6 Ways to Take A Break Without Killing Your Career

In this world of FOMO, it's hard to think about taking a step away from the daily grind.

We're all afraid that we'll be forgotten if we miss a day or two from social media.

Fear of missing out afflicts more than the social media addicts. As Authors, we're afraid readers will forget we exist.

So what is one to do when faced with adversity or with a daily routine that has become an exhausting daily grind? That's when the going gets really tough, and all we want to do is slam the door on our offices and escape.

Do you know that old Billy Ocean song from the late 1980's, When the Going Gets Tough? If you don't know the song, let me tell you that it's from an old cliché, and the next part of that cliché is,  The Tough get going.

Sometimes, we can power our way through tiredness, boredom, adversity, and just feeling funky.

As an author, I can tell you there are times when we’re all tired of fighting for focused time to write, fighting for good reviews, fighting for good ad space, and all the other battles we fight. 

Sure, we're Tough, but there comes a time when we need to step out of the boxing ring of life and take a breather.

This may sound crazy when all the motivational gurus constantly tell us to figure a way to have it all, work when you don’t feel like working, go for it. Sure, sometimes you must strive in the face of adversity, when you’re sick, when you’re sad, when your world is falling apart around you, but if you do that all the time, you're headed for a great big bonfire of burnout.

There's no shame in taking a break. The trick is to do that without letting it turn into something as permanent as concrete.

6 Ways to Take a Break Without Killing Your Career

1. Set limits. Write down how many days off you’re taking. If you worked a job, you’d have to tell the boss how many vacation days you wanted. You are you’re own boss so write down how many days you’ll be away from the office.

Don't let a break turn into endless days of drifting. Mark your calendar for the day you return to your career.

2. Make it real. If you plan on vacationing from work for 2 days then don’t do any work on those days. No constant checking social media or emails or any of that stuff that sucks the life out of you.

3. Figure out where you’re going when you return to work. Take some time to think about the road you’re on. Is it the right road headed in the right direction? It's easy to get overwhelmed if you're trying to get something or somewhere that isn’t realistic. Goals change. Is it time to re-evaluate your goals or maybe set different goals?

4. Check your attitude. While you’re taking a break from your work, take a break from disrespecting yourself—or anyone else. 

I’ve known writers who never had a kind word to say about others or even about themselves. They trash talk about themselves in ways they'd never talk about other people. 

All that negativity and whining takes an enormous amount of energy. Resolve to cut that crap out!!! Self-talk determines your success in life. Learn to be kind to yourself.

5. Celebrate every win. No matter how small an achievement may be, acknowledge it and celebrate it in some way. 

Set up a system of milestones and rewards. I don't mean pop a hundred dollar bottle of bubbly, but do bask in the glory of an achievement no matter how small. Success is built one baby step at a time.

6. Live your life. Be present. Live today. Don't get caught in the trap of regretting what you didn't get done yesterday or the publishing gravy train you missed because your manuscript wasn’t ready. Don't wait for your ship to come in because you may be at the train station. 

Enjoy every step of the journey and be happy—be present in your life—now.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The time spent on the journey will always be longer than the time spent at the destination.

Learn to enjoy the journey and take a break when you need to recharge your batteries.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Fat Rascals

I'm having a busy Saturday. How is yours?

I still have potatoes in the pantry so here's another recipe using this beloved spud.

Today was the day I jumped back into my workout program. Walking, weight lifting, and exhausting myself this morning.

That's why I didn't get this recipe for FAT RASCALS posted in time for you to make it for lunch, but save this recipe.

You're probably wondering what Fat Rascals is. Right? It's an old-fashioned fried potato dish. If you like French fries, you'll love Fat Rascals which is  great as a hot appetizer or as a side dish.

Ingredients

• 5 small red raw potatoes, grated on a box grater (Yes, you can use Idaho potatoes—probably grated raw potato to make 2 cups. I've not used Idaho before so that's my guesstimate.)
• 2 tablespoons AP flour
• 5 tablespoons grated cheese like Parmesan, sharp cheddar, etc.
• 
  2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• optional, dash of cayenne
• optional, dash of paprika

Directions

In a heavy sauce pan or a deep fryer, heat cooking oil until it's 350°F. (175°C.).

Beat the eggs and add in all the other ingredients, mixing well. This batter should not be too souply. It should hold together so it can be dropped by spoonfuls into the hot oil. If it seems too thin, add more flour, a teaspoon at a time.

Drop from a spoon into the hot oil. Fry until light brown. Serve hot. 

This is especially good served with sour cream or cheese sauce.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I don't know where the name of this recipe came from, but I can imagine a white-haired granny of yesteryear saying, "Wash up for dinner before the Fat Rascals get cold!"

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Weird Things Happen on Friday

Whee! It's Friday, the doorway to the weekend. Isn't it amazing how people lust after Fridays? Like the song says, "Just working for the weekend."

I was reading an article about Friday the 13th, the historical event involving the Knights Templar, and decided to see how many weird things happen on Fridays.

To my surprise, I found a treasure trove of trivia. Let's get started with the Knights Templar. Read on and be amazed.

1. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France had hundreds of the powerful Knights Templar arrested. That event is often cited as the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition.

2.  Security data shows companies are disproportionately hacked or hit with phishing scams on Fridays because that's when IT staffs, like all the other employees, leave for the weekend.

3. Seafarers have long believed it was bad luck to start a new voyage on a Friday.

4. In the USA, TGIF means "Thank God It's Friday" whereas in Australia and the UK, Friday is known as POETS Day, "Piss Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday."

5, In the USA, the crazy mad rush in stores on the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday because the first such event actually resulted in the death of a retail employee in 2008 in Valley Stream, New York.

He was crushed to death in the stampede of 2,000+ shoppers when the doors opened at midnight.

6. The expression “Man Friday” comes from the character Friday in the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. The phrase is used to describe a particularly loyal and/or competent male personal assistant.

7. The restaurant chain TGI Friday opened in 1965 to capitalize on the popular TGIF phrase.

8. The popular saying “Friday on my mind” was popularized by the 1966 hit song of the same name by The Easybeats.

9. Friday is the most common payday in the United States.

10. Given that Friday is usually payday and that people are working for the weekend, it's no surprise that studies show worker productivity decreases on Fridays compared to other work days.

11. Friday is the only day of the week named after a Norse goddess, Frigg, who was the equivalent of Venus.

12. More bank robberies happen on a Friday than any other day of the week.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

TGIF! Let's have fun today and get ready for the weekend.

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What Defines a Hero?

What is a hero? As a romance author, I think about heroes a lot because each romance novel calls for a hero. 

In this post, I'm talking about the male hero, not the female "she-ro" who can be as heroic as any man.

Is a Hero the man in the picture to the left? He's got looks and muscles. Does that make him a hero? 

People claim rock stars, actors, singers, and other celebrities as heroes. Many adopt professional athletes as heroes as if extreme success in a manly sport plus likeable personality makes the man a hero.

MY OPINION

No. Popularity, personality, and skill in a demanding field can make a man admirable. Perhaps he is a  potential hero, but it takes more than a pretty face, good body, and charm to be a hero—in a romance novel or in real life.

REAL HEROES GIVE

A real hero gives unselfishly to help others...often, to protect those in harm's way. 

Most people don't think about the heroes in their own family, but I think you should look no farther than your own father, grandfather, brothers, etc. to find heroes. 

Does your dad work hard at a thankless job to give his children a better life? Far better to idolize a man like that than some hip hop artist or bad boy football star.

Real heroes give. They sacrifice—often for strangers. Sometimes that sacrifice is the ultimate one that claims the hero's life. Want to find real heroes? Visit a fire station or a police station. These men (women too, but I'm discussing only men in today's post) put their lives on the line every day of their lives to save others.

Doctors and nurses who volunteer for Doctors Without Borders are real heroes. Many members of the medical profession volunteer in free clinics and in countries where villagers never see a doctor.

My doctor does this. Dentists do the same, providing care for the poorest of people who have little access to quality care. My dentist also does this.

Volunteers who who work in poor villages and countries to bring people the basic necessities that we take for granted like clean water—they're heroes. 

Every year people volunteer to dig wells in places where the nearest water source might be a creek or a river miles away.

Soldiers who protect and serve that we might have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are heroes. National cemeteries are full of these heroes who have given their lives in every war and conflict.

REAL HEROES: INSPIRATION FOR FICTIONAL HEROES

If you read romance, you know how popular the military and law enforcement heroes are. 

Why are they so appealing to readers? Because they are unselfish and protective of others. In several books, I've created heroes with those backgrounds.

Is a romance novel hero vastly different from a real life hero? 

Maybe the romance hero is a little better looking and has six-pack abs rather than love handles, but the qualities of protectiveness and unselfishness exist in both the romance novel hero and the real life hero.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Romance heroes, like romance novel heroes, are not perfect, but they possess the same undeniably admirable characteristics of real life heroes—they protect and serve. That's my opinion. What do you think?

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Review - Masters of the Universe - Prime

If you're wondering about the new film, Masters of the Universe, a live-action remake of the beloved movie from the 80's, I'll tell you what I thought about it.

BACK TO THE FIRST MOVIE

Let's walk back in time to the 1987 movie that every boy from kindergarten age to high school adored. Yes, it was a critical failure according to critics and an economic failure for Cannon Films.

However, in the hearts and minds of those boys of that generation—and girls too—it was AWESOME!

Given that, how could they create such a mess of this 2026 remake?

THE PROBLEM

Lack of focus seems to be the main problem. It's as if they didn't know whether they were making a movie for kids or one for young adults because there's an irritating mix of silly, stupid comedy and colorful over the top violence, sex, and innuendo. Yes, too adult for children; too ridiculous for adults.

What's even worse, if that's possible, is that the comedy bits to characterize "Adam" aka He-Man as young and naive, either aren't funny or the cast weren't comfortable in their respective roles.

Honestly, after the first 30 minutes, I began fast forwarding through the movie. The story just wasn't compelling and the acting seemed as if the cast thought the story was as ridiculous as the AI tiger.

I'm reluctant to say this movie was lackluster and rather boring, but, it was. I think there's a reason, or reasons for that. Sony Pictures announced the movie in 2009, but the project underwent multiple changes—writers, directors, and cast—before it finally went into filming and production in 2025.

To me, all of those changes indicate a lack of focus on what the movie should be. Sony transferred the rights to Netflix in 2022. In 2024 the rights were bought by Amazon MGM Studios. Filming occurred in the first half of 2025 with the premiere held a hear later in May 2026 at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

In June, the film was released in the U.S. by Amazon (internationally by Sony). The latest stats say it underperformed at the box office, grossing $114M on a $170M budget. Perhap it will break even with revenue from streaming.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This rather harsh review is just my opinion. You may have an entirely different appreciation for the movie.

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Monday Magic - Install and Update Apps Easily

Installing a computer app and keeping it up to date can be frustrating and sometimes extremely challenging.

NINITE to the rescue.

This website is considered highly effective and safe. It's widely trusted for its core features—downloading clean software, blocking junkware, and working automatically—that can solve the installation and update problems we all face.

Ninite gets programs straight from the official publisher websites so you don't get junkware like extra toolbars, spam offers, and bundled bloatware.

Ninite also verifies official file signatures or hash values before installing anything. You can select multiple programs on the website, download a custom file, and install everything at once. You don't have to be hands-on. It will run in the background without needing you to click "Next" or restart your computer during the process.

Updates are easy. You run the same installer again to update your apps to newest versions.

HOW IT WORKS

All the instructions are on the NINITE website. Look over the home page and you'll see how easy it is. Simply put a check mark in the box for each app you want to install or update. Then Download and Run the Custom Installer. The website is free for home use (money-wise, but also free of ads and junkware) because income from Pro users keep Ninite running.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Honestly, this is one of the best free utilities I've come across in a long time. I like anything that removes the tedium of installing and updating apps.

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IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO START A WRITING CAREER?

Is it ever too late to start writing with the goal of publishing?

I received that question in an email. I didn't answer right away because my inclination was to say, "It's never too late." because I firmly believe that it's never too late to do something if you really are passionate about it.

Instead, I did a little research to add to what I already knew to be true to go along with my personal opinion.

OLD AUTHORS GET PUBLISHED 

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett had an article that addresses this question. Published in The Writer's Toolbox, Writing Into Your Seventies and Beyond, answers this question beautifully.

She cites May Sarton, one of the examples I was going to give, who wrote and had published dozens of books—poetry, fiction, children’s books, and nonfiction into her early eighties. 

DeMarco-Barrett goes on to give a dozen other successful, older authors as examples and posits that the writings of many older authors grow richer with age. I agree with that assessment. As long as the brain functions well, there's no end date for an author.

ALWAYS WRITING, FINALLY PUBLISHED

In case you haven't heard of PEGGY ROWE, a New York Times bestselling author and the mother of Mike Rowe, TV star, podcaster, and proponent of blue-collar careers, read on. 

Mrs. Rowe wrote all of her life. She typed up her slice-of-life personality pieces and secured the pages on her fridge with magnets. 

She'd tried to get her work published but received only rejections. That didn't stop her from writing. Through her son Mike, she had a publishing offer which was rescinded when she turned in what she'd written. Her son had 10,000 copies of her manuscript printed, talked about it on his podcast, and the print run sold out in a few days.

That made the publisher who'd rejected her work take a second look. She was offered another contract. To make a long story short, this 80-something first-time author has hit the New York Times bestsellers' list with each book she's published. 

Have you always written? Is it your passion?

HARRY BERNSTEIN published his first book at 98. LORNA PAGE was 93. 

Read the article, It's Never Too Late To Begin Writing, that cites several examples from the distant past and from the last few years about older authors.

One thing you should know about these older authors mentioned above is that they were all published by traditional print-based publishing houses, not self-published. 

I'll be the first to admit that these 90-something authors wrote beautifully and had an enormous amount of luck in getting "discovered" by editors/agents. In today's world, it still very hard to accomplish that feat whether young or old. 

SELF-PUBLISHING

How many self-published first-time authors are over the age of 60? I have no idea. To my knowledge, no one has conducted a study of that. I'll take a guess and say a great many. I was over 40 when I received my first publishing contract. At that time, I knew dozens of authors just like me who had been rejected time and time again. Many of those never made the jump to publication. 

Then the Kindle happened, and, suddenly, all those authors who'd wanted to be published had a way to make it happen without a New York publishing house or an agent. 

I personally know of at least a dozen who jumped at the chance to get their books into print. They've done quite well because their books were excellent, well-written novels. They just didn't fit the pigeion-holes required by agents and New York editors.

BOTTOM LINE

I stand by my first impulsive answer to the question: "Is it ever too late to start a writing career?" My  answer? "No. It's not."

You can write fiction or nonfiction about almost anything and find an audience if you write well and produce a book with good production values. You just have to possess the desire to put words on paper to show others the story you have in your head and be willing to learn the publishing end of it or delegate those aspects like editing, proofreading, format, cover art, etc. to others.

 

I'm not saying New York will sign you to a contract and acclaim you as the next genius novelist.

I am saying if you produce a good book, you can find an audience.

In today's world, if traditional publishers say no, you have alternatives, or you can choose indie self-publishing from the beginning.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

You can absolutely have a successful, fulfilling writing career even if you're not young. It's never too late. You'll never know until you try.

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