Focus by Debra H. Goldstein
Judge, author, litigator, wife, step-mom, mother of twins, and civic volunteer, are all words used to describe me. My life and writings are equally diverse. I’m the author of Kensington Press’ Sarah Blair mystery series. Sarah, like me, is a cook of convenience who might be scorched if she gets too close to a kitchen. One Taste Too Many, published in January 2019, was picked as a Woman’s World Book of the Week. The next three books, Two Bites Too Many, Three Treats Too Many, and Four Cuts Too Many were each named as Silver Falchion finalists. The fifth book in the series, Five Belles Too Many, released on June 28, 2022.
I am an active civic volunteer in Birmingham, Alabama and have served on the national boards of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, as well as being past president of the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and Sister’s in Crime’s largest chapter, The Guppies.
Debra, I’ve always known what a busy life you lead, and you are an example for all of us! What about the short stories you write? I’ve always enjoyed them.
Real life always hovers, threatening to disrupt an author’s focus, but I’ve learned how to slip into the zone of the book to the exclusion of everything else–even Covid!
Debra, you’ve hit on the number one issue for so many of us. When real life gets in the way, focus on writing gets side-tracked. Finding it again feels like such a blessing!
Focus is often a challenge. What helped me get back on track was to take my laptop to the library. My best focus time is there. No distractions for a few hours at a time makes a world of difference.
Focus is different for each of us. I have multi-published friends who can only write with the TV blaring in the background. JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter in a busy coffee shop. Me? I need quiet. I don’t even want background music. All that aside, though, with everything you do, Debra, I’m convinced you’ve secretly discovered the formula for cloning yourself. Any chance you wouldn’t mind sharing?