Carol Ann Erhardt began her writing career in 2006 writing for the secular market. She found she didn’t like conforming to the guidelines for including things in her novels she felt uncomfortable writing. After publishing two romantic suspense novels, she switched gears and wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense. Since then all her writing has been geared to the Christian market.
Carol Ann Erhardt left her full-time day job at the beginning of 2010. Her vision was that she’d get up every day and head down to her office where she’d spend at least 8 hours writing. That was the dream.
The reality: Carol Ann found her love for crocheting again and loves watching old reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond, The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, and Little House on the Prairie. But these aren’t idle hours. She creates beautiful prayer shawls and other items for her Church ministry.
She also became a full-time caregiver for her husband of 33 years as he became very ill during the early months of 2010. She does all the driving, which includes visits to the local VA clinic where he receives his health care and they enjoy eating lunch and sometimes dinner at various restaurants several times a month. She’s become the Queen of gift cards utiilizing the opportunity to save money on gasoline.
Gardening was never on her agenda. Now she mows the lawn, pulls weeds, nurtures plants and flowers, and maintains a small fish pond including a fountain and small bridge. The pond is filled with gorgeous and BIG koi fish and an occasional frog enjoys croaking while sitting on the “fake” lily pads.
Laundry, housecleaning, and playing cards with hubby fill up other hours of the day.
Oh, yes, and in her spare time when she feels up to it, she gets on her treadmill (installed with a small shelf to hold her laptop), turns it to 2.0 mph, fires up the laptop and writes.
She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
She writes a weekly Friday Devotion at Story and Logic from Christian Authors.
~~~~~~~
Hi!
Some people want to know just the basics about the writer. Others are interested in knowing more about the real me, the everyday person who does all the same things you do…like cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry, grocery shopping…
That’s me. I’m lucky enough to not have to pursue a day job which allows me to have a fairly flexible schedule, but my calendar is always full. I cannot sit and watch television without “doing” something. I find that writing and watching television just doesn’t work…but I can crochet and watch movies. So now my television time is a productive ministry. I crochet prayer shawls, chemo hats, lap robes and more for my church. These items are taken to those who are having a difficult time, in the hospital, moving, having a baby, undergoing cancer treatment, surgery… The list goes on.
Every morning when I get up, I head outside to feed five feral cats. We do not live in the country, but in a close subdivision and these cats are the result of someone abandoning a pet. Our next-door neighbor was caring for a litter of kittens that a feral cat had chosen to birth in his backyard. But one day he put his house up for sale and moved away leaving these now adult cats to fend for themselves. Unknown to me, my husband was buying cat food, storing it in a trash can outside and carrying food to the vacant house and leaving it for these animals during the long, cold winter months.
In the spring, the house sold and workmen began swarming the home with their electric tools. The cats migrated to our yard and one morning we discovered kittens in our woodpile under the deck. As the weather warmed, cats began to arrive leading litters of kittens…17 in all!!! Desperate for a solution I contacted Pet Promise and was accepted into their City Kitty program where we would trap the cats and then transport them to a clinic for free neutering/spaying and rabies shots. In exchange for the service, we agreed to provide shelter, food and water for the duration of their lives (which is expected to be very short for feral cats).
We now have five to care for, and a few others who drop by for a snack occasionally. My husband built a shelter for them and we line it with blankets to keep them warm in the winter. The wooden shelter is lined with insulated foam to protect against the harsh weather. Most of these cats will allow us to pet them, but they run whenever anyone else gets near. Sure they are a nuisance to flower gardens, but these poor animals didn’t ask to be abandoned and they must find a way to survive outdoors in all kinds of weather. We love them and nurture them as we know God led them to us to care for.
My plea is for everyone who has a pet to have it spayed or neutered. This is so very important to prevent the problem our country has with seeing so many feral cats. Otherwise, they will continue to have litters and litters of kittens who will grow up and have litters and litters of kittens… It’s a vicious circle. If you have a heart to help with the wonderful program that helped me, please donate to Pet Promise.
