Featured Writer on Wellness: Tammy Cortez

I typically experience headaches.

I have been sitting at a computer for over 20 years as a business analyst. I have a pretty good handle on the physical aspects, sitting tall, stretching, etc. but my eyes can only take so much and well I am now in my mid 40’s so sitting at a computer is just harder on them as the years go by.

I have invested in reading glasses. They really help eye fatigue when I am at my computer, but make it so much harder after I have worn them and then removed them and attempt to read something. It’s a catch 22 really.

It’s Tough Writing About Things Close to My Heart

I typically write about topics that are close to my heart and that will often take a toll on me.

When I am at a happy point in a story I am up and feel alive, but when I get to the parts where there is pain and sadness it really follows me around.

I just have to walk away when I get to a stopping point if it’s too overwhelming. I am a creative person and find a great deal of joy in cooking, decorating, etc. I typically have a project lying around I can refocus my mind on or if it’s dinnertime, I just go to work in the kitchen.

I Never Imagined I Would Ever Write a Book!

I am really new to writing in this sense. I released my first children’s book in November of 2015, AbbeyLoo and Gus the Talking Toad, and am working on my first midgrade chapter book.

I guess to this point, waiting to see how people react to the book is the hardest part of it all.

I may be in a different place than a lot of writers. I am not writing to make a living or to be the next rising star in the literary world. I am doing this because I am creative, had some ideas and found myself writing.

I never imagined I would ever write a book, but here I am. I think this takes a lot of the stress off of me that many other writers might feel.

I Want to Be Someone that Sends Out Something Positive

Like I mentioned above writing isn’t a job, it’s simply another one of my many creative outlets.

I find it somewhat therapeutic. Since my focus is children and young adults I find it really important to have a positive message in there somewhere.

Our kids have so many opportunities through TV, school, music, social media, etc. to be exposed to negative messages. I want to be someone that send out something positive.

Advice for a Young Writer: Love Yourself and Your Work

I would say go for it!

It can be a tough road but it is rewarding to share your craft/art form with others. There will be people who will quickly fall in love with your work and become instant fans, and there will be people who won’t.

It’s a risk to put yourself out there, so knowing who you are and loving yourself and your work is what will allow you to learn from those that aren’t fans and move forward.

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Tammy Cortez is a wife and mother to two beautiful daughters ages 13 and 24. She has been married for more than 25 years.

Tammy grew up in Fremont California and recently moved to Central Texas with her husband and youngest daughter. Prior to her move to Texas, Tammy worked as a Business Analyst for more than 15 years.

Tammy ventured into writing when she wanted to write a story for her youngest daughter Abbey as a gift. After sharing the idea with a couple of friends who had writing books, she was encouraged to look into publishing it as a book.

For more information about Tammy and her work, please see her website and Amazon author page, or connect with her on Twitter.

AbbeyLoo and Gus the Talking Toad: AbbeyLoo is a curious little girl with a BIG imagination. This imagination takes AbbeyLoo to some very exciting and often unexpected places.