Working from Home

Do you work from home? I do. Read my blog post about working from home, the challenges I face, and why it is the best job for me as an LGBT fantasy book writer and mindful parenting blogger.

Image of LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green holding her novel "Vampire of Blackpool." Text reads, "Working from home @SpookyMrsGreen." SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Working from Home as an LGBT fantasy book writer and mindful parenting blogger.

Working from Home

I have been a professional freelancer for about five or six years. It came about slowly while I had babies and needed to be at home with them. When I got my novels published, and had some short stories accepted for anthologies, it gave me the confidence to pursue a freelance writing career. My challenge has been finding the right people and the right companies to pitch work to.

I found my way into blog writing and managed to get by with sponsored blog posts and product reviews for a while. My work has generally been quite sporadic. I will have weeks of very little income while I try and find writing jobs. Then I will have weeks where I feel overwhelmed with the responsibility. And around all of this I am juggling childcare and family life.

Work from home jobs for mums

Work from home jobs for mums are not as glamorous or as lucrative as we are led to believe. For example, even though I earn money as a freelancer, I am still way below the threshold where I am considered important enough to register with the government so I can pay tax. Now, that might seem like a good thing, but it means I might not get a very good state pension when I am older, if such a thing still exists by then. I do not earn enough money to support my family: that task falls to my husband.

And then I fall into the classic trap where I feel a bit blasé about working. I find myself easily distracted by household tasks, the need to run errands and be sociable. I find it difficult to assert when I need to be on the laptop actually working. And it is my own fault. I need to knuckle down, get tough on myself, and take my career in freelancing seriously. Nobody else is going to do it for me. Let’s see how that works out when I have the children home for summer holidays and my husband working away from home… wish me luck!

Vampire writer Catherine Green working on her laptop at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Vampire writer Catherine Green working on her laptop

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Be More Mindful this Summer

I am in a strange mood this week. I feel exhausted, even though my sleep pattern hasn’t changed. I know that we are close to ending our academic year, and both me and my children need our school summer holiday so that we can rest and recuperate.

There is no reason for me to be so tired. I am not sick. I am not pregnant. And I am not depressed. But I just don’t feel right. I have no interest in work, and despite the very long list of jobs I must do around the house, I feel no desire or urgency to do any of them. This is a strange feeling.

Be More Mindful this Summer. Spiritual guidance from SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Be More Mindful this Summer.

Be More Mindful this Summer

Does it sound familiar to you? Is it a mild form of depression, or is it related to the season I wonder? We are officially in British Summertime now, and I should be full of life and excited to be outside in the fresh air. Today it feels cool and there is a lot of cloud, with the occasional burst of sunshine. Maybe I just need to rest. Perhaps I should practice what I preach and be more mindful this summer. I am fortunate that my work is freelance so I can do as much or as little as I choose. My husband will provide our financial support through his job, and he doesn’t like taking holidays, so that works out well for me. I shall simply await the end of school term, and I shall enjoy some quiet time at home with my children, resting and recuperating.

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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Coping with Emotional Stress

Life is continuing at a very fast pace, and this is the time of year when I begin to feel symptoms of emotional exhaustion. The simplest tasks seem to take a lot of effort, I just want to lie on the sofa and do nothing, and I can barely comprehend the regular routine of being a mother and freelancer.

Death has visited again recently, and while I am not directly affected, I feel the weight of grief and emotional stress from my friends as they work through the events that have occurred.

Take a moment for spiritual self-care with LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. 👻
Coping with Emotional Stress

Coping with Emotional Stress

I would like to retreat from social life and take time to sit alone in meditation, but that is not practically possible right now. I can take five minutes here and there before someone comes looking for me, but true peace will evade me until such time as I am properly alone. My reiki practice has developed sufficiently that I have learned methods to use during the day. Simple cleansing exercises like dry bathing, deep breathing and drinking water rather than coffee can make a huge difference to my emotional state. I don’t always adhere to these principles, much as I know they can help, but I at least have the knowledge to help myself when life becomes too difficult. I want to be present for my friends and family. But first I must be present for myself, prepare to engage with a world full of demands, and learn to step back before I crumble under the pressure. We will get through this.

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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Summer Solstice 2019

It is almost time for Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, when we are supposed to be enjoying sunshine and warmth.

In complete contrast to the heatwave of 2018, this June has seen record levels of rainfall here in the UK. It just hasn’t stopped!

Summer Solstice with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Summer Solstice at SpookyMrsGreen.com

Summer Solstice

We might have a few hours of dry weather, but you can guarantee the rain will start when we stand outside school waiting for the children. Our FAB festival was a mud bath all last weekend, but that didn’t stop the crowds turning out. We are used to the rain, and we simply carry on with our activities, smiling and soggy. Instead of complaining about the rain, I have been studying nature while out on my walks. The plants and trees are flourishing, the bottom of my garden is grown wild, and we have a bumper crop of strawberries this year. Everything is vibrant and colourful. The rain is doing us a favour, even if we find it inconvenient when we just want to sit in the pub beer garden and be sociable.

There are a few small rivers running through Middlewich, and the river Weaver, which flows near the Shropshire Union Canal, regularly bursts its banks during heavy rain. It is surrounded by farmers’ fields and hasn’t yet breached the road that runs alongside it, but there are lots of big puddles to contend with. I often walk alongside the river once I leave the canal path, and I managed to capture some lovely photos of the flooded river, which you can see here. It has almost reached the footpath, which is the worst flooding I have seen on this site in a good few years, but it is for now a very pleasant place to walk past. I know there are places in the UK that have been flooded out, and people have had to evacuate their homes. The worst we experienced here was a flooded driveway and wet feet when we got in and out of the car, but that has all subsided now and it never reached the house. My garden is a bog, but like I said, the plants, trees and grass love it, and the whole place feels alive with vitality and fresh energy. Merry Solstice, my friends!

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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A FABulous Folk and Boat Festival

Phew, what a weekend! We just celebrated our annual FAB festival in Middlewich, also known as Folk and Boat. Our little town comes alive, the boaters arrive, and this year the fields were reduced to mud.

Seriously, we didn’t need Glastonbury, we just visited the main stage for FAB and tried not to get sucked in. There has been a lot of rain so far this June in the UK, a complete reversal of the heatwave we had in 2018, and I have to say I prefer it this way. I do not cope well in extreme heat, but I can handle a bit of rain (or a lot, in this case).

Middlewich FAB is a great family festival, with lots of live bands, visiting Morris dancers, street performers, circus acts and lots of activities. There is a lot to pack in to one weekend, let me tell you.

Forget Glastonbury, enjoy Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival with LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. 👻

A FABulous Folk and Boat Festival

Now, I felt a bit discombobulated on Saturday, because I missed the parade that opens the festival. I had to take my youngest daughter to a birthday party, which she thoroughly enjoyed. My daughters and I have participated in the Folk and Boat festival parade with our dance school for the past five years, although I must admit sometimes it is more for my benefit than theirs.

I love an excuse to dress up and parade around. I used to participate in our town festival when I was a child, aided by my Grandad, who was always involved in community events. It must be in my blood, because now I feel that I need to do more. Anyway, I still managed to enjoy the floating market, the Grand Union Canal Entertainment Company, I sampled Stokie Oatcake Gin from Barge-In Booze, and I heard bits of music from the bands as we walked around. It was a fabulously busy and fun weekend!

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LGBT fantasy novel set in Manchester, England. “Return of the Vampire Hunter” by Catherine Green.

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Spiritual Guidance Tarot Spread

I have not worked with my Tarot cards for a long time, over six months, so today I decided to share a Tarot reading that I did for general interest. I used my Druid Craft tarot deck, and I had no specific questions, requests or intentions for the reading.

What came out reflected largely on my husband, who recently took voluntary redundancy and is at a crossroads in his life both professionally and personally. It reminded me that I need to support my husband during his difficult time, and perhaps I have not been as sympathetic as I might have been recently. For me personally, there are no major stresses or worries. I know that our family is secure and that we will work through this life event. My husband has anxiety and depression, so for him the way forward is not always so clear and positive.

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Spiritual Guidance Tarot Reading by Catherine Green

Spiritual Guidance Tarot Spread

Here is the reading:

1, Two of PentaclesJoyful

I trust in the Earth to provide sanctuary during a time of financial uncertainty. We can balance our resources while we work towards making improvements, but we can allow ourselves a little fun in the process. This is a happy time, despite the lack of structure and solidity, and we will continue to improve.

2, The LordTake Control

He is defeated and angry, but he remains proud of his work and the decisions he made. It was a long, hard battle during the past few years, and he learned a lot during that time. Now he may retreat while he considers a new plan to support his family. He has resources. Now he can decide what to do with them, and how to make them more profitable and fulfilling.

3, Ten of SwordsBetrayal

Our situation may look bleak from the outside, but do not feel sad for us. Yes, there is a sense of betrayal from the company that took so much from our lives in terms of time, emotion and energy, but we gained a lot in return. There is much happening beneath the surface. We are not defeated yet.

4, The FferylltHarmony

It is time to return to the cauldron and create a new dream. Use your magic to help him find his way. You know what he can achieve, and you have already achieved so much for yourself. Help him to see his potential. And have fun doing it!

5, Seven of CupsDaydreaming

His life is in turmoil and he needs to come to terms with it. Allow him to feel his emotions and recognise that he can be and do so much more. Leave him alone to daydream and make plans, and he will return to you much refreshed and invigorated. Enjoy some free time while you have it.

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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#BookTalk: “Key to My Heart” Books on the Beach Anthology Cover Reveal

BookTalk “Key to My Heart” Books on the Beach Anthology featuring LGBT Fantasy Book Writer Catherine Green.

#BookTalk Key to My Heart Books on the Beach Anthology featuring LGBT Fantasy Book Writer Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Key to My Heart Books on the Beach Anthology

Key to My Heart” Books on the Beach Anthology

Authors: Alice La Roux, C L Norton, Catherine Green, Eleanor Lloyd-Jones, Jennah Thornhill, K.A Knight, K.M. Lowe, KT Kitchin, Lauren Connors, Lizzie James, Louisa Line, Paula Acton, Rebecca Barber, Sienna Grant, Stacey Broadbent, TA Andrews, T.L Wainwright and Taylor Porter

Cover Designer: Kathryn Dee at KatDeezigns

Add it to your TBR at GoodReads.

This is an official Books on the Beach anthology brought to you from several attending authors of the Books on the Beach international signing event.

This anthology is full of stories of sweet romance, hearts racing and love blossoming.

All the proceeds from the anthology are being donated to charity.

All the sweetest sentiments of a summer romance brought to you by an amazing group of authors.

Get swept up in your summer escape and find your new romance.

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here

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Leaving a Legacy: My Gift to the World when I’m Gone

The idea of leaving a legacy is partly why I continue to persevere with writing and publishing my novels. I know how proud my children are about the work that I do, and they both enjoy writing their own stories, so they can be authors just like mummy.

My husband has just been made redundant from a job where he left a very big legacy in terms of the work he put into that place over the years, and how he helped improve recycling and waste management statistics for Greater Manchester Waste. It got me thinking about my family legacy, and where I come from: a small city in the north Midlands, known affectionately as The Potteries.

Join the discussion about the gift you give to the world with LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. 👻

Leaving a Legacy: My Gift to the World when I’m Gone

Technically I come from a town just outside of Stoke-on-Trent, but my grandparents grew up in and around the Potteries, and so did I. As a child I never appreciated what a great city I came from, always seeking to escape and set up a new life somewhere else in the world. I ended up not far away, just over the border in Cheshire, and I still regularly visit family and friends in Stoke.

Perhaps it is the political unrest in our country that has me feeling nostalgic for the good old days. Maybe I am feeling my age and thinking about my parents and grandparents. I have always been fascinated by social history and heritage, and just last week my mum and I visited a local craft and antique centre in search of homewares. We like to buy second-hand items where possible, partly to reuse them, and partly to respect their heritage.

Replace my broken china

I found some useful dinner plates to replace my broken ones, my mum found some ornamental items she wanted. I also found lots of fine bone china tea sets that reminded me of my paternal grandmother. She loved to collect Royal Doulton figurines, and I inherited three of them when my grandad passed away last year. I used to love studying the figurines as a child, and now I sit and stare at them while I work at home, seeking inspiration in their bright colours and cheerful depictions.

I have a Country Rose lady, the Balloon Lady, and the Silk Ribbon Lady. I also have a cabinet full of Royal Albert Old Country Roses dinnerware from my nanna, and I love it. Our heritage is important. These pieces were designed and made in Stoke-on-Trent, and they will always remind me of where I came from, and my ancestors before me. Let us continue to create lives that are colourful, cheerful and always optimistic. Namaste.

Image of a sexy dark-haired man wearing a black leather jacket, staring at the viewer, and looking mysterious. 3D book cover image for "Heart of the Vampire (A Redcliffe Novel)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green including phone and iPad download images for tablet, iPhone, and android book readers.
LGBT fantasy book series set in Cornwall. “Heart of the Vampire (The Redcliffe Novels)” #5 by Catherine Green.

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More than Just a Car

Our family has experienced a week of high emotion, coping with change, and learning to let go. It all began with my husband working the last shift at his job of fourteen years. He will no longer have a hand in the recycling and waste management for Greater Manchester, and this has hit him very hard. He was devoted to the job, so much so that it almost broke our marriage, but that is another story.

Today I want to talk about the family car. It finally gave up on us last week. Old Worky will work no more!

#MummyMonday More than just a Car Skoda Fabia. Article saying goodbye to our first family car at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
#MummyMonday More than just a Car Skoda Fabia.

More than Just a Car

Now, a lot of people would say it’s just a car, why all the fuss? Other people would completely understand our emotional attachment to the vehicle. My husband purchased the Skoda Fabia Greenline back in 2008, and we have taken it all over the UK. It took us on honeymoon in North Yorkshire, it took me to a ghost hunt in Edinburgh, it brought both our babies home from hospital, and it has done countless journeys up and down the M6 motorway, around Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent.

With a final mileage of around 235,000, I think we can safely say we got our money’s worth from that car. It never once broke down, except on its final journey. Farewell, Worky. You have been a good car.

#MummyMonday More than just a Car Skoda Fabia. Article saying goodbye to our first family car at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
#MummyMonday More than just a Car Skoda Fabia

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#BookTalk: “Shadow Stalker” (Part 1) by Renee Scattergood

This fast-paced and exhilarating adventure will keep you on the edge of your seat!

"Shadow Stalker" (Part 1) by Renee Scattergood featured on #BookTalk with LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green at SpookyMrsGreen mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. 👻
Shadow Stalker” (Part 1) by Renee Scattergood

Shadow Stalker” (Part 1) by Renee Scattergood

Auren longs for the freedom that comes with adulthood and wants to celebrate her coming of age with her friends on a distant island. When her strict foster-father, Kado, says no, she sneaks out, determined to prove she can take care of herself. But her forbidden excursion turns into a nightmare when the island is overrun by the Galvadi Empire forces. Worse, she learns that she is their main target.

Drevin, Emperor of the Galvadi people, is convinced she will enslave the people of the Serpent Isles and wants her dead.

When Auren learns she is a shadow stalker, someone who can travel between the physical and spirit worlds, and that she is the only one who can stop Drevin, it’s more than she can take. Her whole world is turning upside down and instead of adulthood bringing freedom, she is instead overwhelmed by a greater undertaking than any one person could possibly overcome. It seems hopeless.

However, if she can defeat Drevin, maybe she can have her old life back. More than that, the people she cares about would be safe to live their lives, and the people of the Serpent Isles would be free of the Galvadi forever.

About the Author

Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband, Nathan, and daughter, Taiya. She has always been a fan of fantasy and was inspired to become a storyteller by George Lucas but didn’t consider writing down her stories until she reached her late twenties. Now she enjoys writing dark speculative fiction.

She is currently publishing her Shadow Stalker serial, and she has published a prequel novella to the series called, Demon Hunt. She is also working on a new series of novels, A God’s Deception.

Aside from writing, she loves reading (fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube Videos with her daughter. Visit her site for more information and a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6).

Follow Renee here:

Website/BlogSpeculative Fiction Spot; Giveaways & GoodiesAmazon Author PageSmashwords Author PageBookBub Author Page; Goodreads Author Page; Facebook PageTwitter;

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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