First off, here are some pictures from the book signing I did Saturday with Debby Giusti and Marjorie Liu.
Here is Debby, Anya, and Marjorie.
Anya & the wonderful bookstoredeb of The Bookstore in Radcliff, KY.
Laurak was there! So was Rhonda! I forgot to have pictures taken with them yet again, though. I fail at photos.
~*~
Goodbye cube farm! Fare thee well…
So, yep, I quit my day job. There are some who would advise me against such a move, I know. Yet, I’ve done it. I’m out. After twelve years of breathing the allergen-laden air of my office building, I finally gave my notice.
I am OUT of there. Hoo, boy. Oh yeah. Freedom!
As of next week I will trade my life of paper pushing for one of full-time writing and stay-at-home momming. And although I just cried freedom, it’s a little scary too. For many years I worked full time, only going part time a couple years ago when my writing income began to be enough to pick up the slack of a loss of twenty hours a week. I went part time to have more time to write and also in anticipation of motherhood.
I liked being part time because it allowed me a foot in steadier waters while giving me time for other things. As Vonna pointed out in her blog this week, writing is anything but predictable work. Most writers don’t make enough to support themselves and need to keep their day jobs, or they need to keep day jobs because they don’t have a spouse who can support them. I do have a spouse to support me, but in my case I just never wanted him to do it. I wanted to bring in enough income to support myself as if I were not married. So I kept my day job long after I could have quit. It took me a long, long time to pry my fingers off it even though a part of me really did want to leave. Those closest to me watched me seesaw back and forth between TO QUIT! or NOT TO QUIT! Yes, that was the question.
A perfect storm of events finally pried my strong grip off the job. A combination of wanting to spend more time with my daughter, events within the company, and my writing career taking off a bit (yay!). But I will miss the days it got me out of the house. I’ll miss doing something in which I can see immediate, practical results. I’ll miss some of the people in my office. I’ll even miss some of the work. But there are lots of things I won’t miss, too. So….
Goodbye long commute! Goodbye nasty grounds in the coffee! Goodbye small gray square of a cubicle. Goodbye bland carpet-covered walls. Goodbye uncomfortable office chair. Goodbye air duct right over my head that had me in sweaters at the height of July.
Goodbye! Goodbye!
April 1st, 2008 at 6:25 am
awesome pics!!! ohh we get to see you peek aboo
April 1st, 2008 at 7:49 am
Anya,
Goodonya!!!!
I totally understand how scary leaving your cube job can be. I left mine in ‘96 when we left Hawaii and went to England. I started writing full time then.
Denise A. Agnew
April 1st, 2008 at 8:10 am
Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!
April 1st, 2008 at 10:58 am
Congratulations, Anya!! I’m looking forward to meeting you at the RT Convention in a few weeks.
Lisa
April 1st, 2008 at 11:04 am
Yay, no more day job for you. Congrats.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Hmmmm….I don’t remember seeing you at my office, but we must work at the same place because your description could have been writtem by me!
Congrats, congrats, congrats!! I am so proud for you!
April 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Congratulations on leaving the cube.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
UGH!!!! I can’t believe we forgot pics with you!!!!! It was a real dork day for me! I forgot my “real” camera and my other books for you to sign. But it was so good to get to see you again and it was fun to meet Debby and Marjori too. It was another fantastic signing. Deb does a great job with them.
Congratulations on quitting the day job. I remember the great feeling of relief I felf when I left my last job to stay home with the kids. It’s been amazing, hectic sometimes, but so worth it.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Oh, congratulations, Anya!!!!
April 1st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Congrats Anya! I know how scary that can be. But have faith that you made the absolute best decision for you!
April 1st, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Yay - congratulations, Anya!
April 1st, 2008 at 6:45 pm
So glad you were able to take that leap! Happy, happy day!
April 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
All thumbs up, girl!!! Hey, what in life isn’t scary, but you’re doing what your heart has been telling you to do. Hug that daughter of yours and embrace your ‘new’ career.
Vonna
April 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Congrats Anya! Cheers to Happiness and continued success!
Hugs, Danette
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Mega, congrats, Anya. Can’t wait to meet you at RT.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I am rooting for you, Anya! This is a dream of mine for one day, too, but not yet quite feasible. Good luck, and love the signing picts.