How to read a book like a boss

And by boss, I mean mom....

How to Read a Book Like a Mom

I'm a writer, so I read a lot of books. I also have five children. People often ask how I have time to do anything. I have compiled a list of five tips for Boss-Mom Book Reading.

1. Find a book you want to read.

This may seem overly simplified, but sometimes, as a boss-mom, you know you just had that book you wanted to read. It was a good book. You may not be able to recall what it was about, but you definitely remember that it was a good book. There were people. Words. A plot that lasted longer than the time it takes to lose kitten mittens. Real, grown-up words. People did things. No tantrums. Or, at least, tantrums about things like missile crises, and there was no mention of potty training anywhere.

2.    Sit down.

When you finally find that novel - or your Kindle - in the freezer, have a seat. Standing up may also be an option. And, let's face it, last time you sat down, you woke up thirty minutes later with your toenails painted in Sharpie and wrapped in wet toilet paper. There was also half-a-banana, but we won't discuss that. You think you've only had three cups of coffee since the kids came to the edge of the bed at 4 AM to breathe in your face, and it takes at least six cups to manage a sit down. You're right. Standing up to read is probably best.

3. Find the bookmark.

This is a game the whole family loves to play with your paperbacks. Your daughter runs away with your bookmark or un-dog-ears your marker page. Better yet, when she's feeling playful and creative, she dog-ears all of them and leaves you Picasso-esque drawings that completely obscure the words on the page that you're pretty sure you've read already, but you need to read again (just in case). And for the Kindle days, you're pretty sure your entire library was eaten by Angry Birds Star Wars. She downloaded it six times - how does this even happen? - and your email server just thought you should know she bought $6,543 worth of extras.

4. Refreshments.

Mommy, I'm hungry. Mommy, I'm thirsty. Mommy, I need you to wipe... Look! The cat wanted to sleep in a pillowcase. (Even though you conducted a parent-pet meeting with that cat yesterday and you clearly outlined what it takes to survive in this household.) There's nothing better than a hot cup of java in a real mug with real creamer. Though, your memory may be faulty. You haven't had a hot cup of coffee since 2001, and you're pretty sure the kids are drinking your coffee when you aren't looking. You've filled that cup at least five times, and you still want to pass out. The kids on the other hand...

5. Music.

Mozart. Beethoven. Classical Rock. Old jams from high school. This is going to be an awesome reading session. Until the squealing and screeching reminds you, one of them wants to be a plumber and managed to dig up the flute-like recorder you successfully flushed down the toilet. And that sparkly pink microphone? The one with Let It Go echoing in all its tin-y glory? It has been found. By your head. And it's concert time. Grandma would be proud.

And when you get high five-d in the face with last week's half-eaten apple or you wake up to the re-enactment of that one scene from Avengers with your book in hand, you'll know. Congratulations. You made it. Welcome to reading a book like a boss, mom.

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Our Books and Authors

I Do Believe in Faeries by Erin Hayes
The Bee Charmer by Poppy Lawless
Woe for a Faerie by B. Brumley
Flightless by Margo Bond Collins
Rose Petal Graves by Olivia Wildenstein
Fairly Normal by Carrie L. Wells
Fae Came on the Plane by Elizabeth Watasin
The Fae and the Farmgirl by Pauline Creeden
The Fairy Bargain by Blaire Edens

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About Bokerah:

Bokerah Brumley is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. When she’s not playing with the quirky characters in her head, she’s addicted to Twitter pitch events, writing contests, and social media, in general. With three urban fantasy novella releases scheduled for 2016, Bokerah has too much planned for this year, but is happily doing it anyway. She lives on ten acres with five home-educated children, four peacocks, three dogs, two cats, and one husband. In her imaginary spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired Publicity Officer for the Cisco Writers Club.

Connect with Bokerah

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Bokerah Brumley shares The Alure of the Antihero

The Allure of the Antihero

Recently, in an interview about an anti-heroine in my upcoming release (Feather, out November 2016), I was asked about the allure of anti-heroines (or a main character that lacks conventional heroic attributes) and how this might have an impact in a social context.

This question prompted a great deal of reflection.

In media, we all love heroes. We love writing them, and we love reading them. We fall in love with them, and cheer them on from the theater seats, sidelines, and margins of our favorite books. From the beginning, heroes are outstanding achievers, courageous, selfless, and noble. It’s easy to root for the squeaky clean knights clothed in shining idealism. We even imagine being the hero, overcoming insurmountable odds, being worthy of applause – saving the world or at least saving the day.

But most of us aren’t equal to the ideal of the cookie-cutter, spangle-hearted heroes.

Enter the Anti-hero.

They’re broken. They’re afraid. They don’t want to get involved or make waves. Antiheroes struggle with the monotony of surviving in a world that doesn’t make sense. They fight illicit addictions, mental problems, or a preoccupation with sex. They’re in the middle of a divorce or a bitter custody battle. The messed up world had just better save itself because they’re regular people, busy earning money to take the subway to their 9-to-5.

Anti-heroes and anti-heroines are characters we identify and empathize with. They’re average, reluctant Joes and Janes thrust into a mold that doesn’t fit them. They arrive in the nick-of-time in stained t-shirts with less-than-stellar physique, only to swipe the last beer from the fridge.

Maybe this is our shared universal truth.

We daydream about the heroes, but we love the raw honesty and comedy of Agent Ordinary to the rescue as he combats the aches and pains of middle age or spends an hour trying to find his glasses.

We want the underdogs to successfully save the planet. After all, if they can win, then maybe we can, too.

Bokerah Brumley is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. When she’s not playing with the quirky characters in her head, she’s addicted to Twitter pitch events, writing contests, and social media, in general. With three urban fantasy novella releases scheduled for 2016, Bokerah has too much planned for this year, but is happily doing it anyway. She lives on ten acres with five home-educated children, three dogs, two cats, and one husband. In her imaginary spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired Publicity Officer for the Cisco Writers Club.

Dogwood Sprocket is SciFi Steampunk novelette available FOR FREE in

Seasons: A Multi-Genre Story Collection (Volume 1)

Coming Soon

Woe for a Faerie ~ April 2016

Wings Over New York ~ July 2016

Feather ~ November 2016