Hello wonderful people of Cyberland:
This is my first blog (ever), which I am sure you would have figured out.
You would think for someone who reads as much as I do that I would have no problem coming up with something witty, intelligent, or even interesting to put in my first blog. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case as I stare at this blank, very intimidating text box. Hard to believe a little white box on a computer screen could cause butterflies in your stomach, shaky hands, cold sweats, and an overall fear of… of what exactly?
I am a 40-year-old adult, for crying out loud, not an awkward teen giving her 1st speech in front of the class. I don’t see any eyes staring back at me from my monitor, it hasn’t shot rubber bands or spit wads at me (that I know of), and I can’t say that I’ve seen it point at me and laugh because my zipper is down. So why the feeling of stress and fear? I guess we never quite outgrow the need to impress, succeed, and feel accepted in one way or another. How messed up is that?
I guess it’s time to put on my big girl skivvies, double-check my zipper, and “Just Do It” (thank you Nike). So here it goes:
My name is Trena A. Hayes, but my friends call me T, and since hopefully we are going to become very good friends, you can too.
I live in Spokane, Washington with my 2 young-adult children, a wonderful boyfriend of 7 years, and his 7 ½ year old son.
I am the Closing Manager of Genesis Finance Corporation and have been in the secondary mortgage market and commercial lending business for a total of 21 years, working for the same man.
I’m sure you are wondering why, then, would I take on another job; a time consuming job of editing and reviewing books. Well, let me assure you that I am not crazy, not completely anyway. I have just found that when your children grow up, they still need you (your wallet, food, laundry expertise…) but not so much your time anymore. Because of this, I find myself with down time I never had before. This is not a good thing for someone like me whose family swears has Adult A.D.D., or something to that affect. You can only clean your house so many times, and the weeds really do only grow back so fast, no matter what you may think.
So, thanks to my very talented and wonderful best friend, Author Traci E. Hall, I added editor to my list of jobs/hobbies/loves. Traci would forward me her manuscripts (chapter-by-chapter, revision by revision) to go over then call for our 2-hour session of brainstorming, revising, glass refilling, tears falling, and side splitting laughing. I love those times and there have been many!
Several years later, Traci introduced me to another exceptional and talented woman that allowed me to practice my editing skills on her (very brave lady, I might add), award winning and best selling author, Rhonda Pollero (aka Kelsey Roberts).
Thanks to these ladies, I have been a freelance copy/line editor & proofreader for several publishing companies, as well as numerous individual authors.
Now these fabulous ladies have asked me to join their group, as a book reviewer for Babes in Bookland. Babes in Bookland is made up of several extremely talented, established authors that share writing tips, opinions, family stories, life experiences, and so much more. Each of these ladies has been through the process and ups & downs of becoming published authors as well as having personal lives. The experiences and knowledge they share is priceless. Each Babe came from a different background and took a different path to get to the same place, making a wonderful resource tool for you. I encourage you to take a moment and pop on over to www.babesinbookland.com to meet the Babes; you won’t be disappointed.
As for me, well, I’m walking on cloud 9 joining the Babes. I feel as if I’ve finally been accepted into and by the “cool click” in school. J Again, there is a little awkward teen in all of us.
In case you are wondering, I will continue my freelance editing, and as this site continues construction and updating, I will post a “fee chart” of sorts for anyone interested in my editing services.
I am so glad we had this chance to meet and get to know each other. I’m feeling less awkward already.
Until next time…
T.
