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Out of Uniform
Out of Uniform by Amy J. Fetzer released on Feb 08, 2005 is available now for purchase.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Amy J. Fetzer
93 books130 followersHi there. Thanks for stopping by!
I'll tell you right off that I don't like reading my own bios, let alone writing them. It's like tooting your own horn. But if you're here, then you want to know something about me. So how about I break some ‘writers have a glamorous life' myths first off.
Myth 1: Writers have always been writers.
Not me. I was a licensed cosmotologist for years, and didn't even put pen to paper until I was 30. (with an infant and 3 year old) It took me 3 years to write my first book, and while it taught me a lot, it was dreadful ! Got rejected 6 times flat out. I burned it in the back yard when I sold my 20 th book. I've kept the first pages to remind myself of how far I've come.
Myth 2: writers have a staff to take care of them and their homes while they write.
I wish! I don't have a maid, a cook, or anyone who works for me, except maybe Shelley, who maintains this site. Like most women out there, I do all the cooking, cleaning, bills, shopping, etc. Sometimes I can be seen driving the riding lawnmower over our 2 acres. That's not a complaint. I'm a Marine's wife, and my husband was gone a lot, so I had to do it. I'm the only female in a house of men, so I pretty much rule too. And as the daughter, wife, and now the mother of US Marines, believe me, I can give orders when need be.
Myth 3. Writers work when the muse hits them.
If I did, I'd never meet a deadline. Writing isn't about the muse coming to you; it's about unleashing bottled creativity and giving it freedom on paper. Every writer I know feels a deep internal need to tell their particular story and hope you're entertained. Writers HAVE to write. Yeah, sure, sometimes the creativity isn't moving like we want, but like everyone who faces some problem, I go to my friends and they come through in a punch. By the way, I work at my job from about 7 am till 4, sometimes later if it's going great and I don't want to stop. Weekends are for playing, projects or gardening. I actually love pulling weeds; it makes my mind drift to good places.
Myth 4: Writers get paid oodles of money.
Oodles?? If I did, I'd have a staff and a better-looking office. But I get to go to work in the worlds' sloppiest clothes.
Myth 5: Once a writer sells a book, they can sell anything else.
Want to see my rejection file? I could wallpaper a bathroom with it. To keep selling is the really hard part of this job. However, my idea of a great story isn't often blending with the editors. It's frustrating and often, it hurts, since the books writers create have, without a doubt, a piece of them inside. But then, if you can't take it, then this isn't the business for you.
My second book (#1 being the dreadful one I burned) My Timeswept Heart was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America, Golden Heart contest for unpublished works. I didn't win, but it got my work before my Kensington editor. It came out in '93 and I've sold over 30 since. With numerous rejections in between.
Right now, I'm writing books I've wanted to write for three years, Romantic Thrillers. Think Peacemaker or Chain Reaction with a little more romance in them. Lots of action and danger. After writing books in 5 sub genres of romance, (I get bored easily) this new one is the chance for me to use all this military knowledge I've stored up for years. I've fired weapons, rappelled, ridden in an Armored Personnel Carrier, and did some Scuba diving in the East China Sea. It hasn't been boring, and because I write, it never will be.
Now that my Sergeant Major husband is retired, and my sons are grown and towering over their mother, we get to stay in one place.
How average. I love it. When I feel the itch to move every 3 years, I just redecorate.
Well, its time for me to get back to work. Thanks for visiting. Take a look around the site, drop me a note, even read the first chapter of a new novel, if you like. It's out there for you, the reader. I wouldn't be loving my job if you weren't
I'll tell you right off that I don't like reading my own bios, let alone writing them. It's like tooting your own horn. But if you're here, then you want to know something about me. So how about I break some ‘writers have a glamorous life' myths first off.
Myth 1: Writers have always been writers.
Not me. I was a licensed cosmotologist for years, and didn't even put pen to paper until I was 30. (with an infant and 3 year old) It took me 3 years to write my first book, and while it taught me a lot, it was dreadful ! Got rejected 6 times flat out. I burned it in the back yard when I sold my 20 th book. I've kept the first pages to remind myself of how far I've come.
Myth 2: writers have a staff to take care of them and their homes while they write.
I wish! I don't have a maid, a cook, or anyone who works for me, except maybe Shelley, who maintains this site. Like most women out there, I do all the cooking, cleaning, bills, shopping, etc. Sometimes I can be seen driving the riding lawnmower over our 2 acres. That's not a complaint. I'm a Marine's wife, and my husband was gone a lot, so I had to do it. I'm the only female in a house of men, so I pretty much rule too. And as the daughter, wife, and now the mother of US Marines, believe me, I can give orders when need be.
Myth 3. Writers work when the muse hits them.
If I did, I'd never meet a deadline. Writing isn't about the muse coming to you; it's about unleashing bottled creativity and giving it freedom on paper. Every writer I know feels a deep internal need to tell their particular story and hope you're entertained. Writers HAVE to write. Yeah, sure, sometimes the creativity isn't moving like we want, but like everyone who faces some problem, I go to my friends and they come through in a punch. By the way, I work at my job from about 7 am till 4, sometimes later if it's going great and I don't want to stop. Weekends are for playing, projects or gardening. I actually love pulling weeds; it makes my mind drift to good places.
Myth 4: Writers get paid oodles of money.
Oodles?? If I did, I'd have a staff and a better-looking office. But I get to go to work in the worlds' sloppiest clothes.
Myth 5: Once a writer sells a book, they can sell anything else.
Want to see my rejection file? I could wallpaper a bathroom with it. To keep selling is the really hard part of this job. However, my idea of a great story isn't often blending with the editors. It's frustrating and often, it hurts, since the books writers create have, without a doubt, a piece of them inside. But then, if you can't take it, then this isn't the business for you.
My second book (#1 being the dreadful one I burned) My Timeswept Heart was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America, Golden Heart contest for unpublished works. I didn't win, but it got my work before my Kensington editor. It came out in '93 and I've sold over 30 since. With numerous rejections in between.
Right now, I'm writing books I've wanted to write for three years, Romantic Thrillers. Think Peacemaker or Chain Reaction with a little more romance in them. Lots of action and danger. After writing books in 5 sub genres of romance, (I get bored easily) this new one is the chance for me to use all this military knowledge I've stored up for years. I've fired weapons, rappelled, ridden in an Armored Personnel Carrier, and did some Scuba diving in the East China Sea. It hasn't been boring, and because I write, it never will be.
Now that my Sergeant Major husband is retired, and my sons are grown and towering over their mother, we get to stay in one place.
How average. I love it. When I feel the itch to move every 3 years, I just redecorate.
Well, its time for me to get back to work. Thanks for visiting. Take a look around the site, drop me a note, even read the first chapter of a new novel, if you like. It's out there for you, the reader. I wouldn't be loving my job if you weren't
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 28, 2009
Quick review...
I liked Rick, Kate and the cast of secondary characters, and it was interesting to see how hard the life of Marine wives can be. But I'm not sure I really bought the HEA, because Rick's "change" was a bit sudden. All in all, this wasn't a bad read for this lazy Saturday.
I liked Rick, Kate and the cast of secondary characters, and it was interesting to see how hard the life of Marine wives can be. But I'm not sure I really bought the HEA, because Rick's "change" was a bit sudden. All in all, this wasn't a bad read for this lazy Saturday.
January 25, 2026
Rick Wyatt is a Marine Captain and he is an injured one at the moment trying to recover so he can get back to active duty. He had told his C.O. he would get checked out every two days if he could just go home. He hated being in the hospital and refused to stay another moment even though he needed to.
Rick slept through his check in and the next day his estrange wife, Kate showed up on his door step with written orders of her own that she was his nurse since he had flaked on obeying the other orders. This is a good thing for the both of them I thought especially how this book ends.
He can’t take care of his self with his entire arm in a cast and sling. He is fighting with her orders though, even calling the X.O. who tells him its Kate or the hospital so he chooses his wife instead. I thought it was a good choice considering she would be better at taking care of him than some nurse at a hospital.
There is a lot of hurt on both sides of their marriage, but the two of them help each other heal. Rick finally opens up about his life in the marines and she tells him about the child she lost of theirs right after he shipped out the last time.
I think even though it hurt the both of them, him getting shot was the best thing so to speak. It fixed what they both felt and made their marriage become new again. The secrets that they both had held in almost destroyed something wonderful.
Amy J. Fetzer did a great job and I hope to read more of her books in the future.
Rick slept through his check in and the next day his estrange wife, Kate showed up on his door step with written orders of her own that she was his nurse since he had flaked on obeying the other orders. This is a good thing for the both of them I thought especially how this book ends.
He can’t take care of his self with his entire arm in a cast and sling. He is fighting with her orders though, even calling the X.O. who tells him its Kate or the hospital so he chooses his wife instead. I thought it was a good choice considering she would be better at taking care of him than some nurse at a hospital.
There is a lot of hurt on both sides of their marriage, but the two of them help each other heal. Rick finally opens up about his life in the marines and she tells him about the child she lost of theirs right after he shipped out the last time.
I think even though it hurt the both of them, him getting shot was the best thing so to speak. It fixed what they both felt and made their marriage become new again. The secrets that they both had held in almost destroyed something wonderful.
Amy J. Fetzer did a great job and I hope to read more of her books in the future.
May 12, 2017
Leído el 15/05/2012
August 22, 2023
Historia corta, bonita y entretenida. Fue ligera de leer.
January 1, 2018
An oldie but a goody. Rediscovered this story when I was going through some old paperbacks. Totally love Rick and Kate's story. All marriages are work, and love does conquer all.
September 6, 2012
The book started good but at first I though that Kate's reasons for leaving Rick weren't good enough - he didn't talked about his feelings or his past. But he was only afraid that he was going to lose her. After that i realized that if they hadn't been separated they would never had realized how much they actually loved each other and talked about their problems and solved them.
But it's still strange to me to read book like this - the couple is married and than separated because they don't communicate, they don't know what the other one thinks or feels, both of them only assume without talking at all.
But it's still strange to me to read book like this - the couple is married and than separated because they don't communicate, they don't know what the other one thinks or feels, both of them only assume without talking at all.
August 14, 2016
I don't know. Both Kate and Rick are likeable, but I'm not sure I believe in the HEA, and I never felt compelled to reread this one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews