Celebrating 10 Years In a Writing Career

 

The summer of 2013, I was being pushed to put in more and more hours at work until I was clocking somewhere between 50-60 hours a week. 

At a job that felt like it was about to suck the life out of me. 

Demands were ever-increasing and there was nothing no human without super powers could have done to meet them. 

I'd come home so exhausted and frustrated every night and still try to get in an hour or two of writing. 

After one particularly harsh day at work, I came home near tears, at a loss to know what to do to make things any better at work. My boss was also the owner of the business, so it wasn't like there was anyone up the chain of command I could talk to about the situation. 

The next morning, I'd barely arrived at work when my husband, Captain Cavedweller, called and told me I needed to quit. 

We'd discussed several times what our finances would need to look like before I left behind a steady paycheck and benefits. 

Even though we weren't quite there yet with the income from my books, he encouraged me to let go of the safety net of my day job and pursue my dream of writing full time. 

So I did.

I gave me two weeks' notice and left work for the last time on August 8, 2013. 

It was terrifying to take such a big leap of faith, but it has blessed me - us - so much in the past ten years. I am grateful every day for the privilege of doing something I love and being able to make a living from it. 

Even when I was a little girl, I dreamed of creating stories I could share with others that would make them happy.

Now, those dreams have come true and I'm so incredibly thankful. 
To celebrate my 10th anniversary of walking away from what was secure to embrace an unknown adventure, I'm hosting a party in my Facebook group tomorrow.

I hope you'll join me for a day of fun, games, giveaways and more!

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.