SpookyMrsGreen

Announcing my Theme for the #AtoZChallenge 2015

Posted on March 27, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Apparently I am late to the party this year. For some unknown reason, I am about a week behind everybody else this month. My brain refuses to accept that today is 27th March. It keeps insisting that the date is somewhere in the region of the 17th.

Maybe I’m under stress… maybe it is ‘baby brain,’ (that’s a real, honest condition you know!). Maybe I am just so wrapped up in my fictional world down in coastal Cornwall, that I do not function very well as a regular human being while my novels are in progress…

April A-Z Blogging Challenge Theme Reveal with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. — April A-Z Blogging Challenge Theme Reveal

Announcing my Theme for the #AtoZChallenge 2015

Whatever the reason, I completely missed the huge reveal party that many of my fellow A-Z bloggers joined in with on Monday. Have you heard about the April A-Z Blogging Challenge? I have been doing it for three years now (I think), and I find it great for networking and motivation. I love writing my blogs. I love interacting with my readers, and exploring other blogs about anything from writing, to photography, to lifestyle, cooking, business… the list is endless. My point is that blogging is a great way to widen your perspective, do some research, and just generally have a bit of educational fun.

And so to my theme for 2015: Last year I focused on lifestyle, specifically the theme of parenthood and what it means to have a young family. This year I want to celebrate more about me, Catherine, and my personal interests. But that automatically leads into my writing, because it is a part of me. I was recently looking through old photographs, and remembering my nights as a ghost hunter, and slowly I began to devise a theme. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the paranormal world. I would seek out ghost stories in the local library, watch X-Files on television, and I wrote my university dissertation about vampires in popular culture.

Join me on the author blog

I will use my author blog, Paranormal Author Catherine Green as the platform. And I will use the #AtoZChallenge to write about all things paranormal, and how they manifest in my work. You will read about magic and mysticism, animal familiars, witches, vampires, werewolves, energy, and maybe a few more obscure entities that I can procure for your entertainment and interest. See you on the blog hop!

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

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

Posted in #AtoZChallenge, #freeforallFriday, A-Z Blog Challenge, paranormal, Random Musings, Writing | Tagged #AtoZChallenge, #freeforallFriday, #lifestylebloggeruk, a redcliffe novel, A-Z April Blog Hop Challenge, April A-Z Blogging Challenge, Catherine Green Author, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, Paranormal Author Catherine Green, SpookyMrsGreen, the redcliffe novels, vampire writer Catherine Green | 6 Comments

Just another Mother: the joys of Having it All in the 21st Century

Posted on March 25, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Before I got pregnant I had all these ideas that I could have my child and carry on my life as normal. After all, that’s what other women in my social circles were doing.

I knew that my mum and mother-in-law had both taken a few years off work while their children were pre-schoolers. And gradually, they returned to work when they could fit it around the demands of the school run, and all the associated responsibilities that come with children. They made it look easy.

Signpost Mum Career Working Mom at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. — Signpost Mum Career Working Mom

Just another Mother

Ah, how wrong I was, with my rose-tinted spectacles and my assertive world view of modern women! Now, four years and two children later, I feel like a Stepford wife but without the glamour. I didn’t really make it easy for myself. When I graduated from university I had been applying for jobs within the media industry. I wanted to work in broadcasting. I took the advice of my peers and career advisors, and applied for work experience and entry level jobs all around the UK. It didn’t yield the results I expected.

Meanwhile, life plodded on, and I had to find an income fast if I wanted to live with my then-fiancé (now husband), and save for our first home and our wedding. So, I did what I knew was ‘the right thing.’ I accepted a minimum wage customer service job in a call centre, and spent the next five years drifting from one admin job to another, all the while applying for any and every media industry role that looked like something I could do. My problem? I had no experience. And nobody would give me the chance to gain the experience by offering me a job.

I gave up on my dream

So I gave up on that dream. I now realise that it was too vague anyway. And by the time my maternal clock starting ticking, I was still a very long way from being the financially secure, independent woman that I had been raised to aspire to. It wasn’t for lack of trying. It was circumstance. And social position. And, well, law of attraction. The more I chased something, the further away it seemed to be. When I finally realised my childhood dream of becoming a published author, I had a child. And then my world did change completely.

I became the Mother. I became the Housewife. I became, to quote from one of my all-time favourite films, Shirley Valentine. It certainly is a rollercoaster ride, but I do believe things are settling down now. I am an author. That is my career choice. I have complications in fulfilling professional obligations because my children always come first. That has been a bit of an issue recently, when I felt frustrated that I am the one to arrange childcare while my husband goes out to work day after day, doing his thing and getting on with his career. Yes, it is hard. But he earns the money. He is highly educated, highly experienced, and he deserves success. So do I, but then mine is a career that will take years to build. Until then, I will enjoy my children while they are young. I am Catherine Green. Just another Mother.

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

Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

Posted in advertising, Children, family, pagan mother, Random Musings | Tagged #affiliatelink, #bookblogger, #Britmums, #lifestylebloggeruk, #mummymonday, #parentingblog, #TheRedcliffeNovels, being a working mother, full time mother, housewife or working mother, SpookyMrsGreen, stay at home mom, the joys of Having it All in the 21st Century, working mom | 1 Comment

A Very Spiritual Solar Eclipse Experience

Posted on March 22, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

I cannot let the weekend pass by without sharing my experience of the amazing solar eclipse that happened on Friday. We all know about it. We all saw the media coverage, heard it on the radio, had it blasted to us across all the social networks.

At first I was fairly relaxed about the whole thing. I knew it was happening on the day of the Ostara festival, where pagans and spiritual followers welcome the season of Spring, and that it was the day of the Dark Moon (or New Moon if you prefer). I didn’t really stop to contemplate the significance of this fact.

#WitchyWednesday June morning sky Summer nature photo full moon by SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. — #WitchyWednesday June morning sky

A Very Spiritual Solar Eclipse Experience

It was only as the evening drew to a close on Thursday that it hit me. This was a Big Happening. My husband had been watching Stargazing Live on BBC2, and I saw bits of it around the book I was reading. But then I began to feel something stir deep within my belly (and no, it wasn’t gas!). It was a bubble of excitement, of some primitive sensation that cannot be expressed in words. You know what I mean. It was that feeling of anticipation, like for a long-awaited holiday or celebration. I knew that this event was Something Big. And I was excited.

The day dawned just like any other. My husband disappeared to work while we were still sleeping (I had been up twice in the night with the toddler, a good sleep as it happened). I managed to shower before the children woke up, and then we got ready for pre-school. My neighbour popped round to give us a pair of special glasses through which to view the eclipse. And that was amazing. We showed my daughter, who dutifully said, “Wow!” although I’m not sure she really understood our excitement.

We felt the air change

At pre-school we showed my daughter’s friends the eclipse using the special glasses, and whichever adults in the vicinity wanted to see. And then my friend and I decided to take our toddlers and the dog for a walk while we soaked in the atmosphere of this strange event. We felt the air change. We saw the shadows lengthen. It was a strange kind of daylight, where the day darkened but the traffic never ceased. A few people were watching the eclipse, while others went about their daily business as normal. For my friend and I, it was magical. We knew that this was special. We both felt changed and awed by the energy of the solar eclipse.

How did you feel? Was it magical for you, or just another Friday morning? Please, do share your experiences.

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

Posted in #freeforallFriday, mind body spirit, Random Musings, Spiritual | Tagged #freeforallFriday, #lifestylebloggeruk, #solareclipse, #StargazingLive, Catherine Green Author, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, Ostara eclipse, pagan mother, spiritual eclipse, SpookyMrsGreen, Spring Equinox, vampire writer Catherine Green | 5 Comments

“No, Mummy, I want the Small Crisps!” One Mum’s struggle to Appease her Daughter

Posted on March 17, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Earlier today I took my children to the supermarket on one of our tri-weekly visits for one or two groceries. Of course, it never quite works out that way. One overloaded shopping basket and one abused debit card are testament to that.

But I had to laugh at my four year-old daughter. One of the items on my shopping list was a multipack of crisps (or potato chips to my American friends). I chose a 24-pack because it was on special offer and therefore works out more economical for a family of four who love to snack. My daughter promptly threw a tantrum in the supermarket aisle, because she wanted the smaller 6-pack of crisps. They were exactly the same brand and flavour. Sigh!

#MummyMonday Summer Parent Challenge #TheGoodStuff with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. — Summer Parent Challenge #TheGoodStuff

“No, Mummy, I want the Small Crisps!” One Mum’s struggle to Appease her Daughter

This is just one of many tantrums and quarrels I deal with on a daily basis. Ah, the joys of being a parent! I had to wrestle my toddler into her coat twice today, and each time she fought viciously in her attempts to evade me. I resorted to plonking her into the pushchair where she was (sort of) restrained, while I yanked her arms in all directions and practically sat on her legs to stop her from kicking me while I dressed her. Then came the trauma of actually fastening her into the pushchair, because she has a tendency to climb or lean forward until she falls out of places where she could do damage. Like her high chair. Or the stairs. Or the changing table. Or, well, anywhere, really.

As I write this post I am gulping a mug of coffee that is, surprisingly, fairly warm. Perhaps this is because my daughters are elsewhere in the house, no doubt plotting some other massive tantrum because I have already uttered the dreaded phrase, “It’s nearly time for bed, children!” Both my daughters seem absolutely dead set against bedtime, no matter how long they have been awake, or how tired they really are. In fact, as I have mentioned before, my toddler simply does not believe in sleep. I mean, just this morning she was wide awake at 3am singing and shouting, and then again at 5am, where she proceeded to assist her daddy while he got ready for work.

Where do I find the strength?

Where do I find the strength? I dare not turn around and survey the state of my living room. My eldest daughter took it upon herself to empty her toy basket in search of her Mummy Pig toy that we lost about a week ago. Apparently, it is imperative that we find Mummy Pig today. My eyes are heavy. I am tired. I need to write. My manuscript is calling out for attention. So is my bed… and then there is the novel I started reading that is intense and deep and powerful, and I really must go and read another chapter right now… but I can’t. First, I must wrangle the children into their pyjamas, and into bed. Then tidy up the carnage in my living/dining room. And eat chocolate. It is my one solace after a long, hard day of work. That, and wine. See you later folks!

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

Posted in #mummymonday, Children, family, Random Musings | Tagged #lifestylebloggeruk, #mummymonday, being a working mother, Catherine Green Author, dealing with tantrums, housewife or working mother, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, preschooler and toddler, SpookyMrsGreen, stay at home mother, toddler tantrums, vampire writer Catherine Green | Leave a comment

In Honour of my Mum; my Inspiration, my Role Model: Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on March 15, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day in the UK, and I am taking the opportunity to say a huge thank you to my mum, Karen Hargreaves. She has always been there for me, and for my brother and sister as we grew up and explored our lives and our world.

She has nurtured, educated, nursed, disciplined, supported and fed us for all these years, and she still continues to do so. We all live independent lives, but we always return home on a regular basis. Home is where our mother is!

#MummyMonday Happy Mother's Day from SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. — #MummyMonday Happy Mother’s Day

In Honour of my Mum; my Inspiration, my Role Model

My mother may not realise just how much she means to her children. We are not given to shows of emotion on a daily basis, although we do regularly say “I love you.” We live a distance apart, and so we cannot simply pop in and say hello every day. Regardless of this, my relationship with my mum is solid. I know that she is always there for me, no matter what. She taught me to read, and encouraged me to write and be creative as I grew older. I will always cherish the memories of our Saturday morning visits to the local library, when mum would let me loose among the stacks, and take me home again after a few hours, complete with a new pile of books to read.

I want my mum to understand that she truly is a role model for her children, and for her grandchildren. My girls dote on their Nanny. Despite living with a chronic illness that affects her daily life, mum never spares an opportunity to play with her little friends, and they love her all the more for it. Whenever we have a problem, or a challenging situation, mum is the first person we turn to for help. She always has a suggestion, or a plan, or simply the offer of a cup of tea and a cuddle.

And it is for these simple reasons that I want to say thank you to my mum. Thank you for being my Mother. Thank you for being my Friend. Thank you for teaching me what it is to be a mother myself. Happy Mother’s Day!

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

Posted in #mummymonday, family, Random Musings | Tagged #lifestylebloggeruk, #mummymonday, being a working mother, Catherine Green Author, celebrating motherhood, Happy Mothers Day, housewife or working mother, In Honour of my Mum, inspiring women, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, love my mum, mother and friend, SpookyMrsGreen, vampire writer Catherine Green | Leave a comment

Clearing the Mind makes good Business Sense

Posted on March 12, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

My business is getting off to a slow start this year, but that is alright, actually. I started 2015 with high hopes for a productive year. I was full of excitement at the return of my writing Muse, a mysterious entity that seemed to desert me during pregnancy with my second child back in 2013, and remained elusive during the past eighteen months.

She is still sporadic with her appearances, but she is at least helping me to continue writing the fourth novel in my Redcliffe series. And she helped me to complete another novel that I am currently showing to agents and publishers.

Photo of a vision board featuring inspirational quotes, empowering quotes, business growth advice and reference to being a famous author. Copyright Catherine Green of SpookyMrsGreen.com pagan lifestyle blog. — Vision Board for Business Growth

Clearing the Mind makes good Business Sense

The difficulty I have is keeping myself focused. My mind is often childlike, in that it flits about from one activity to the next, so that I am often left quite literally running in circles (well, not literally, but you know what I mean!), and not actually achieving very much. For example, I might switch the computer on with the intention of writing a blog post to schedule. While I am there, I might just glance at a photo or image that pops up when I search for a file. And from there, I move on and on, distracting me completely from the original job. It is even worse if I connect to the internet. But then we all have that problem, what with social networks and the all-consuming email machine.

I decided that this year I will actually complete a business plan. I had tried to do this previously, but without success. I received templates for business plans from local business mentoring companies. I found information online, through blogs and information websites. But none of them really grabbed my attention. Let’s face it, business administration is boring. There is no creativity. And when it comes to working out figures for forecasts and profit calculations, well I very quickly lose interest. I prefer to work with words, not numbers.

A business plan that suits me

Anyway, I finally found a business plan that suits my mindset. I discovered the website of Leonie Dawson. She is a business woman, and very successful with that. She is a mother, so she knows where I come from, even if she doesn’t know me personally. She is a hippy, hooray! Her business plan is colourful, inspiring, and creative. It shows me that business doesn’t have to be boring and staid, which is the message I had been receiving up until this point. Apparently, you can run a vibrant business. And that is what I want to do.

Now, I have started the business plan. I have not yet completed it, but I am almost there. I have realised that actually, there is no physical deadline. I am fortunate in that I do not need to rely on my personal financial income to support my family. My husband provides that for us. With that pressure taken off, I am free to use my time to clear my mind (when I’m not being harassed by small children). I am purposely taking my time with this business plan, because I want it to be right. This will move my career forward. This is my legacy. I need to be clear on exactly what that legacy involves. Excuse me, while I go away and meditate for a while…

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

Posted in #freeforallFriday, Business, Spiritual, working mother, Writing | Tagged #freeforallFriday, #lifestylebloggeruk, being a working mother, Catherine Green Author, creating a Business Plan, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, making a Business Plan, spiritual business, SpookyMrsGreen, vampire writer Catherine Green, writing and mothering | 1 Comment

I am a Stay at Home Mother: Does this mean I do not work?

Posted on March 8, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Today I have a serious message that I really want to discuss. I take an interest in politics, and the affairs of the UK. It is important. And recently I have been listening to all the discussion about the upcoming general election across various media channels. And, I have to say, I really don’t know who I want to vote for.

Split between Labour and Conservative

My family were always split between Labour and Conservative. My husband’s family is staunchly Labour orientated. But I don’t really believe that any of the current political parties have an understanding about my life and where it is leading.

I am a writer by profession, yet I cannot call myself a worker. I don’t go out of the home to a paid job, mainly because we cannot afford the required childcare that would enable me to do such a thing. And besides, I actually want to spend time with my children while they are young, as much as they drive me crazy in the process. However, in the eyes of the higher powers in the UK, I am a nobody. I have no status. I am Just A Mother.

Getting people back into work

Ouch. That really hurts. The government, especially the Tories, keep banging on about how they are lowering unemployment in the UK. They are getting people back into work, and off state benefits. That is great. But it doesn’t help me. And it doesn’t help my close friends, those women who gave up successful and important careers so that they could stay at home and nurture their children.

Are we not providing a service here? Do we not raise children that could grow up to become very helpful, decent, and intelligent members of society? Apparently not. We have no value. We have no monetary income. We are expected to rely solely on our husbands for financial income, or else go out to work and pay for somebody else to care for our children. That doesn’t make sense to me. Does it make sense to you?

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

Posted in #mummymonday, Business, Random Musings | Tagged #lifestylebloggeruk, #mummymonday, being a working mother, Catherine Green Author, housewife or working mother, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, SpookyMrsGreen, stay at home mother, UK politics, UK social economy, vampire writer Catherine Green, voting in the UK | 4 Comments

The Awesome Power of a Compliment

Posted on March 5, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Recently I have been experiencing a turbulence of emotions and mood swings, as I navigate the crazy world of parenting in a culture that doesn’t appreciate the true work of the mother. You will know all of this if you have been reading my other blog posts.

While I was struggling to regain control and strike up a balance between mothering, being a supportive wife, and being an active writer, my mood began to dip. I began to doubt whether I really should pursue this crazy career as an author. I mean, come on, what is the likelihood, really, of me reaching the top of the international bestseller lists, and all of the glamour and sparkle that will surely follow?

Photo of British Paranormal Author Catherine Green LGBT fantasy book writer. — British Paranormal Author Catherine Green

The Awesome Power of a Compliment

I know the odds are incredibly slim. I have no big contacts in the industry. I live in a small, rural town in the North of England. I have not been writing for very long in the grand scheme of things. And all of these thoughts were weighing heavily on my mind as I tried to make sense of my life a few weeks ago. Perhaps it is the sensitivity that comes with being a creative person. Perhaps it was the effects of lack of sleep courtesy of my eighteen month-old daughter. Maybe it was just the sheer helpless feeling that I am all alone, trying desperately to sell my books to people who might not even want to read them. I don’t know.

Anyway, as I began to slide, my guardian angels sent a little support. I believe in higher entities. I believe in angels, ghosts, spirits, fairies, every mythical creature. They are all beautiful, and magical, and they exist because we make them real. We give them life in our stories, and we channel their power. And my angels saw me struggling. They led me into contact with industry professionals as a result of my own hard work in building contacts and making new friends. And I received a compliment from a lady that brought a smile to my lips and lifted my heart. Somebody recognised the hard work I had been putting in to build my author platform and stay present on the social networks. Hooray! The conversation has ended now. But it may have been the trigger for a whole new adventure in my life. Time will tell…

You are all wonderful, my friends! I thank you for sharing this journey with me. Love and light, and happy days.

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

Posted in #freeforallFriday, mind body spirit, Random Musings, Spiritual | Tagged #freeforallFriday, #lifestylebloggeruk, being a creative person, being a working mother, Catherine Green Author, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, mind body and spirit, power of positive thinking, showing support to other people, SpookyMrsGreen, The Awesome Power of a Compliment, vampire writer Catherine Green | Leave a comment

Getting Out There, with People: the Writer’s Struggle to Talk about her Books

Posted on March 2, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

Good morning, my friends! Or, good afternoon, or good evening, depending on what time of day you read this blog. I thank you for coming along, and for taking the time to see what I have to say.

I feel that perhaps my messages of late have come across as slightly aggressive, or maybe I have been complaining a lot. I won’t apologise. This is my blog, my story, my space to vent. It is important. It is cathartic. And perhaps, somewhere, you will understand my ranting and raving, and maybe even sympathise or gain support from my words. I hope so. We all need to help each other where we can.

Image of a woman standing between two men who are partly in shadow. All are wearing black clothes and look mysterious. 3D book cover image for "Love Redeems (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. “Love Redeems (The Redcliffe Novels)” #3 by Catherine Green.

Getting Out There, with People: the Writer’s Struggle to Talk about her Books

Anyway, back to the subject. I feel like a magpie today. Ooh, look, something shiny! Sorry, must focus. Today I am feeling positive. Life is good. Life is full of promise and adventure. I am still immersed in the consuming world of motherhood and being a housewife, but I am now allowing myself to step outside of that particular box, and just be me. I took some time away from my children at the weekend, and I feel so much better for it. I stopped worrying about the state of my house. We are a busy family. We make mess. We survive. It will all get sorted in time.

Right now, I have other priorities to attend to. I need to be known. People need to read my novels, to enjoy them and to share them with others. My supernatural world is bursting to be revealed, after years of secrecy, hidden beneath the cliffs of a beautiful, seaside town in Cornwall. The wolves are hungry. The vampires are bored. The witches are discovering their powers after years of living lives as ‘normal’ humans. Have you met Jessica Stone and the Mason brothers yet? Well, maybe I should introduce you.

How do I get my books “out there?”

Part of my difficulty in being recognised for my books, is that I do not presently have the means with which to advertise sufficiently, and in the right places, to get my name known. I have so far been unsuccessful in securing an agent that might help me to realise this dream (but I am still working on it), and I have had to give up a lot of my time to focus on my family for various reasons. That is all beginning to settle down now, and so I have made a decision. I need to Get Out There. You know, with actual real people. I mean, like talking to people and stuff. That is a scary concept for a writer.

Put me behind my computer and I can reel off pages of prose. I can chat away in social media forums, eloquent and interesting (I hope). But put me in a room with a group of people I don’t know, and I become the shy, quiet, polite girl in the back. I am not a stranger to public speaking. I used to work in a busy theme park, entertaining families with young children. I danced on a stage with Barney the Dinosaur, for goodness’ sake, in front of 500 people, three times a day! But for some reason, when it comes to my precious books, I freeze up. I cannot articulate the beauty and passion of my novels. I worry that people think I am being big-headed, or that they don’t want to hear it. Well of course they don’t, because I don’t share! I know what I need to do. And it will take a lot of guts to do it. But, my work deserves to be seen and appreciated. Here I go…

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

Posted in #freeforallFriday, Business, Random Musings, Writing | Tagged #freeforallFriday, #lifestylebloggeruk, advertising my books, being a working mother, British vampires and werewolves, Catherine Green Author, housewife or working mother, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, Love Hurts, love kills, love redeems, SpookyMrsGreen, the redcliffe novels, vampire writer Catherine Green, witches in Cornwall | 1 Comment

This Mummy needs some Self Care

Posted on March 1, 2015 by SpookyMrsGreen

It is becoming increasingly apparent that I desperately need some me-time. Fellow parents, you will understand. I have been doing the ‘stay-at-home-mother’ thing for four years now, and I am finally cracking under the strain.

There is only so long that you can go through life with a forced smile painted on your face, while your shoulders ache and your mind whirls with the stress of being a responsible, nurturing adult.

Vampire Writer Catherine Green from SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. — Vampire Writer Catherine Green from SpookyMrsGreen.com

This Mummy needs some Self Care

I need some self care. I need to take a lesson from the mothers of the generations above me. Many of them sacrificed their careers, their independence, and their physical and emotional health, in order to raise children. Many of my friends and peers are in the same situation as me. We all need to recognise when we need a break. It doesn’t make us weak. It doesn’t make us selfish. The last thing our children need, is to take the brunt of our anger when we lash out in sheer desperation after one more tantrum or spillage in the house.

I am determined not to become the screaming tyrant that lurks just beneath the surface of my calm exterior. It is, if you like, the Mr Hyde to my Doctor Jekyll. Split personality, hidden demons, call it what you will. It is real, and it can be very destructive if not properly dealt with. I cannot contain this crazy person inside of me. I don’t want to. I want to be happy and balanced. I want to feel at peace with my life choices, and know that I am giving my family everything that they need, and receiving it in return.

Self-care is easy to talk about

Of course, self care is an easy thing to preach about. When do we actually do it? I mean, my husband works long hours for five or six days every week. On his days off, we visit the family and take care of whatever jobs have cropped up. We share a car. Our families are busy. It is very difficult to schedule in the me-time. But, there is a way. And I will find it. I will! In the meantime, I will channel the rage through my writing…

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

Posted in #mummymonday, family, pagan mother, Random Musings | Tagged #lifestylebloggeruk, #mummymonday, Catherine Green Author, housewife and working mother, LGBT Fantasy book series for adults, LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green, SpookyMrsGreen, stay at home mother, vampire writer Catherine Green | 7 Comments

Apparently I am late to the party this year. For some unknown reason, I am about a week behind everybody else this month. My brain refuses to accept that today is 27th March. It keeps insisting that the date is somewhere in the region of the 17th.

Maybe I’m under stress… maybe it is ‘baby brain,’ (that’s a real, honest condition you know!). Maybe I am just so wrapped up in my fictional world down in coastal Cornwall, that I do not function very well as a regular human being while my novels are in progress…

Announcing my Theme for the #AtoZChallenge 2015

Join me on the author blog

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Before I got pregnant I had all these ideas that I could have my child and carry on my life as normal. After all, that’s what other women in my social circles were doing.

Just another Mother

I gave up on my dream

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I cannot let the weekend pass by without sharing my experience of the amazing solar eclipse that happened on Friday. We all know about it. We all saw the media coverage, heard it on the radio, had it blasted to us across all the social networks.

A Very Spiritual Solar Eclipse Experience

We felt the air change

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Earlier today I took my children to the supermarket on one of our tri-weekly visits for one or two groceries. Of course, it never quite works out that way. One overloaded shopping basket and one abused debit card are testament to that.

“No, Mummy, I want the Small Crisps!” One Mum’s struggle to Appease her Daughter

Where do I find the strength?

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Today we celebrate Mother’s Day in the UK, and I am taking the opportunity to say a huge thank you to my mum, Karen Hargreaves. She has always been there for me, and for my brother and sister as we grew up and explored our lives and our world.

She has nurtured, educated, nursed, disciplined, supported and fed us for all these years, and she still continues to do so. We all live independent lives, but we always return home on a regular basis. Home is where our mother is!

In Honour of my Mum; my Inspiration, my Role Model

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She is still sporadic with her appearances, but she is at least helping me to continue writing the fourth novel in my Redcliffe series. And she helped me to complete another novel that I am currently showing to agents and publishers.

Clearing the Mind makes good Business Sense

A business plan that suits me

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Split between Labour and Conservative

Getting people back into work

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Recently I have been experiencing a turbulence of emotions and mood swings, as I navigate the crazy world of parenting in a culture that doesn’t appreciate the true work of the mother. You will know all of this if you have been reading my other blog posts.

The Awesome Power of a Compliment

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Good morning, my friends! Or, good afternoon, or good evening, depending on what time of day you read this blog. I thank you for coming along, and for taking the time to see what I have to say.

Getting Out There, with People: the Writer’s Struggle to Talk about her Books

How do I get my books “out there?”

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It is becoming increasingly apparent that I desperately need some me-time. Fellow parents, you will understand. I have been doing the ‘stay-at-home-mother’ thing for four years now, and I am finally cracking under the strain.

There is only so long that you can go through life with a forced smile painted on your face, while your shoulders ache and your mind whirls with the stress of being a responsible, nurturing adult.

This Mummy needs some Self Care

Self-care is easy to talk about

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