Dwan Abrams is a full-time novelist, freelance editor, and publisher. She’s the best-selling author of My Mother’s Child (the sequel to Divorcing the Devil), Married Strangers, Divorcing the Devil, Only True Love Waits, and The Scream Within. She’s the founder, publisher, and editorial director of Nevaeh Publishing, LLC a small press independent publishing house. She’s currently signed to Urban Christian, an imprint of Urban Books/Kensington. Her sixth novel, the second book in the Married Series, is set to hit national bookshelves in 2011. Visit Dwan online at http://dwanabrams.com.

Dwan stops by Mom Unplugged today to tell us how she balances writing and being a wife and mom. Welcome Dwan!

Thanks for having me! Having a career and a family is like throwing many balls in the air and hoping that none of them hit the ground. On the rare occasion that a ball gets dropped, it’s best to pick it up and throw it back in the air instead of sulking about it.

When it comes to the many hats that I wear, I compartmentalize my life. As much as I love being a writer, I love my family even more. Being a writer is my full-time job. Although my schedule is packed with writing deadlines from the publishing house in which I write for, freelance editing jobs, and overseeing operations for the small press independent publishing house that I founded, there’s still some flexibility in my schedule.

On most days, I try to get the bulk of my work done before my daughter gets home from school. I choose to do this because I don’t want anything to interfere with the quality time that I spend with my daughter helping her with her homework or countless other Mommy duties. I usually resume working after I put my daughter to bed. My husband doesn’t stress me about it. He understands that my career isn’t traditional, and he’s supportive.

As for rest and relaxation, I pray and meditate daily. I get some exercise in there, too, but not nearly as much as I’d like. I’m determined to change that. While I’m at it, the goal is to get more sleep. Right now I get about three hours per night, and then I get an additional two or three immediately after my daughter goes to school. My ultimate relaxation is the candlelight bubble bath that I take at least five nights a week. During that time I lock the bathroom door, soak, and read a book. That helps me to keep my sanity.

Thanks for having me on Mom Unplugged today. Don’t forget to check out my latest novel release, My Mother’s Child. The novel is available in stores everywhere.

About the Book

Lyric Stokes lives, by most standards, a charmed life. Married to Michael Stokes, a prominent heart surgeon, she has financial security and lives in the lap of luxury. All is not perfect, though. Lyric feels inadequate because she gave birth to a daughter, rather than the son that her husband so desperately wanted.

After an unexpected turn of events, Lyric discovers that she’s pregnant again, but now she has to decide whether she even wants to keep the child she has longed for. She seeks solace in her church, where her daughter also feels at home; but they can’t get Michael to join them. Disagreeing with organized religion, he has put his job before all else, including God. The distance between the couple grows further every day.

Nigel Fredericks has a history of stalking women. He’s been accused, but never convicted. Now he’s set his sights on Lyric. She’s at a low point in her life, and Nigel knows just how to take advantage of that vulnerability. Lyric’s life is turned upside down; Nigel is like a cancer eating away at her mental stability, her marriage, and ultimately, her life. Will Michael reevaluate his priorities and his faith in time to save his family?

Listen to an excerpt from My Mother’s Child

View the blog tour schedule and read an excerpt at http://bit.ly/MyMothersChild.