The Writing Life with Kids, Dogs, and Chickens by Kim McCollum

February 23, 2024 Michelle Cornish

Today I’m sharing a special guest post from author Kim McCollum as part of her WOW! Women on Writing tour for her book What Happens in Montana. Take it away, Kim!

Writing with five children is not an easy feat. At least they were all in school full time when I set out to write a novel, but it is truly miraculous how quickly those seven or so hours fly by while kids are at school. Plus, being a stay-at-home mom means all the working moms and teachers assume you have nothing to do, so they volunteer you for everything. I was a room mom, substitute teacher, field trip helper, lunchroom monitor, to name a few of the responsibilities I was roped into.

I felt guilty writing. My former husband told me that writing was a waste of time, and no one would be interested in what I had to say. Yes, there is a reason he is my ex. My current husband is my biggest cheerleader. I couldn’t have done it without him. Writing is such a solitary endeavor, so it is crucial to have people in your life who believe in you and keep you going. Even with his support, I put everyone and everything above my writing. Since I had given up my career to stay at home with my kids, I felt they needed to be my main priority. My son played travel hockey, so that meant nearly every weekend for eight months we were on the road. It didn’t leave any time on the weekends for writing. During the week, I prioritized cleaning the kitchen, buying groceries, doing laundry, basically everything needed to be in order before I gave myself permission to write. Which meant many days went by without my writing a word.

As for the dogs and the chickens, the dogs were another priority which came before writing. When they were still young and fit enough to hike with me, we did three miles four to five days per week. We could usually do it in about an hour and we loved it. Now, they are 15 and nine, so they are not up for hikes. They are lazy, and, I suppose, so am I. Chickens don’t require too much time and energy once they are past the chick stage. Chicks are a pain in the rear. They require an exact temperature based on their age in weeks, and it changes weekly. They must be checked to ensure they don’t have excrement stuck to their rears (sorry, it’s gross, but it is important. They can die if this becomes a problem). It is truly amazing that these creatures have survived as long as they have given how delicate they are in their first few months of life. Thankfully, there is a farmer down the street from me who raises chicks and sells them when the reach egg laying age. I’m in!

Now, with the release and early success of my first novel, I feel confident enough to call myself a writer. So, I am getting better at prioritizing my writing. It also helps that only one of the five kids still lives at home. He drives himself to all his activities, so he doesn’t really need me, but I insert myself into his life as often as possible. Embarrassing him is my second favorite pastime. My first is writing. I’m just so thrilled that others seem to be enjoying what I love to do most.

About Kim McCollum

Kim McCollum graduated from Barnard College as a Japanese major and headed to work on Wall Street. Many miserable all-nighters and the birth of her first child led her to stay home to raise her children. Eventually, she pursued her passion for writing. An excerpt from this novel appeared in The Copperfield Review Quarterly and her short stories have appeared in The Dillydoun Review, Beyond Solace, and Fiction on the Web. She lives in Bozeman, MT with her husband, Brian, and their blended menagerie of five kids, two dogs, and seven spoiled chickens. What Happens in Montana is her first novel.

Find Kim on her website: Kim-mccollum.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.w.gunderson

Twitter/X: @KFMcCollum

About What Happens in Montana

“Reminiscent of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty…a quest for trust and forgiveness amongst four women which tests the limits of the long friendships and marital bonds.” – Peter Kiesners, author of Scorpion Grass

“…a real page turner. A strong five stars!” – Diane Hawley Nagamoto, author of The Butterfly Café

“A poignant, realistic story that will tug at your emotions.” – Regina Buttner, author of Down a Bad Road and Absolution

“…well researched, wonderfully written, and historically accurate, is a testament to the power of women’s friendships across generations.” – Sara Fraser, author of Just River

A ghost’s antics, a harrowing moose chase, a hypnosis session, and smuggled booze lead to spilled secrets and betrayal, but do they also lead to murder?

At a hot springs retreat in Montana, whiskey-swigging Maude, the nearly eighty-year-old chef, longs for the glory days when the retreat hosted martini-sipping celebrities instead of long-haired hippies who refuse to wear deodorant. Brooke, feisty, adventurous, and a bit reckless, proposes a reunion at the retreat with her best friends to get away from the chaos of her life with teenagers and the emotional aftermath of her postponed wedding. One of those friends, Tracy, has devoted her life to her children and her husband despite her excruciating boredom. But a long-held secret could cost her the most important friendships in her life. Haunting the place is a ghost who, in life, dealt with tragedy by turning to prostitution which led to her murder over 100 years ago at the very place they all are staying.

What Happens in Montana explores friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness with blunt truth and witty insights. Together, these friends learn to navigate empty nests, infidelity, deception, and poltergeists. Most importantly, they learn their friendship is strong enough to get them through it all.

Publisher: Life: Black Rose Writing

ISBN-13: 1685133606

Print length: 335 pages

Purchase a copy of What Happens in Montana by visiting Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. Make sure you also add What Happens in Montana to your Goodreads reading list.

Follow the Blog Tour

January 29th @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate author Kim McCollum and interview her about What Happens in Montana. You'll also have the chance to win a copy of the book for yourself.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

February 1st @ The Knotty Needle

Stop by to read Judy's review of What Happens in Montana by Kim McCollum.

http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com

February 2nd @ Pages & Paws

Read Kristine and Kimber's review of What Happens in Montana.

https://pagesandpaws.com/

February 4th @ Shoes, Seeds & Stories

Check out Linda's review of What Happens in Montana by Kim McCollum.

https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/

February 5th @ What is That Book About?

Stop by Michelle's blog to view a spotlight of What Happens in Montana.