Ledger-Longmont,Colorado

Longmont author multitasks her way to success 

October 22, 2010 

By Karen Albright Lin
Longmont Ledger

Set goals. Work hard.

That’s the mantra of Longmont resident Janet Fogg, whose debut novel, “Soliloquy” just won a national award in the romance category.

Fogg recently won the Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent award, given annually since 1995, for best first book.

But Fogg, who moved to Colorado in 1958 as a child, already has another successful career behind her: She served as Chief Financial Officer for the big-league Boulder firm, OZ Architecture.

“Some friends thought I was foolish to resign from OZ to write full time,” says Fogg. “Others applauded the risk and delved into my thought-process and rationale, clearly yearning to change their own direction.”

As challenging as her previous career was, both Fogg and her friends say her current incarnation requires as much or more dedication to navigate industry obstacles and the inevitable rollercoaster of frustration and euphoria. Even while working for OZ, Fogg used to rise at 4 a.m. to make time for her writing.

Janet Fogg's novel, "Soliloquy," recently won the HOLT award for best first novel.

All those morning hours Janet spent paid off when The Wild Rose Press decided to publish “Soliloquy.” The novel, a time-travel romance in which the lead character is transported back to World War II and falls for a wounded British pilot.

“Her writing is every bit as smart, elegant and engaging as … her personality,” says Shannon Baker, author of “Ashes of the Red Heifer.”

Fogg says her ongoing interest about World War II has now led her to pursue a non-fiction work about the era. She’s also at work on another time-travel tale.

“It seems I’ll never abandon multi-tasking,” she says.