
I have managed to feed the introvert in me by becoming an author. Now, I no longer have to go to concerts or remote broadcasts and meet with people who listen to me on the radio. I imagine one day, if I'm lucky, I'll do book signings. And they will exhaust me, but I will also be more than thrilled to meet and talk with people who have read or are interested in my books. Being an author, I am even more alone than when I was in radio. In radio, I was usually in a room by myself for most of the day. But the room had windows on all four sides so it felt somewhat like a zoo. Any time a tour came by, they could see me! I always thought I should keep a banana nearby to act monkey-like when they did, but banana smells don't stay fresh for long and it wasn't a very big room. :) As an author, I sit at the computer when my daughters are sleeping and create. No one watches. No one calls. No one looks at me.
Okay, now for the other side of me. I'm an author and I love it, but more importantly, I'm a mother. I spend the vast majority of my days and even my nights with my two daughters. The oldest is coming up on 5 and the youngest just hit a year recently. Being around them is exhausting for other reasons and I wouldn't have it any other way. And though my older daughter comes up with some doozies, talking to children is different than talking to adults. And sometimes, though I am introverted to the hilt, I get lonely!
This is where you come in! Though the introvert in me is very shy in person, I LOVE to talk to people by email/facebook etc. In fact, having these types of conversations get me through my day of speaking only with my two little girls. It helps wake my brain up and let me enjoy a little virtual conversation from time to time. So I want you to know that if you comment on this website, comment on a facebook post, send me a message or contact me in any virtual way, you are NOT bothering me! Not in the least! I enjoy it!
I recently had a message from a reader who enjoyed "God in the Kitchen." She asked a specific question about another book so I replied to her message. I got a reply back from her and she sounded flabbergasted that I responded to her. She thanked me for spending the time to answer her question and for getting back to her etc etc. To that, I want to say it is MY pleasure and MY honor to do so! I can't say that I will for sure get back to everyone who ever contacts me because things get lost in the shuffle. But I promise to do my best.
If you have a question or comment or need writing encouragement or just want to say howdy, you are not bothering me. Sure, I'm an introvert....but talk to me anyway! I'm very friendly in the virtual world! Actually, I'm friendly in person too if you can get past my awkwardness. :)
While introverts get refueled by alone time (which I feel like I never get right now because of my girls), sometimes too much alone time can be a problem too. May days I feel like I am never alone and always alone. Does that make sense? While I thrive on spending time alone, I also feel refreshed by communicating with people online. It helps me get through the day and feel connected to the world outside my house.
So to sum it all up, if you want to talk to me...talk to me! No pressure. You don't have to invent a reason because you now feel sorry for me. :) But if you feel the desire to send me a message, do it! I won't bite and I most likely will enjoy and thoroughly appreciate it.