklin. We’re each writing two books in a six-book series by Moody Publishers called Texas Trails: A Morgan Family series. The saga covers 50 years of the Morgan family, from the mid 1840s to the 1890s. The first three books release this fall.

Sounds like a very interesting book project. Readers, don't forget to go visit her website: http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/ and find a book you'd like to read. She has handfuls of them and has been sweet enough to offer one random winner his/her choice. Come back and leave your email and book choice in the comment section to be placed in the drawing. Thanks so much,Vickie, for your tips and encouragement.

God bless! And thanks for having me as a guest.

Interview with Vickie McDonough: Home

by Melissa Jagears

Today, our guest is Vickie McDonough.

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of 23 books and novellas. Her books have won the Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest, Texas Gold, the ACFW Noble Theme contest, and she has been a multi-year finalist in ACFW’s BOTY/Carol Awards. Vickie and her husband live in Oklahoma. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four grown sons and grandma to a feisty five-year-old girl. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling.

Thank you, Vickie, for agreeing to interview with me! I've read several of your books and enjoyed them very much and am glad you are here to share what you've done in the past staying home with your children and working. I'm excited to hear what you have to say.

Readers, Vickie has been gracious enough to offer one randomly drawn commenter a book of their choice from off her website! Leave your EMAIL ADDRESS and BOOK CHOICE in the comments either today or on Wednesday's post. (You'll want to come back and hear what business tips she has for us on Wedns.)
She's willing to send to US and Canada residents only please.

Tell me a bit about your family. How many children do you have, and if they still live at home, how old are they?

I’ve been married 35 years to a sweet computer geek. We have four grown sons. The oldest is married, and he and his wife have given us a feisty granddaughter. The three younger boys are still with us—kind of, sort of. One lives with us all the time—can’t seem to get him to move out even though he’s plenty old enough to. The youngest is a sophomore in college but generally comes home on the weekends and during the summer. My #3 son is in the National Guard and is currently on his third deployment. He’s been to Iraq twice, but he’s now serving in Egypt. He’s still trying to finish college and lives with us when he’s not deployed.

Ay yi yi, Four boys. My four year old daughter trashes the house, I'm a bit scared of how much damage my baby boy is going to do. Can't imagine what four boys would do!
Why did you choose to work from home rather than find a job elsewhere?

I used to work outside the home when the boys were younger, but I hated leaving them. Their dad worked long hours, so it was hard to coordinate my working hours with him being home. It seemed the easiest answer was to work from home. I ended up getting several part-time jobs, some that allowed me to take the boys with me, and I even tried stating a home business for a time.

What was the most challenging aspect of working from home while raising children?

Home and family came first, so finding the time to actually work was often hard. Between sports and homeschooling the kids and church activities, extra time was hard to come by, but that’s something you have to deal with when you work from home.

I know how that is. Right now, I'm struggling with my priorities, especially when business activities become overwhelming.
Did you ever get your children involved with your home business?

Yes, I did on several occasions. One time I delivered Thrift Nickel newspapers with a baby and a 3- and 5-year-old in the car. My oldest son helped count the papers while the middle son entertained the baby piled up the return papers. It was a bit crazy at times, especially when the baby wasn’t happy, but we managed and made some extra cash too.

My four year old would love the counting job--for a few minutes anyway.
What advice would you give mothers thinking about having their children help with their business?

• Give them specific duties within their age capabilities
• Be structured and organized so that you have set hours and the children know when they start work and when they get to stop
• Pay or reward them a little if you can and encourage them to be good stewards with their money
• If you have a home office, have a special play area where younger children can be close and see you but not be underfoot
• Most of all, be flexible and patient

I'm working on the flexible and patient thing right now, and working on the setting specific hours, I think that's something I need to do for my daughter who likes routine.
What challenges did working from home present to your marriage?

Probably the biggest challenge to working from home when it relates to my husband was that I was often tired out after dealing with the boys and working too. I didn’t cook fancy meals and the house often was messy. We didn’t have much alone time. Things probably wouldn’t have worked out so well if I hadn’t had such a kind and understanding husband. He’s a big encourager too and has been my biggest cheerleader as I began down the writing path and seeking publication.

Don't even look at my house right now! :) I'm as lucky as you with the hubby cheerleader. That boy thinks there is nothing I can't do, he's so sweet.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?

That’s a hard question. Yes, most certainly, I’d do some things differently. I would encourage my husband to make different career choices which might have enabled me to stay home and not have to worry about bringing in extra income. As my boys got older, I didn’t feel qualified to keep teaching them because they were super smart. We didn’t have online schools like there are now. I wanted my boys to attend Christian school, but that would mean leaving my baby with a sitter, and I couldn’t do that. I do have regrets, but what parent doesn’t?

I've already started wracking up my regrets, but I've gotten the advice, "It'll happen; don't beat yourself up over it. Learn from it and work on being better in the future."
Along the same lines of getting to start over, What would you do the same?

Given the same situation, I’d probably done about the same thing. I tried to be industrious, but was limited in my abilities. I used the skills I had and did the best I could, and guess what, my boys all turned out pretty good. One is a restaurant manager married to a bank branch manager, one is making a career working at Walgreens (still working on getting that changed since this boy is a computer whiz), one is a soldier currently stationed in Egypt, and the youngest is in the honor’s program at his college studying electrical engineering. I want to encourage you moms with little children that there is life after kids. Hang in there and do the best you can, and rely on God to strengthen you and to give you wisdom.

I needed that encouragement, it does feel like my life right now is solely picking up after my tornado children.
Would you say staying home and attempting to work was worth it?

I guess it depends on what’s important to you. I didn’t want to have someone else raising my boys while I worked. I understand that some families have to do that, and I’m not putting them down. Two of my boys were very strong-willed and needed more attention to keep them focused so they weren’t always getting in trouble. We had plenty of hard times, but yeah, it was worth it.

What keeps you home instead of having an outside career?

Now, I’m at the point where I could get an outside job, but I choose not to. I babysit my five-year-old granddaughter several days after school while her parents work. I’m also primary caregiver to my 81-year-old mom whose is a partial invalid, and I do all her errands, shopping, and take her lunch several times a week, besides fixing her dinners. Working from home allows to do those special things, as well as to have the freedom to have lunch with friends once in a while.

Can you share your favorite easy recipe?

Yes, but it’s not one of those sugarless kind.

Good, because I like the sugar-filled kind.

When I was young, we often went to my Aunt Mildred’s house for dinner. My grandma and grandpa lived with her, so it was the place the family would hang out. Aunt Mildred made this yummy dessert that I called “pink stuff.” It remains one of my family’s favorites.

Aunt Mildred’s Ice Box Cake
1 small pkg. strawberry Jello
3/4 cup boiling water
Scant 1/2 cup sugar

Mix well. Cool a little.

Add:
1 small can crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Scant 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Fold in 3/4th of a small or medium container of Cool Whip.(Leave final 1/4th to smooth over the top when done)

Line an oblong cake pan with vanilla wafers. Top with a layer of sliced bananas. (You can add as many as you like – about 3 - 4 medium bananas) Spoon on Jello mixture and even out across the top. Spread on remaining Cool Whip to make top pretty.

Cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated. Serves 12 – 16 people.

Note: When getting supplies for this recipe, please note the Cool Whip, bananas, and vanilla wafers listed in the body of the recipe.

That sounds yummy. I love strawberry and banana desserts.
All right, readers, make sure you come back on Wednesday and read more about how she deals with working at home.

And go visit her website: http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/ and find a book you'd like to read. She has handfuls of them and has been sweet enough to offer one random winner his/her choice. Come back and leave your email and book choice to be placed in the drawing.

This is her newest one, check it out while you're looking around. (I'm currently reading this one, I'm on chapter 2 at the moment.) Or click on the book to go straight to Amazon.

Finally a Bride
Jacqueline Davis, a reporter for the Lookout Ledger, is bent on nabbing her story at any cost. When Noah Jeffers comes to Lookout as the temporary pastor, Jack suspects there may be something hidden behind his shepherding ways. Soon though, Jack becomes attracted to the new pastor despite her initial hesitation. But as she uncovers the truth, will the story cost her too much? Will she reveal what she’s found, or keep it hidden to protect newfound love?

Interview with Author Anne Greene: Business

by Naomi Rawlings

I'd like to welcome author Anne Greene to our blog. Anne was with us on Monday as well, giving advice on working from home. Leave a comment with your email address below to win a copy of Anne's most recent book, Masquerade Marriage.

What was the best time management principle you use that helps you work while your kids were around?

Never look at an email twice. That means handle whatever comes in when it comes in.

How did you entertain your children while working at home?

I love to play games. We played games a lot. I love the outdoors. We spent a good deal of time at parks and zoos and campgrounds. I only wrote when they were sleeping, at school, or at a friend’s house. We traveled together in a twenty-nine foot trailer and stayed at military bases. We did a good bit of historical research when we travelled. I took pictures and made notes. We played tennis and golf. And read good books. All my children love to read. We went to Church, Awana, and Boy Scouts. When they attended church camps I had a whole week to write.

Are there times you regretted working from home? How did you deal with those feelings?

The only thing I regretted from working at home was not getting a pay check. I totally enjoyed my children in the short eighteen-nineteen years they were with me daily. We only have one shot with our children and we need to make the most of that time. When the children skipped off to college, I did too, and graduated the same year as my daughter. I could have chosen a career outside the home at that time. I didn’t. I dove headlong into writing full time and have never regretted my decision.

How did you arrange the physical space in your house so that you have a place to work?

When my kids were napping age, I worked in the bathroom, sitting on a kitchen chair. Later, in a slightly larger home, I set up at the dining room table. Then, in my next home, I had a small room to myself. Now, with all four children scattered to different places I have a large room I share with our pool table. My desk overlooks the upstairs porch and the golf course. My paints, easel, and canvas take up one end of the room. My desk, computer, printer, and reading couch take up the other end. When people want to play pool I gather up all my books, files, and papers from the pool table and we play. It’s pretty ideal.

Did you find times when your work suffered because of your family or vice versa?

When my children were growing up, my work was secondary. I don’t think it suffered, it was the joy and reward I gave myself after caring for my children.

How many hours a day do you work from home?

Now, I usually work six to eight hours a day, and often on Saturday.

Do you have a schedule and always work at the same time every day, or is your work time random and haphazard? Why?

I schedule the work time each day to be six to eight hours. I do my Bible time, exercise, cleaning, cooking, and errands early in the morning and try to get to my desk by ten or eleven. I never stop work before six, except on the two days I have choir. If I have a social or work engagement, I just get to my desk later in the day and work until eleven at night. My brain turns off at eleven pm. I am not a fast writer. Probably on a scale of writers, I would come in near the bottom in terms of speed, so I do put in long hours. It’s hard in the summer when I would rather go out and play.

What's your single, favorite aspect of working from home?

Freedom! I set my own hours to work and to play. If a friend calls, I’m free to talk. If I need more time with the Lord, I’m free to take that time. If I want to work in my pjs, I’m free to wear my pjs. If I want to eat at my desk, I can. If I want to take a walk, I can. If I want to go into my husband’s study and give him a kiss, I can. If I want to go somewhere exciting, I can. The only thing that keeps me at my desk is my passion to write. I love working from home.

About Anne:

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. After falling in love with several countries and their people, Anne set a number of her books in exotic locations. She and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene, have visited twenty-five countries, including three communist countries. A visit to Scotland resulted in her newest book release, Masquerade Marriage, published by White Rose Publishing. When she’s not deployed with her husband, Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Two of her four children live nearby. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. In 1990, Anne graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas, Dallas. Her highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. To learn more of Anne and to view pictures from her extensive travel, visit her at AnneGreeneAuthor.com.

About Masquerade Marriage:

A SECRET LIST... To protect his loved ones and escape the dark fate of his brothers, a noted warrior abandons his identity. Hiding from relentless soldiers who want him dead, Brody MacCaulay vows to protect the woman he loves more than life, more than freedom, more than Scotland. But his presence throws her into danger. A VOW HONORED... To escape an arranged marriage to an abusive noble, a Lowland Lady weds a stranger to save his life. But vows spoken do not make a marriage, especially when Megan MacMurry holds a different love inside her heart. A SACRIFICE MADE... Outlawed, and with a price on his head, Brody condemns himself to a life of heartbreak without Megan. Wanting her desperately, knowing he can't have her, he heads alone to certain death...