Balancing Life and Writing with Travis Haugen – Guest Post and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $30 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

How does Travis Haugen balance life and writing?

That is a great question. I am one of those who do not think about life/work balance. Mostly, situations present themselves and I go with the situation.

I started playing in bands at an early age, about 14, traveling around to small towns near my home town in southern Saskatchewan. Then, in my late teens, I traveled with various bands throughout US and Canada. I began writing songs somewhere around then, becoming immersed in the music world as I did so. I became curious about what happens behind the song, behind the bass, so I learned much of the technical aspect of recording while I continued to tour. There was no question of balancing life with work, music was my work, and my life.

Later in life, I drifted into consulting part time as a computer technologist. In early 2001, I sat down and like many other days, I wrote a song. However, on that day I kept writing, only it wasn’t a song, it was the beginnings of a book, which turned into a series of books. It was as if I had all these thoughts and experiences that I had to get on paper, without really knowing why. At no point in my life did I plan on being an author, it simply presented itself to me, and I ran with it, and I haven’t stopped since. I did shelve the project for a while when I moved to Winnipeg in 2002. A new house, a new job, a new city; life got busy. So yes, I guess it was a matter of balance at that time, but I did not think of it as such. There just wasn’t time. But I never stopped thinking about the books, and I always had a guitar in my hand, when I had a moment to do so.

Life changes as it does, and about five years ago, I found myself living in the basement of Bedside (Recording) Studios in Winnipeg. I pulled the box of manuscripts down from a shelf, blew off the dust, and dove in. As I edited, I started writing songs to fit situations in each book. After work, I would spend time in the studio laying down tracks for those songs. I continued to work, play in various bands, write my songs, and write more books.

Then, fate tipped her hand again. About two years ago, my niece, Candy Haugen and I re-connected after years of little or no contact. Candy’s ordeal with colon cancer, and the passing of my mom, Candy’s gramma, were the forces that worked to draw us together. And through that connection, Candy became connected to the One song Project, and the book Soup. In fact, Candy’s involvement led to the book being published. Without her, that would not have happened. She went from helping with the editing to advising on artwork to co-writing the last seven songs from Soup with me. Her influence changed me, which changed the book, both to the good. Now, she is as important to the project as I am, maybe more so, because I wanted to start book four of the series, wile she wanted me to focus on finishing Soup, and getting the book out there in people’s hands. That would not have happened without Candy

In September, I plan on retiring (or at least cutting back) from computer consulting, and with Candy’s help, focus my time on getting the second book of the series published. We will also get the fourth book on paper, finish the songs, and continue the story of the Yonge family as they move through the years. The first book I wrote started from one song. That song came out of loneliness. Now, the series of events that led to my strong connection with Candy has led to a strong connection with the rest of the family, and I am the furthest from lonely as I’ve been in my life.

That first book, aptly titled One Song, may never get published, but it will remain special to me, as that is where Scott, Michelle, Scheck, Duke and many of the other characters came to life. And, like me, it was never a question of balance, it was simply, life. Sweet and beautiful, ever changing, ever precious, life.

Scott Yonge exploded onto the national consciousness at the 2001 Garrett Awards and quickly rose to legendary status on the wings of his music and his whirlwind romance with independent film actress Michelle Zoe. What should have been a perfect life was interrupted by an ultra-right wing militant group called the American Freedom Force and its leader, Colonel Randall, who forces Scott to choose between his life and that of his son. After his heroic sacrifice, his family is left to pick up the pieces and forge ahead to a future in the vacuum he left behind.

Now, in 2021, his son Hedley inherits music for himself, becoming a star in his own right as technology gives new life to the medium. Scott’s daughter, affectionately known as Soup, throws herself into unravelling the mysteries of her family’s history. Michelle commits herself to keeping them all together and trying to make sense of life without the one she loves. Through it all, the AFF looms in the shadows, threatening to resurrect the pain they have just begun to overcome.

Enjoy an excerpt:

The dream wakes him, the same one. Hedley’s whispered words “Bye birdies, bye” still ring in his ears as he achieves consciousness. Sound of a different source soon intrudes: that of music playing through the PA system. It’s late, he realizes, and jumps to his feet. He can feel more than hear the rustle of people filing into the arena, bringing with them a sense of tension that will build until show time, then burst like a stick dam before a raging river with the first note. It’s 7:10 PM; an hour and twenty to go. A shrill knock comes to the door, followed by Del’s voice.

“You in there, dude?”

“Si,” Scott replies. All the years of the road, sharing the stage, and the music are audible in Del’s simple words. They don’t have to speak to talk; they’re on the same wavelength.

The show, the focus is the show. Whatever lies with tomorrow lives with tomorrow; they live for tonight. “I need a shower, I stink. I’ll be along soon.”

“Cool, dude, don’t forget your pants.”

He hears cowboy booted footsteps receding on the concrete floor.

A new, unidentifiable tension floats to the surface as Scott showers, rising from the dark side. It has an ominous feel about it, winding like a creeping vine around Scott’s confidence, bringing with it a sense of fear, and worse, a sense of defeat. The wariness settles on him again, draining his energy and his will. He shivers uncontrollably as coldness sets in, and he wonders if he can go on. Then it occurs to him as he cranks the hot water that this is all part of it. The plan all along was to isolate him, weaken him bit by bit, reducing him to a shell of what he is. By show time, they would see Scott as the colonel wants them to see him, a weak and ineffective fool incapable of sustaining a mission of any substance. “You will not break me,” Scott whispers. He leans his head against the cool tiles of the shower stall. “I will not give you that.”

Travis was born and raised in the prairies of Saskatchewan, lived in Calgary for over 25 years and presently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Travis Haugen has spent forty years of his life touring on the road as a musician and has spent hundreds of hours in recording studios. Travis spends much of his time writing songs, writing stories, playing music and spending valuable time with his family and close group of friends.

Website | Facebook | YouTube

Buy the book:  Publisher | Amazon | Kobo | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Google | Chapters

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Safed musli for example is sex stimulant that you can make the best purchase cialis from india deal. Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially if your heart is already weak buy viagra https://www.unica-web.com/archive/2007/general-assembly-minutes-2007.pdf from a heart attack or heart disease. Men who are experiencing soft or weak erections, brand viagra without prescription less penile sensation during coitus may use this herbal oil. Then, slightly jiggle the stick, release pressure and slide the drumstick out to complete massage. viagra sales in canada