Domestically Challenged: A Working Mom's Survival Guide to Becoming a Stay-at-home Mom: Books by Alana Morales



As a former attorney turned work-at-home-mom turned soon-to-be-homeschooling mom, I think this book needs to be on my nightstand! Especially after hearing what Alana has to say about it!

First, my standard questions.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?
Ha! It's anything but typical. In between getting the kids fed, cleaned and to school (for the oldest), working from home full time, working on my column or the radio show I co-host, I don't have a lot of extra time. I make use of all the time available to me by keeping writing with me wherever I go. I have written in parking lots, doctor's offices, stoplights - anywhere I have a spare moment. There are also a lot of late nights.

DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
When I began my "career" as an at home mom, I was lost. I went to the library and checked out every book I could find about being a stay at home mom. I didn't like any of them. They were either outdated, spiritual or religious. That's not what I needed. I needed practical advice that would help me manage my new life. I told my husband that I couldn't find what I wanted and he told me to write my own. So I did.

PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
n/a

IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE?
Books to read. I cannot live without books. I could always write in the sand or on the inside of the back cover.

BEER OR WINE? Neither. I prefer Pepsi and Amaretto.

CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate!

WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK? The Sword of Shannara and To Kill A Mockingbird

(JK note: been meaning to re-read To Kill A Mockingbird. Note to self ... go do that!)

And here's more insight from Alana! Run -- don't walk -- and get this book!

Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

A: You know, that’s an interesting question because I am not one of those writers who has been penning novels since I was 7. I only began writing seriously after my kids came along and I have only been taking myself seriously as a writer for the past few years. I was the weird kid in school who didn’t mind writing research papers.
I never pursued journalism or anything like that, but I wish I had. I did teach high school English for 6 years so I could teach writing. I have been around writing and enjoyed writing my entire life.

Q: Did you come from a family of writers?

A: No! No one in my family writes. My mom has always thought my skill with words was strange – she was a numbers person.

Q: So where did the book Domestically Challenged come from?

A: Well, after my daughter was born I decided that there was no way I could go back to work, which was shocking since I never had a desire to be an at home mom. So I began staying home and I was completely lost! I had no idea what I was doing and was really surprised at how difficult it was.
So, being the dork that I am, I went to the library and checked out every book I could find about being an at home mom. I was very disappointed in what I found because many of the books were either out dated or they were very spiritual. I didn’t need to know about my spiritual journey through motherhood, I needed to know how to get my house clean around my kids and get dinner on the table.
One night I was sitting at the computer complaining about the books I found and my husband said “Why don’t you write your own?” So I did.

Q: What does your family think about you writing a book?

A: I think it was a love/hate relationship. On one hand they thought it was cool that I was writing a book, but they were sometimes upset at the amount of time I spent on the computer, because when you are writing a book, you actually have to sit down and write it. People outside of my family we like “Oh, you’re writing a book. That’s nice.” No one who isn’t a writer understands what it actually takes to write (and finish) a book.

Q: Did you think you were the only domestically challenged mom out there?

A: Yes! But when I finally started talking to different moms I discovered they were going through the same feelings I was going through. I was extremely relieved by this fact. Though, I am still convinced that I have more domestically challenged traits at the same time.


Q: What do you want moms to get out of your book?

A: I want them to find ways to make their lives as an at home mom easier. I want the book to act as a model of support for moms who are new to being at home and are having trouble adjusting. I want them to know that they aren’t alone in what they are experiencing and feeling.