Inkwell Guest: Empi Baryeh

Today, I welcome Empi Baryeh. She’s here to share her words of wisdom on writing. Stick around for the bottom of the post for a an excerpt and a contest!

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Confessions of a Real Life Author

Hi everyone. First off, I want to thank Michelle for allowing me to take up space on her blog as I celebrate the upcoming release of my novel, Chancing Faith.

The journey to publication has been long, and, a lot of times, less glamorous than one might imagine; because for any author who doesn’t write for a living, life often gets in the way.

Someone once asked me how I juggle between life, family, work and writing. The truth is, I haven’t found the perfect balance. There are times when it seems easy, and other times it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in a day.

I have full-time job, and for a new author that can really put a strain on my writing. It basically means I have to fit all my writing in the couple of hours between getting home from work and going to bed. But those few precious moments have to be split between getting something quick to eat, catching a favourite show on TV or reading a book. Of course, there’s weekends, which again pits writing against grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, meeting up with friends etc.

My not-so-perfect-routine is to read a book on my commute to work in the mornings, because reading is a necessary part of writing. If I arrive early enough at work, I read another book (an ebook on my computer while having breakfast); I slip in some reading and mild plotting during lunch, provided I don’t meet up with friends for lunch. On my commute back home, I think about what I’ll write about that evening and try to plot the scene/chapter in my mind.

On a good day, I’ll be suitably inspired by the time I get home to sit down for a couple of hours to write. I usually fix myself a quick meal, so I don’t spend half of my evening in the kitchen when I could be writing. Let’s not forget, there’s also the whole world of social networking that I must attend to. Some days, I’m just too tired to do anything more than clear my mind and watch TV while sipping a glass of wine or juice – all the while cheering on (read: envying) my SAHM author friends who are churning out thousands of words every day (yea, the writer’s life is a lonely one).

What about you? What’s your routine? Maybe we can all share and pick a few lines from each others’ journal. I look forward to hearing about your life as a writer. If you aren’t a writer, don’t feel left out. Share with me, how you manage all the balls you have to juggle in your day-to-day life.

Have a wonderful week!

Empi

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About The Author

Empi Baryeh is an author of heart-warming, sweet and sensual African and Interracial romance. She lives in the city of Accra in Ghana, where most of her stories are set. She speaks French and a teensy bit of Spanish.

Her debut novel, Most Eligible Bachelor, came out in February and is available from Evernight Publishing and other online book retailers. Chancing Faith is her second novel, which comes out in Print and eBook on 31st March, 2012.

Visit Empi Online:

Blog: http://empibaryeh.wordpress.com
Website: http://www.empibaryeh.webs.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/empibaryeh
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/empibaryeh
Twitter: @empibaryeh

COMING 31ST MARCH, 2012, FROM BLACK OPAL BOOKS CHANCING FAITH BY EMPI BARYEH

Blurb:

He didn’t do short-term relationships…

American ad exec, Thane Aleksander, doesn’t date co-workers either—until business takes him to Ghana, West Africa, and he meets Naaki. Now he’s at risk of breaking all the rules. Can he stop this headlong fall before it’s too late?

Until he met her!

Naaki Tabika has a burning need to prove, to herself and others, that she’s more than wife and mother material. To do so, she’s prepared to give up everything for her job. Meeting Thane, however, makes her want to get personal. But falling for her boss could destroy her career. Will she be willing to risk it all for the one thing that can make her truly happy?

Two divergent cultures, two different races, two career-driven professionals, only one chance at true love—will they find the faith to take it, or will their hearts be sacrificed on the altar of financial success?

Excerpt:

Thane knew he was in for it now. He could hardly believe he’d really done it…

He’d kissed Naaki. Kissed her! What the hell was he thinking? Thane tossed his jacket aside and yanked off his tie. Of all the stupid—

Raking his fingers through his hair, he muttered a curse. The urge to hit something assaulted him with a force that should have surprised him. The perfect punching bag would have been his own body, since it was apparent that he needed to pound some sense into his skull. Right now, the only thing pounding was his heart as it threatened to burst out of his chest, throbbing partly out of anger but mostly from his pulsing desire.

Damned if he didn’t still want her in his arms. She made him feel like a teenager—and not in a good way. Vulnerable wasn’t a desired state of mind as far as he was concerned. He sat down with the adjoining door in full view, still unable to comprehend how he’d dropped his guard. How he seemed so willing to let down his defenses around her.

He’d panicked in the elevator, allowed himself to be captivated. He’d worried about her, touched her as if he cared. She’d kissed him back, moaned against his lips and his knees had gone weak. He could have made love to her right there in the lobby. He could care about her, and caring was the last thing he could afford to do.

Dammit. Naaki wasn’t a woman you got involved with on a whim. He needed, at all cost, to avoid her—the woman who’d so easily brought him to his knees, who’d caused his body to come alive and made him want—

Just want.

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Buy Links:

Chancing Faith is available for pre-order at the following sites:

• Black Opal Books
• Barnes & Noble

Look out for Chancing Faith on Amazon and other online booksellers from 31st March.

Contest:

Empi is giving away a free ebook each week for her blog tour. All you have to do is leave a comment. At the end of each week, Empi will select one lucky winner. Each blog you comment on gives you one vote, so the more blogs you comment on the greater your chances of winning. The prize is the winner’s choice of an ebook copy of either Most Eligible Bachelor or Chancing Faith.