The Dream and the Reality

For years, I dreamed about what writing full-time would be like.

Now I know.

Two weeks ago I became a full-time writer. The dream and the reality are different.

I dreamed fluffy sweaters, astronomical word counts, and unfettered creativity.

Reality is the decision to do something hard—create a new series.

When I began The Deep End, I blithely wrote exactly what I wanted. Not for a minute did I think I was creating a world and characters that would be with me for years. Not for a minute did I consider I’d have to live with the decisions I made.

Now, I know better. I write slowly. I consider. I cringe at my pace.

As soon as I’m happy with this new series, I’ll tell you more. At the rate I’m going, who knows when that will be…

In other news, my first short story releases tomorrow. Writing about the Country Club world from a different point of view was great fun. And while I enjoyed telling Aggie’s story, I can’t help but think that Frances deserves a story (I’m surprised she’s not haunting my dreams, demanding one).

I hope you’ll look for Aggie’s story—it’s called DiamondGirl and I’m quite fond of it (then again, I’m quite fond of Aggie).

Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders. 

She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.