Selfie
Hello! I am April Heather. Married. Mother of two. Creative type. Writer. Blonde, blue-eyed, a bit top-heavy. I sprinkle powder blue and Barbie pink wherever I go. … Or, so people think.
Successes
I quit smoking! A funny thing happened on the way … I got a life! Most smokers think they will live a wounded life without their cigarettes. Well, I defied — the need to quit right now — mentality and I made some serious changes by working on the reasons why I stomped off to go smoke, and after “never being able to quit,” I finally quit!
Currently, I am writing and publishing six little “commuter reads” which you can buy on amazon.com/author/aprilheather. I am having a blast learning what happens after the manuscript and muddling through the process of, write, publish, repeat.
I have been married for 25+ years. Quite an accomplishment for an 18-year-old bride. They say it can never be done.
My children are now adults. (Whew, I made it.)
Goals
I wrote a book about my crooked and varied path to quit smoking and that book is in the sphere of perpetual edit. I want to get that book in its final edits and published.
I need to finish my current goal — Those six little commuter reads — are good books for people who are curious about the changes I made yet, don’t need to quit smoking. They will serve as a nice complement to The Crooked and Varied Path to Quitting Smoking if someone wants to delve deeper into a certain topic.
My writers group put forth a goal for everyone to take part in NaNoWriMo, I think I am going to use that month to work a bit every day on a time-line/outline for a fictional series that I’m thinking of. If I do NaNo this year, I will feel too far behind with the quitting smoking book. Instead I think the outline will put me on track for my next goal.
I did a PeMarWriMo (Personal March Writing Month) to get the quitting smoking book out me and into the computer, which led to the six little commuter reads so I know it is a good project. I’m already looking forward to next year. We will see how this time-line goes.
Of course I want to quit my current job and write full-time. Travel more. Be present more. Now is the time to start partying with my husband (and my kids if they aren’t too busy starting their own lives).
Right now I am learning how to run after a lifetime of hating it and avoiding it at all costs. Do I dare entertain the thought of running a marathon?
Failures
Since the age of 18, I have started and ended five home-based businesses. I was always trying to find something that would carry me over into my writing career and put family and home first. Instead I was distracted and preoccupied.
My children tell me I am a good mommy even though I know I could have done better with being present and with less stress.
Its been rough these past few years. I feel like I’ve lost some credibility. I am hesitant to discuss any plans with anyone beyond my husband. Except in this way, to promote my books, in this thinly veiled anonymity of the blogosphere.
My Blogging Plans
I am blogging about writing, running, keeping house, working women, courage, fear, leadership, with some current events thrown in. Maybe post some excerpts of my future fiction …
My domain name, Heather Publishing is my indy publishing company, as they make you create one when you upload your book to sell on-line. My writing name April Heather has been taken by an artist with paint and brush. Here I thought, all Aprils were named April Dawn, apparently April Heather is also popular. Especially with us creative types. You should check out her page too at aprilheather.wordpress.com But, before you go opening a bunch of windows, please subscribe to my page.
I am a married, American Gen Xer … Yes, with two grown children. Like it or not we have grown up and one of my biggest epiphanies is that I have time left. Lot’s of it! And I’m looking for my next adventure. I am really excited to use that time with creativity, curiosity and a lot of fun.
I’m nominating you for a blog award. Here’s a link to the page: http://kyaruandbunnies.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/the-newbie-blogger-awards-part-4/ Keep up the good work!
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Thank You, I’ll go take a look.
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I forgot to link to my post about it! So here’s my link: http://kategervais1984.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/the-newbie-blogger-award/
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I would love to share this your quit smoking post with our readers on youcanquitsmoking.info You will get the credit and be able to show any social media or products you have. Please let me know.
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Thank you. You can use my link to amazon. amazon.com/author/aprilheather. Thanks for stopping by.
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Ya, the books on there aren’t directly related to smoking yet, but eventually… That and this blog is all I have right now.
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I’m not a parent, but I’ve been around long enough to know this much: Every parent could, in an ideal world, have been a better parent. Not living up to the ideal is part of the job description. If you did a decent job of it and your kids tell you you did, celebrate.
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Yeah, I keep telling myself that. It is fighting that preverbal, If I knew what I know now, back then… ?? I keep reminding myself that I like my kids and my kids like me. 😉
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How had I never read your “About” page, April? Now I realize that “April” might not be your real name 🙂 Sometimes I think I have revealed too much personal information on my blog. (Writing is like that: details ooze through, even when we try to be guarded.)
Can I say how impressed I am that you have a “Failures” sub-heading on your “About” page? I appreciate your candor — and your willingness to pick yourself up and start a new venture.
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April is my real name. Heather isn’t my last name, but it is still me. I know what you are saying about revealing too much information. Every time it is, “okay, just this little bit, just this once.” But I guess I can’t be someone else and blog, I have to be me.
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Hi, April! NO pressure to accept, but I have nominated you for the Virtual Tour Blog Award. Here’s my post — and Merry Christmas!
http://sappyasatree.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/pack-your-bags-virtual-tour-blog-award/
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Hello:)
Thank you for joining MyRedPage, it’s lovely to have you!
I love how versatile your blog is, so many good topics to read about:)
I am not sure if this would interest you, but I am hosting each week a photo challenge, if you would like to join us, read about this week’s theme, here:
https://myredpage.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/camera-lucida-the-park-bench/
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Hi April. I found you via your comment to Roni at It Occurred to Me. Dropped on over to take a look. I invite you to spend some time with me. I’m considering Roni’s challenge re the green smoothies. Maybe… I read your About and your House cleaning blog. Enjoyed.
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April, I’m still checking things over here. I did visit the site on Amazon. Very impressive. I was glad to see your books on kindle, with such an enticing price! Lovely picture also. I loved the statement about smoking “I stomped…” to find the cause and worked on that. Smart insight.
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Thank you. The books are very short and I couldn’t set the price any lower. At any rate, it’s good to get the info in small doses then pause to digest it before moving on. When I finish I plan on rolling them into one book. I’m learning the craft and meeting people along the way, such as my editor, but I couldn’t just sit on the information until everything was perfect, so I decided to finish “something” and release it and repeat. Thanks again for checking back.
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Hi, again. I’m dropping in to say hi. And to wish you a great 2017.
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Hello Oneta! Happy New year.
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