Welcome to Spring, a season for new beginnings. Today I’m going to share an update on #mywritinglife including my goals, April’s announcements, the books I’m reading, and I’ll talk about an author’s protected asset, sleep. Blog post on sleep https://www.tishbouvier.com/notebook/sleep-is-an-authors-protected-asset

I’m so excited about accomplishing two of my three top goals for the Q1 of 2021. YAY, ME! I pushed perfection out of mind, out of sight with a daily note to self that perfection doesn’t exist. I revised my website to fit who I am as a writer. And I launched my Podcast and Patreon with a Discord Community. I used GAP method (goal, action, and planning) to make my author journey a little easier to manage each day.

A Special Valentine’s Day Podcast, featuring Dr. Jen Lowry, author of Love Over Pizza, a southern fiction about two people falling in love through the anonymity of an online dating service, while working together. Without giving away the spoiler, Jen and I talk about her characters, the development of their unique names, and the setting — elements that gives Love Over Pizza its southern charm.  Connect with Jen Lowry at jenlowrywrites.com

Free yourself from perfection, is a message I want to share with my audience. I struggle with perfection every day by trying to make my creative endeavors as flawless as possible, which includes my daily writings, a constant update to my website, and even my podcast interviews. Perfection causes me more stress than necessary. I can't finish what I started because I'm constantly going back changing and deleting my work in order to make it better than before. And it's okay to give your best in all that you do. But when you're obsessed in doing your best, perfection slows your progress, and robs you of your successful endeavors.  I challenge you to embrace and celebrate your IMPERFECTIONS, and keep pushing forward.

Portia McGowen is a retired 4th grade school teacher who goes by the name Author Portia. Author Portia has a passion for writing and illustrating children’s books. She believes that reading is the foundation to jumpstart a child’s imagination. Author Portia reflects on memories of her childhood, and how her niece inspired her to write Jasmine and The Old Oak Tress. Author Portia website at www.authorportia.weebly.com