Like most people, I always seem to have a lot going on in my
life−more than some, less than others. But what helps is my lifelong Attention
Deficit Disorder, or what I like to think of as the ability to be interested in
many things at once. Let me give you a run-down.
My fourth book, a young-adult sci-fi thriller called GOD PARTICLE, was released in June, 2013 with Crossroad Press. I just released my
fifth book, a horror/thriller novella called THE BLACK CHURCH, in Dec. 2013
with DarkFuse. My sixth book, a supernatural thriller novel called PRIMORDIAL,
is on my editor’s desk. I am twenty-five-thousand words into my seventh book,
another novel.
I also write for my local newspaper and a local magazine, plus the occasional short story anthology.
Last week, I recorded several tracks with my band, SHANNON SALIGA and the MILLION WATT SUNS. I sing, play guitar, bass, drums, mandolin,
keyboards and whatever is needed. I wrote all five songs and I’m also the
recording engineer.
I am a stay-at-home dad and spend every day homeschooling
our daughter, who is eleven. I usually manage to get some writing in, but most
of it happens at night, when everyone else is in bed. There is also the
marketing that has to be done for all five of my published books, and believe
me, that is a time-consuming process−I am a very “hands-on” author. There is
also time spent trying to get reviews, contacting book stores, sending out
unpublished manuscripts to editors and/or agents, and on and on.
On weekends, when I’m not writing, I try to spend non-school
time with my wife and daughter, fixing up and cleaning the house from the
various animals living in it (my daughter is an animal lover), maintaining the
cars, and
so forth.
I’m an avid reader and fan of classic sci-fi and horror
movies (I have nearly 500 DVDs of titles like King Kong, Creature from the
Black Lagoon and Forbidden Planet) and I like to travel, though it’s not always
affordable.
A few years ago, before I became a stay-at-home dad, I was
also a college student and a full-time book store employee with a new baby. On
top of that, I was the editor for the school newspaper and for the school’s
literary magazine. Somewhere in there, I managed to start writing my first
novel and release a CD. Talk about stress. So my life has actually slowed down
quite a bit from that particular craziness.
I said all that to say this: I love my life, and wouldn’t
change a thing. I’m right where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to be
doing, and I’m extremely thankful to be able to say that. I owe it all to God,
family, friends, my fellow authors, my publisher, the people who buy my books
and music, and a wicked case of ADD!
Check out my writing, music and other insanity at www.tobytatestories.com, and on
Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
