One of the most common issues faced by WAFs is how to have a career in this military lifestyle. We wanted to highlight fellow WAF, Tara Goedjen, who is a published author with a new novel that will be released December 7th, 2021, and learn from her experience of pursuing her professional goals during her 7 years as a WAF. We are constantly amazed by WAFs who are making moves in their unique industries through PCS’s, deployments, and all the other life challenges we deal with as military spouses! Without further ado, here is our Q&A with fellow WAF and author, Tara Goedjen.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A WRITER?
Tara: I was a reader first. My parents weren’t military but we moved a LOT—to a different state every year—so books were my refuge. And since my husband is military, our daughters will know what it’s like to move around a lot too. That’s one reason why my latest novel, No Beauties or Monsters, opens with a military family PCSing to a remote desert town in California. Writing about a mil family is new for me, but I’m excited to show readers a glimpse of what life is like, even if the book is a mystery-thriller. (Think Veronica Mars meets Stranger Things!)
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
Tara: Place always inspires my work. While we were stationed in Monterey, CA, we took a road trip out to Death Valley. After seeing the landscape, I knew that I had to write about it. The very extreme climate, and very isolated location (along with the nearby military base), made the perfect setting.
DO YOU THINK BEING A WAF/LIVING IN THIS LIFESTYLE HAS GIVEN YOU AN EDGE AS A WRITER?
Tara: It depends how I look at it! 😉 Because my latest book was inspired by a road trip to the Mojave Desert, I’m thankful that we were stationed in California and could drive there. There was also a great writing community in the area, so I got the chance to connect with some booksellers and authors that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. But moving around a lot also means that you’re reaching out to make new connections again and again. That’s why online communities like WAF are so helpful. I truly appreciate the support here, and I’m thankful for every spouse who reads No Beauties or Monsters or recommends it to a friend (which will also show Random House that there’s a need for more stories about military families and teens). I think that relatability factor is so important to see in books.
HOW DO YOU + YOUR HUSBAND BALANCE BOTH OF YOU ASPIRING FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR RESPECTIVE CAREERS AS A MILITARY FAMILY?
Tara: In my experience, it can be frustrating when your job is freelance/self-employed instead of salaried. Not having a fixed work schedule like your military spouse means that you’re the one who has to step up at home if there are last-minute deployments or shortened school days, but that also means that you might not be hitting your career milestones as fast as you want to be. And PCSing takes time and energy—no one knows this more than a military spouse. Between my debut novel and my new book, we moved three times, including to Guam and back (with a small toddler too!). The bright side was that Guam was beautiful, but also definitely remote, which was an experience that fed into my novel.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO A WAF THAT MIGHT BE SCARED TO TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH + POUR TIME/ENERGY INTO THEIR UNIQUE CAREER FIELD?
Tara: I think my best piece of advice to WAFs working in unique career fields is to roll with life when you have to, and roll up your sleeves when you can. And if you’re not sure if you’re ready for that leap of faith, then just take a small step. Put fifteen minutes a day toward it. Take a class on the side. Listen to industry podcasts. Make connections locally or online. But most of all, be patient with yourself, and be kind, because the military lifestyle can be uniquely challenging. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance when you need it, or just talk it through with a friend or another WAF–we’re all in this together.
Tara’s new book, No Beauties or Monsters, is available for preorder NOW. Click here to check it out!
MEET TARA GOEDJEN
