Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun.

This month's topic is: What did you want to be growing up?

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief… Have you ever heard that old counting game/clapping rhyme/song? Maybe you used it on the playground as a way of deciding who’s “it?”

My assumption is that many Gems knew they wanted to be writers from an early age, but perhaps not. Share with us what you wanted to be growing up and if that desire impacted your books in any way. Let’s talk!

“I didn’t always want to be a writer. While it’s true I started writing fiction young – I was 8 when I penned my first curious girl adventure series, my ultimate goal in life wasn’t writing – it was helping people. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a nurse. My father pushed me towards medicine because of my smarts, but I didn’t want that. I wanted the 1-on-1 of caring for people, hands-on, when they were in a time of great need and crisis. I was lucky enough to achieve my goal. My nursing career was long and fulfilling. And even though I’m retired now, I still use my nursing knowledge daily. The added benefit: I met my husband while nursing and instead of being a doctor, married one!” ~ Peggy Jaeger

“A ninth grade class assignment was to present in front of the class what we wanted to do when we grew up. I researched free lance writer, but I never thought I’d be able to become one. I went to college and majored in English and history. Five years of high school teaching did me in, and I changed careers to become a technical writer. In 1998, my first book was published. Today, with a name change and 35,000 more words, this is Kentucky Flame.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

 “I had a few job ideas when I was a child -- an adventurer (think Indiana Jones), a spy (like Harriet), and I wanted to play second base for the Houston Astros. Being a writer, I kind of get to be the first two, but the last one....oh well!” ~ Kara O'Neal

“When I was little I wanted to be a fashion designer, marine biologist, a mermaid, a space cowboy...you get the idea. Like most kids I didn't know.

“But one thing was constant-I wrote stories. In fifth grade my best friend and I wrote a story together, and from that point on, I think I was always scribbling in notebooks. It's when I look back that I see that I always was a writer, I just didn't realize it. So it comes as no surprise that my chosen career is a writer, even if I didn't know it when I was younger.” ~Laura Hunsaker

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be lots of things. A rock star. Movie Star. But mostly I wanted to be a Kindergarten Teacher. And for twenty years I was. Then I moved to teaching third grade for ten years before I retired to write full time. Surprisingly, writing was nowhere near any list of careers for me. I hated writing. Comparing or contrasting. Analyzing things. But no one ever asked me to create characters, especially ones who fall in love. One day all the stories in my head finally cried out to be heard. I listened.” ~ Kari Lemor

“As I’m sure is true for the others, I’ve been a writer since I could understand the concept, but I was never encouraged to seek it as a career as it really wasn’t seen as one. I fell back on my next great love, which goes hand in hand with writing, reading. I decided to teach and share my love of books with students. Some people were born to that career, but for me, it produced more stress than I could handle, at the time. I have great admiration for teachers, though, and have several characters who are teachers.” ~ M.J. Schiller

Kathleen's
Grandparents

“When I was young, my parents pushed me to become a nurse, which they considered the perfect career choice for a female.  Luckily, my Grandfather Lawless, impressed by how much I read,  planted the suggestion in my impressionable preteen head that I should write my own stories one day.  It made sense to me.   Creative writing was my favorite class in high school, and my teacher reinforced the idea of me becoming a writer. So one fateful day, while my first born napped, using a borrowed typewriter and a gallon of white out, I typed Chapter One.  The rest, as they say, is history.” ~ Kathleen Lawless

“Don’t laugh, but I always wanted to be a cowgirl. My mom used to joke, saying I grew up in the backseat of her car, because of her chauffeuring my big sister to and from riding lessons. I loved western movies and TV shows, every horse that ever lived, and all things farms, and barns. I took my own lessons when I was big enough. English saddle first, but that soon grew to include a Western seat. I visited a dude ranch for a school field trip and never looked back. Strange, but I haven’t written a western romance. Although I’ve read many. Humm…You never know. 😊” ~ Kathryn Hills

“To be honest, my youth is so far away, I don't remember if I ever had a dream career. What I do remember is my 9th grade English teacher telling me I had a flair for writing. I've had three complete (10+ years careers) but, until I began writing, I'd never *loved* what I was doing. Just goes to show you ... teachers are the best!” ~ Nancy Fraser

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Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us” link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

 Thanks for joining us!

 ~ The Romance Gems ~