Name please.
Andrea Tomkins
Your Website?
What’s your specialty? (work-wise – you’re probably pretty special at a lot of things)
I wear many hats, and have been really trying to focus. Primarily I work as a freelance writer. Lately I’ve been writing a lot about home design/reno articles for local publications, and I’m really enjoying it. A good chunk of my day is spent updating my blog, which has turned into a pretty good income for me these past few years, so it’s a job in its own right!
What’s your shameless plug? (books, blogs, bling, etc.)
I love my freelance writing work, especially where it intersects with social media. I am currently writing for Savvymom.ca and blogging for Canadian Family Magazine.
Best thing about your work:
The best thing about my work is that it’s really flexible. I work from my home office and am able to work around my kid’s schedules, which is great. I am also very fortunate to be able to pick and choose what kind of writing assignments I accept, so I find myself writing things that I truly enjoy and am passionate about. That makes it much more fun, and a lot less like work!
Parent or not a parent?
Oh yes. I have two daughters age 10 and 12.
Share a typical Tuesday (really we want to hear how you “do it all”)
I definitely don’t do it all, and every day is different. Typically I help get the kids ready for school and take the dog for a walk. I do most of my writing in the morning, and use the afternoon for meetings or interviews and to catch up on stuff around the house. Sometimes the domestic stuff escapes my attention (like laundry), but I try not to be too hard on myself. I can’t be supermom. In fact, whoever invented the term “life balance” deserves a kick in the pants, because it’s not achievable unless you have a village to help raise your children.
Do you blog?
I’ve been blogging since 1999. I write a lot about our family adventures here in Ottawa and the little things we do as a family. It’s at www.quietfish.com/notebook. The Fishbowl is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeekInsideTheFishbowl
Do you tweet?
Yes! I love Twitter. I’m @missfish.
Link to a post/portfolio/recipe piece you think shows your most supreme skills:
Oh man. This is so hard! I have so many favourites, but I’d never be so bold as to think any of them show my supreme skills… but here’s a recipe for leek soup I think is worth sharing:http://www.quietfish.com/notebook/?p=10563. The photos still make me smile.
Wallflower or social butterfly?
It really depends on the day and my particular state of mind. Sometimes I am happiest in a corner, just watching the world go by. Other times you can find me in the middle of a room, telling a wild (and loud) story. But I think a lot of people are like that.
Name 3 people you would like to meet-in-person from Twitter (add why so we can follow them too).
Someday I would love to meet:
@mom101, because she’s hilarious and smart
@JNReynolds, because she’s super nice and I’ve love to talk to her about her job
@FreeRangeKids, because I think she’d be a really interesting person to talk to about parenting
You might also like to read:
Come on down to NYC any time, Andrea. We’ll have a good time making a “life/balance” voodoo doll and sticking pins in it.