Until this past April, I was a full time Development Director traveling the country raising funds from prep school grads. I dined in Hollywood, Washington DC, any number of amazing places, with some well-known people. But all I wanted was to be a full time writer.
Now I’m living the dream. No more writing instead of sleeping nights. Now I can do both.
Picture it: I sit here in my glamorous romance-writing garb: long black tee-shirt nightgown, comfy bathrobe, and orange knee socks with witch feet—an ensemble known as my Anti-Bob device . . . a term coined by you-know-who.
My small office is walled with research books, and stacks of witchy research books surround me, along with my breakfast dishes . . . and . . . yeah, a couple of dishes from my 2 a.m. snack. See, I went to bed at 4 a.m. With SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH due in New York on December 1st, and THE SCOT, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE due in stores on December 5th, I’ve been putting in 12 to 16 hours a day juggling promo for THE SCOT and making my deadline for SEX. And that may be the sexiest thing about this job. 
Yet I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I sleep when I need to, and create stories whenever I want, for as long as my muse lasts—I think his name is Sebastian. No stopping to go to school, or knowing that my next good surge of creativity will have to wait five more days until the following weekend. Life is good.
I’m living the writing dream, and loving it. Don’t worry. I get dressed sometimes—to hubby’s delight. Usually for writers conferences and talks. To meet you, my readers, a treat I totally enjoy. I spend time with family and friends when I want, unless I’m on a double deadline, like now.
What is your dream, and how are you working to make it happen? I sure hope you get to live it some time soon.
From the lady in her witch socks, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
www.annetteblair.com 
Congrats on living your dream!
Comment by Estella — October 25, 2006 @ 4:12 pm
Thank you Estella. It’s the best.
Comment by Annette Blair — October 25, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Nettie,
Loved the post. Like you, I said goodbye to my day job to follow my dreams and become a full-time writer. I can’t imagine doing anything else!
P.S. Love your writing wardrobe. Sounds kind of similar to mine!
Comment by Julia Templeton — October 25, 2006 @ 8:16 pm
LOL, Julia, I knew there had to be other comfy writers like me around. Congrats on leaving the day job as well. Enjoy!
Comment by Annette Blair — October 25, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
Hey Nette,
Funny how we dress the same
I tend to get showered and dressed just before the kids get home from school around 3:30. Unless I have somewhere to go I excell at Lounging Arount.
One of my dreams was finding Mr. Right, getting married and having a family… So I guess I am living The Dream!!
Can’t wait to read those new stories. Stop slacking off…
Yours very truly (and glad I caught you blogging today),
Jac.
Comment by Jaclyne Laurin — October 25, 2006 @ 10:43 pm
I ment to write Lounging Around — with a ‘d’ and not a ‘t’.
Dang fingers aren’t working right… I can’t even blame it on a band-aid like last time…
Comment by Jaclyne Laurin — October 25, 2006 @ 11:36 pm
Ah, Annette, you spilled the beans and put us all in the spotlight — and here I haven’t even gotten out of my pajamas or brushed my hair. Sigh LOL.
I do think most people see writing as a somewhat glamorous job. If they could just take a peek through our window, that mythical Barbara Cartland in pink suits, perfect manicures, and (gasp!) washed hair would die away forever.
Not sure whether to thank you or praise you for letting the cat out of the bag LOL
Comment by Heather — October 26, 2006 @ 10:26 am
Jac, Hanging around in our bathrobes must run in the family. We must get it from our grandmothers’ side. (They’re rolling over in their graves right now.) I never knew anybody up earlier or dressed sooner than those two. They must be so proud.
Comment by Annette Blair — October 26, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
Yes, Heather. People do think it’s glamorous, and for a day here and there, it is. But the rest of the time, we just wear different work clothes than the rest of the world, and we keep different hours too. BTW, you’re the one who mentioned unbrushed and unwashed hair. LOL. So I’ll just add that I really need to get out my bottle of Miss Clairol and get 20 years younger before I leave the house.
Comment by Annette Blair — October 26, 2006 @ 1:01 pm