I was in one of my favorite stores the other day – the
cupcake bakery – and it took me quite a while to make my decision about which
cupcakes to buy. Red Velvet? Chocolate raspberry? Banana nut caramel? Way too hard to narrow it down. And as I stood there, trying to decide, I had
one of those 'what if' moments that writers love. I've always loved to bake – I'm a cookie
machine at Christmas. I always bake the
desserts for family parties. Maybe I
would have been a pastry chef!
For the record, I have no interest in another career
path. I have the best possible careers
ever. I get to make up stories that
become books. Best job in the world,
right? I think so! And as a veterinarian, I have the privilege
of helping sick animals become healthy again. What could be more inspiring than helping pets
heal from injuries and illnesses and reunite with their owners? In both of my careers, I'm in the
happily-ever-after business. I love
that!
But the writer in me always goes for the 'what if'. And since I was standing in the cupcake
bakery, trying to make a tough choice, I thought 'what if I was a pastry chef?'
Which, of course, led to other 'what
ifs'. I love music. What if I'd become a musician? Although full disclosure forces me to reveal
that, as someone once told me, you have to actually have some talent for that
to happen.
The trip to the cupcake shop is what started me thinking
about this. But as I wrote this blog, I
realized that I do have a way to find out 'what if'. I can give my characters careers that
fascinate me. And I recognized I did just that with my March Superromance, A Safe Place. The heroine, Frankie Devereux, is a part-time
pastry chef who makes cupcakes. So,
while I wrote that book, part of me was a pastry chef. How cool is that?
If you could do anything you wanted in life, what would it
be? What is your dream career? Your what if?
20 comments:
I'd love to be paid to read. There are not enough hours in the day to read now because of my job. So, the way to solve this is reading for a living.
I had some ideas, but marybelle's is better!
Since childhood, I've wanted to be an archeologist--and that was before Indiana Jones! Last year for my birthday my husband took me on a week-long mammoth dig. More paleontology than archeology, but I still got to play in the dirt.
Yes, being paid to read would be the ultimate job! I love that!
I hear you, Pamela. My undergraduate degree was in anthropology, and I always wanted to go on a dig. Your birthday present sounds like lots of fun.
I hear you, Pamela. My undergraduate degree was in anthropology, and I always wanted to go on a dig. Your birthday present sounds like lots of fun.
I think I would want to become professional reader. Just don't have enough time in the day to read.
Being a writer, I guess I'd have to say my dream job would be...being a full time writer.
After your scrumptious description of those cupcakes, I'd be tempted to run out and buy one if there was a bakery near-by. Which there isn't, thank goodness.
Those cupcakes are the best. I have to time my trips downtown to make sure the store is closed - otherwise, I'm in trouble.
Hi Margaret! First I have to say I love Marybelle's answer too! A few of my dream career's are: A Marine Biologist, a Singer, a Cake Decorator and a Writer. I am working on the cake decorating and the writing, so I guess the other two I will have to live out in my writing.
Have a wonderful day!
I have my dream career and for that, I'm extremely grateful. But, I do wonder what it would be like to try something new which is when I give my characters interesting jobs *g*
What if? Well, I always wanted to be a barker or a shill on a big traveling midway. Or a long distance truck driver but only in the summer when there is no ice on the roads. Or a hermit living in a cabin on the mountain beside a waterfall with only a trail in and no road. If I only had the energy I had when I was thirty...
I always thought being a marine biologist would be a cool career. Until I realized that meant I'd have to spend a lot of time in cold water!
Margaret, I used to be a marine biologist and yes, you do spend a lot of time in cold water! It was interesting though. But I like writing better.
I can think of lots of jobs I'd like to have a crack at. Chef is one of them but I don't think I'd like the hours. My wildest fantasy would be concert violinist because I love the sound of the instrument. But as you say, you have to have musical talent which I so do not. Fun to dream though.
Well I get to read a lot of books and live in some of my dream jobs that way. I'd love to be a master gardener and develop new types of plants. I'd love to be involved in research of herbal and plant uses for medicinal care.
I stay away from the cupcake place in the mall where we walk everyday during the cold days. I figure it would take a lot of trips around the mall to work off the cupcake but they are so tempting. My husband walks with me and he's not a dessert eater so it keeps me walking by the place.
Margaret,
I think it's great that you love BOTH your jobs. I love writing. But I have a love/hate relationship with my day job :)
I love Marybelle's answer :) Would love to be paid to read. My dream job would be to be rich enough that I could spend more time doing volunteer work. I would love to do more work with struggling kids.
I think I would love to be a millionair and maybe own a book store. I have always thought it would be wonderful to be surounded by books every day.
I always wanted to own a bookstore or be a librarian.
Margaret, you sound as if you've got a lovely balance between the cerebral and the practical, combining vet and writer.
Marybelle's idea suits me...paid to read.
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