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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Lolita Lopez - Juggling Writing And Motherhood

If you’re like me, the word juggle conjures images of clowns and circuses. To be totally honest, sometimes I feel like I’m living in a circus. Between our rambunctious four-year-old and neurotic Great Dane, this house is a wild zone. I’m surrounded by noise, acrobatics—and flour explosions.


When I shared that picture on Facebook, I had no idea so many other moms had survived that exact same experience. Some of the cleanup suggestions were priceless. I received the same “oh, honey, we’ve been there!” replies when I admitted that I had just watched my husband take a leaf blower to our minivan after a rather gnarly Cheerios catastrophe. (Why didn’t I take a pic of that?!)


I’m also juggling two pen names. Lolita writes scorching hot paranormal and scifi romance while Roxie Rivera pens super steamy romantic suspense with enough tattooed bad boys to keep it interesting.
I’m not really sure when I decided it would be a good idea to branch off with another pen name. I was probably sleep-deprived and in that weird hallucinatory mind space where things like second pen names and painting stripes on the entryway wall seem like a great idea. (Pinterest lies, by the way. It’s not that easy after all!


There’s no real secret to making it work. Like all the other work at home moms, I’ve learned to prioritize, delegate, accept help whenever it’s offered and write anywhere. Kiddo was born with multiple severe heart defects so we’ve spent a lot of time in waiting rooms and hospitals over the last four years.

Twice a week, I squeeze in 1000-2000 words while she’s enjoying one-on-one with her speech and occupational therapists. Those waiting room chairs aren’t the most comfortable but you make it work, you know? I have stories that I want to tell and share!


Since I’m sure there are a lot of mamas out there who could use a little pampering, I’m offering up a $25 gift card to Bath and Body Works! Leave a comment and I’ll pick a winner on September 5!

***Lolita's winner is WinterFaerie.  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing address!***

28 comments:

Laney4 said...

I was born with a hole in my heart and didn't move home full-time until I was 4.5 years of age. I was in a children's hospital 2 hrs from home, back in the days when my parents had to borrow a car to visit me for the first year or so (until they could finally afford one). I was brought home gradually, staying a weekend here and there, until the big move. Even then, there were several times in the middle of the night when the doctor had to be called to resuscitate me (as I would choke on my phlegm if/when I cried). Anyway, my point is that I am now 54 years of age and thankful to be alive all these extra years - all the appointments and trips are SO WELL WORTH IT! Kudos to you all for all the trials and tribulations required to "be there" for your family.
When my first child was born 28 years ago, I began my home typing business. There have been times of feast and times of famine, but I have been fortunate to do it all by staying at home. There were (and still are) several nights when I don't get to bed until noon the next day (if only for a few hours) - as my family's needs came first too. Thankfully, there were times my husband could jump in for me due to his shift work, and eventually my kids went to school (although they came home for lunch, since we live/lived around the corner from the school). Like you, I learned how to do MY work in-between the various appointments and "real life" necessities. It isn't easy, but it is OH SO WORTHWHILE!
My kids will always remember that I was here for them (AND that I made money to help pay for vacations, etc.). They remember the daily morning trips to various playgrounds on their summer holidays (and then afternoons playing beside Mommy working if a deadline was imminent - until Daddy got home from work soon afterward to take them somewhere, like for a bike ride). They do NOT remember me staying up all night working, quite often when they were small, and that's okay too....

Unknown said...

Totally admire you!!! Being a momma and writting they way YOU write HOLY SMOKES!! I admire ya!!! I LOVE YOUR WORK!!!! LOVED the Russian Protector Series!!!!I recomend you to everyone!!!

petite said...

Your devotion to your family is wonderful. You are capable, talented and special.

traveler said...

I am very impressed with your writing career and your caring thoughtfulness for your daughter. Children and family is what is important and need our presence, input and love everyday for their future health and welfare.

Pat Cochran said...

You are a new-to-me author, I will be look-
ing for your books on my next bookstore run.
They sound very interesting!

Love the picture of your youngster! Makes me
think of the time my eldest daughter, who was
2 1/2 y/o, found my purse and the bright red
lipstick in it. When I found her, she had lip-
stick from top to toe, especially her knees.
I scrubbed for a long time and still didn't
get it all off! We spent a lot of time at
home until it was all gone!

Pat C.

Pat C.

Elisabeth said...

You sure sounds like a very busy Mom who can tackle life as it comes.
I'm busy with toddler twins and can relate to the first picture.
By the way, live the book covers. They look great.

Bethany said...

I'm one of the many who loved the flour pic. As a mom of two autistic kids, I know all about the 2 hour therapy waits and messes that I didn't even know were possible (liquid detergent if forever banned from our house due to a Costco size NEW container meeting my carpet...that stuff doesn't come up on its own. You just end up with suds that never goes away). Anyways, love your stories under both names. Glad you are able to find the time for everything and Pinterest is the devil sometimes. ;)

Anonymous said...

Wow! I can't even imagine how hard that was for you and your family to be separated through treatment. :/

We were incredibly lucky that Texas Children's Hospital (one of the best in the world) is right in our backyard. Nyx's surgeon is Dr. Fraser who is a rockstar in the pediatric heart surgery world. (He helped develop the Berlin Heart and recently successfully treated Baby Audriana--the little girl born with her heart outside of her body.)

Anywho. TCH is very child and family centered. We were able to be with her 24/7 during her heart surgeries (15 days old and 6 months.) She's had some minor procedures (mouth and belly) done at smaller regional hospitals but they were also very accommodating to us.

I'm so lucky that I'm able to work from home and be with her all the time--through surgeries, OT/SLP, and now a possible autism diagnosis. It also helps that I have an *amazing* husband who is so incredibly supportive.

~Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

Thank you! There will be a new HRP free read up on Friday, by the way! It's another Benny/Dimitri story. :)

~Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

Thank you!

~Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

So true! When I get bogged down with stress/deadlines, I always try to remind myself that I am incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love while working from home--and that other people seem to enjoy the stories I want to tell. :)

~Lo/Roxie

erin said...

I'm not a mother, but I have the utmost respect and admiration of any woman who is and also juggles a career! And congrats on the new book releases! They look and sounds fantastic!

Anonymous said...

LOL. That's too funny!

Kiddo hasn't shown much interest in makeup yet but she loves to dig through my purse in search of pens and change...

~Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

Twins? Oh, I bet you can relate! :)

I've been lucky to have some fantastic covers this year. Ellora's Cave did some amazing man-chesty covers for the Grabbed series. Very yummy!

~Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

I cannot even imagine trying to get that much laundry detergent out of carpet! Kiddo has this bizarre fascination with soap so I'm sure if she got anywhere near laundry detergent it would be suds city around here.

And, yes, Pinterest is the devil! :)

~Lo/Roxie

Michele L. said...

What a little cutie pie! I don't have kids but my mom said I used to run outside in all my naked glory as a little toddler. One time my brother, who was 5 at the time, was supposed to watch me while we were playing in the sandbox outside. A while later, our neighbor heard a car honk, looked up and saw me crawling down the middle of the street. He ran over, picked me up and took me to my mom. Gary got scolded and sent to his room. My mom shouldn't have trusted a 5 year old to watch his baby sister.

You are a marvel! I can't imagine juggling all that and at the same time staying sane! LOL!

Congrats on your new book! The covers are sensational!

WinterFaerie said...

You're books look super good!! I will definitely have to check those out! I really like the covers!! Tattooed bad boys are my favorite! :)

Unknown said...

LOVE the flour explosion! An author friend of mine wrote some of the wackiness of my household into one of her books, and called it the "Superbowl of Chaos". I think the worst was when my twins were 2 & they decided to SHRED all the border off of their walls (okay, so we were stupid & had it at chair rail height) and then removed ALL their clothes & diapers from their closet & had a little mountain in the middle of their floor, while they hopped around happily buck naked, because they'd found their way out of their cribs. Toddlerhood is an experience; sorry you've had medical issues on top of it all :(.

Laurie G said...

Love your optimism and sense of humor.

I worked as an RN at a children's hospital in the ICU. I also have a son who became quite ill when he turned 5. It turned out to be an autoimmune disease but our first thoughts were leukemia. I watched and then became one of those waiting room moms. My niece's daughter was also born with a hole in her heart and had emergency surgery at 9 months when she suddenly turned blue. She's 9 now. She still has some speech and balance issues that require therapy.

Life sure isn't fair but we do learn to deal with it!

Anonymous said...

Thanks! I've had so much with these new series this year. :)

Lo/Roxie

Linda Henderson said...

I will say that my oldest daughter could use some pampering. Her daughter was born at 23 weeks and spent 4 months in the NICU. She is 4 now and has had 2 major surgeries on her throat and vocal chords. She's just getting over the latest one. She is in the hospital a lot. She is the only 4 year old I know that has already flown on a medical plane and a medical helicopter. The last one just about killed my daughter. You can't go with them on the helicopter and it's a couple of hours drive to Children's Mercy in Kansas City Missouri where she was going. She has been up there so much the nurses recognize her on sight. She's pretty sick of the place. I gave my daughter a Kindle so she could carry it in her purse to all the hospitals she's been in with Payton. Now she'd rather have it than a real book. Not me though.

CrystalGB said...

I admire your perseverance and determination to juggle everything. Your books sound great.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Haha! Well--I don't know so much about that staying sane business. I keep telling Dave-O (the DH) that I'm probably going to have to book a stay in a nice, padded room by the end of the year! :)

Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Yes--tattooed hotties rank at the top of my fave list too.

Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

LOL at the Superbowl of Chaos! :)

Anonymous said...

Yep! We try to keep everything in perspective. Tetralogy of Fallot and an ASD plus speech delays/maybe autism are hard to deal with--but they're all issues that can be fixed or helped with surgery and therapy. We're so incredibly lucky when compared to so many other families.

Hope your kiddo is doing well!

Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness! I That's rough. :/ My cousin had a micro-preemie (24w1d) and they've been through so much with him too. It's so hard.

Wishing your family the very best!

Lo/Roxie

Anonymous said...

Thanks!

Lo/Roxie