When do you do your best thinking? Is it first thing in the morning, or maybe it’s during the day? For me, my best ideas come late at night. I’ve been a night owl ever since I can remember. College life suited me well, staying up late to finish a last-minute paper or make a Taco Bell run at midnight with my roommates.
There’s something about the peace and quiet of the night that makes my creativity explode. After I became a mom, if I wanted any time to myself, it had to be at night after everyone was in bed. I love to be crafty, but the little hands that always wanted to “help” didn’t settle well with my scrapbook-loving and perfectionist’s heart, so I tucked away my supplies until all the kids, including my husband, were nestled into bed. I would stay up through the wee hours of the morning creating to my heart’s desire, then regretting it when that early wake-up call came the very next day.
Still, I loved letting my mind take flight to create. That’s when I started writing books. One night I sat with my computer open and thought, “I think I could write a book.” A story had been stirring in my mind for years, so I thought maybe I could actually put it in written word.
I’m K. Leah, and I’m the new kid on the block here at Inspy Romance. I did finally write that story in my head, along with five others, and I’ve been a self-published author for four years. I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for 25 years, and my three little kids are no longer little–now 21, 19, and 15. I’m born and raised in Western North Carolina and wouldn’t have it any other way… other than maybe having unlimited access to a beachfront house any time I want. My faith and family are the most important things to me, and I’m thankful God has blessed me and allowed me to use my creativity through Christian romance.
Ten years ago if you had asked me if I would have ever written a book, I would have probably laughed. You see, I didn’t even like reading that much ten years ago. My spare time was used to make gifts, design a logo or invitation on the computer, or make a holiday treat for my kids’ classroom.
That late night revelation, sitting criss-cross in the recliner with only one light on in the entire house, changed my life. I found a hobby that didn’t require bags full of crafting supplies to make it happen. Each night after everyone went to bed, I stayed up late writing–chapter after chapter–until they became a full book. Once the first book was complete, I started another book. Then a new idea came and another book was started. To this day, my best writing comes late a night. I often don’t even realize it’s 1:48 am until a yawn escapes, telling me it’s time to go to bed. Even then, I don’t always close the computer.
I’ve met some great friends through this journey–many of them fellow Inspy authors–and I will never turn back. Someone told me when I first started this adventure, “just start writing” and you’ll find your voice. And that’s what I did.
My first book is a standalone novel, Holding on to Someday. I also have a five book series, Finding Home, and you can read the prequel novella free if you sign up for my newsletter.
I hope you’ll follow me on this journey! I’m excited to share my love of Christian romance with you guys and look forward to sharing more about me and my books in the months to come.
Now that you know a little about me, I’d love to hear from you and find out if I have any fellow night owls out there!
K. Leah is a hopeless romantic and adores a good Hallmark movie. Growing up in the South, she likes her tea sweet and coffee strong. Family and faith are what matter most and she wears many hats, including being a wife, mom, and graphic designer. Other than being creative with designs or stories, she likes to spend her free time escaping reality into the pages of a sweet love story.
Hi and welcome! I am definitely a night owl. I’ve found that it shifts from time to time if there is something driving me to an early schedule. However, that hasn’t happened in a very long time! I totally get the idea of uninterrupted time AND the feeling of “Wait. I need to get up when?!”
So, here’s to quiet, productive and artificially lit hours of creativity. We actually are working during the daylight hours. It’s mid-day somewhere, right?
Thanks for introducing yourself! I am definitely not a night owl! I always joke that my brain switches off at 9.00 pm. I can’t imagine being able to burn the midnight oil.
Thank you! I’ve often said if I could sleep until 10 am everyday, I could be so much more productive if I could stay up until 2 am each night. But that doesn’t work well for my Monday-Friday, 8 to 4 work schedule. Oh well. Here’s to the weekend!
My husband says the same thing. When 9:30 pm rolls around he’s either heading to bed or already asleep in the recliner. I’m always like, “we’re just getting started!” lol!
Welcome! I can’t wait to check out your books.
Thank you! I’m so excited to be a part of this group!
Welcome! I’m somewhere between! I stay up, usually, til 11, sometimes til 12:30. I’m up anywhere between 7:30 and 8, usually, though a few times it’s been 8:30. So, I’m some kind of hybrid, lol!
Thank you! My norm is usually midnight, but only because I work full-time during the week and have to force myself to go to bed. If I started working on my books, it’s guaranteed to be much later.
Welcome! Why did I think you were already blogging here? :-D You’ll definitely fit right in. :-)
Hmm, nighttime creativity… the wee hours are either when I come up with my most brilliant ideas, or with what turns out to be the most ridiculous drivel when I re-read it in the morning.
Being a homeschooling mother of four, I’ve had to learn how to be flexible and squeeze my writing time wherever I can. Sometimes that’s late at night, sometimes early in the morning, sometimes in the free hour or so before I make dinner.
What a compliment! I’m excited to be here! I know so many of you so I already feel part of the group.
Welcome!
I’m a morning person, but I have been known to get up in the middle or the night to write–I consider it super early in the morning since I don’t go back to sleep when that happens.
Hi, friend! So, so glad you’ve joined the Inspy Romance family. I’m definitely more of a morning person, though it takes my creativity a bit of time (and coffee) to ramp up. Ha! Late nights are not when I’m at my most productive because I get so sleepy so fast.
Welcome, K Leah! We’re happy to have you at Inspy Romance :)
I’ve always said I’m neither a morning person or a night owl, but if I HAVE to choose, it’s morning because I’m absolutely useless at night. My kids used to call 10pm “mommy pumpkin time.” But if you’ve got me from nine to noon, you’ve got me at my best.
Welcome! I look forward to reading your books. I’m always thankful for authors as I love to read. I can stay up late reading but I fall asleep holding the tablet or book. I get up early for Day care with my grand kids so by 11:00 I’m falling asleep.
I’ve never been a morning person. Ever. lol! I tried the early bedtime/get up early thing for a short while and was not successful. I like the idea of an early morning routine, but it just doesn’t work for me. I always envy friends who get up early.
So happy to be here! There’s some kind of magic button inside of me that turns on about 10 pm, no matter how tired I may have been all day long.
I love that we all know what works best for each of us!
Thank you! We are thankful for readers like you!
I go to bed around 9 and 11 and wake up between 8 and 9 then it n the afternoon I usually take a nap I need my rest .
Guess what? My name is Kendra too!
Wow… you definitely get lots of rest. lol!
Hi, your books sound like great reads and your book covers are Beautiful! I actually think I am in between, I go to bed around midnight and I get up about 7am, so maybe I am a morn owl . Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
Thank you so much! I love the term… “morn owl”… that’s great!
I’m a night owl, too.
Welcome, and nice to meet you! I often get a second wind at night, after everyone’s gone to bed, but I find that mornings are usually my best and most productive time.
Hi K. Leah, I am an Aussie and not really a Early bird or a Night Owl more and Exhausted Pigeon.
I tend to tire easy but did use to read to late at night at times but I don’t function as well late at night, never really have. I remember in high school i would be up at 5 am the day a project was due trying to finish it. (never mind I had weeks to work on it). I would plan to do it earlier but most of the time it was the last minute. Even now I tend to do things better in the morning.
I scrap book although haven’t done any for a little while but I am not a perfectionist by a long shot.
I’m not a night owl or an early morning person for that matter. I hit my stride mid-morning.
That’s what happens every time! That second wind is very productive for me.
Exhausted pigeon is hilarious! And very true for me as well. I need more hours in the day.
I normally have to find my stride mid-morning for my day job. That 9-11 window is my best time to be productive.
I used to be a night owl years ago when my husband worked 3-11pm shift and my kids were little and went to be early. That’s when I had time to myself to read, watch TV or play on the computer (kind of before the internet really took off)….remember dial-up? See I’m aging myself here, lol!
Not so much anymore! I’m usually in bed by 9pm, reading for maybe another hour & a half or so and then up by about 8-9am. As I’ve gotten older, seems I need more sleep. My “second wind” hits about late morning to early afternoon. By the time 7pm or so comes around, I’m ready to relax for the evening.
Welcome. I tend to be a night owl, but my life doesn’t always allow it. I do my best writing at night.
Oh, I remember dial-up. In fact, I remember getting internet while I was in college. The computer labs had long lines of people waiting to get on that computer where you could search stuff. Lol! We were only allowed 30 min per session.
Thank you! Same here. I take advantage when I can be productive, but sometimes I feel like I need toothpicks to keep my eyes open. Lol!
Since my adolescence I have been a night bird: I study at night, I am more active at night and it is also at night that I pray or read the Bible. Get up early? Be fresh in the morning? It has never happened to me.
Just like you love Hallmark or Hallmark movies with my mom, on vacation we usually stay up late! When I was a teenager I also remember falling asleep very late on vacation reading fanficiton on my cell phone hahaha
Welcome to Inspy! Since I became disabled, I have become a night owl. When I was working, I would get up at 4:30am so I would have time to do devotions, read the Bible and pray before I left for work. Thank you so much for joining us. God bless you.
Welcome!! I can’t wait to read your books. I’ve always been a night owl & so has my family. I love to read before bed.
Welcome to Inspy. I’ve always been a night owl all my life. I’m excited to read your books
Welcome! I am definitely not a night owl and find that I tend to be at my best in the afternoon. Western North Carolina is beautiful! I have family who live in the far Western corner of the state and I love seeing the mountains when I go to visit them.
I think I’m only a morning person out of necessity. I’ve had to wake up early for the majority of my life, so it’s a habit. When I’m out of town, I usually stay up very late but lol I still wake up at 5ish the first few days.
Yep! We share a lot of similarities when it comes to our schedules and habits.
Thank you! I’m so happy to be here!
Thank you! Reading at bed time is a favorite of mine too. (But sometimes I delay my bedtime even more because I can’t put the book down.)
Thank you! I’m excited to be here.
Yes! The fall and changing leaves is my favorite time of year to take a ride through the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although, I don’t get to do it as much as I used to. Too busy of a schedule for leisure rides these days.
Yay! I’m a night owl! I don’t even know how to function in the morning!
I always refer to that coffee cup that says, “Not now, still no, almost, okay, now you can talk to me.” lol!
Thank goodness for those glorious night time hours!