Seriously, it seems like yesterday when I would sit in my bedroom and write stories just for my friend's entertainment. More than anything, writing was always just for my own entertainment and my own escapes when reality would become a tad bit overwhelming. I don't think that I could have ever imagined making announcements like "I JUST GOT PUBLISHED!"
How did it begin? Simple. It all began in the days where it was just a personal passion. I think that's how every dream begins. I enjoyed writing more than singing and I think that everyone who knows me knows that I ENJOY SINGING!!! but singing required make up and pretty dresses and standing up strait and breathing right and using great showmanship and making eye contact with the crowd---you get the point. Writing, however, required nothing but an imagination and a wrist that would not get tired too soon.
I wrote in journals, diaries, every since I was 11. Would you believe that I have almost every one of those journals?
Maybe one day they'll be worth more than a few laughs. Somewhere along the way, I must have realized that writing was more than a hobby, but somewhat of a gift. It was my pleasure to write for any occasion.
One day in 2009, I came across a book in a library called Illusions. The book cover was simple and not over crowded with words or strange imagery which by the way runs me off every time. I scanned the synopsis on the back and thought to myself that this would be a pretty juicy read! let's face it, I like juicy reads. If I'm reading Christian fiction it can't be too churchy or too preachy or I'm already distracted by the birds outside my window. This story was about a pastor wrapped up in pornography--NEED I SAY MORE!?! At first, however, I worried that I would not like the idea of a pastor being caught up in this struggle. Christian leaders catch a lot of heat as is, but when I began to read it, I felt terribly sorry for the pastor because I could personally relate to him. Not his specific issue with porn, but his struggle with sin period. I could relate to his wife who questioned her own beauty and self value as well. By the time I finished this book, I was a mess and in tears! It was through those tears that I contacted the Author, Wanda B. Campbell by email. Foolishly thinking that she would never respond, I poured my little heart out anyway. When I saw her name appear in my inbox, I must have bounced 10 times in my kitchen. "She wrote me back!!" I sang and danced ridiculously. I told her about my passion for writing, and she was used by God to encourage and push me to fulfill my goals. When someone believes in you, you can jump the distance, you can run the race, and you can climb the highest mountain.
Wanda chose me as one of her featured 8 authors in her Anthology Home Again and 2 years later-2012 I am so thrilled and a little scared too I must admit because this is all so new and fast, but I am still excited to release my first (not short story) but FULL NOVEL! YAY--doing my happy dance right now as I type! After going through what I considered a friendly bootcamp of edits from Mrs. Campbell, she then released me to the wolves...or shall I say, the publishers. Which didnt turn out to be so wolf-ish after all. I waited to see what they would say. Would they decline? I watched my inbox day and night until three days later I received the notification that they had received my manuscript and wanted to see the entire work. I worried that they would not like the entire work, then after they liked it, I worried that the contract would be crazy, then after that I worried that I would not market right! Ughhh! OKay I admit, to be a Christian Fiction author, I do way too much worrying and not enough praying. So far things are going smoothly. Pulse publishing is a great way to begin my writing career and I'm glad to have such an amazing editor slicing and dicing through the things I missed. And when I say slicing and dicing, I mean it! Whoo! RED PEN MEMORIES FROM SCHOOL!! I realize that the skin has to be thick if you want to grow at whatever you do so I purchased a few layers because I have yet to finish getting back all the final edits.
UNCOVERED, the full novel will release in the late fall. I can't wait to see my book cover for the first time, or see the first purchase, or have my first book club meeting. OOOH! I'm so excited. It's happening everybody! This is real! I'm not dreaming! I am an author and I am going to release all the stories that have been locked away in my little creative and strange brain all these years! okay maybe not all of the stories. but the good ones!
THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ME. Wish me the best!...oh and buy my book!
How did it begin? Simple. It all began in the days where it was just a personal passion. I think that's how every dream begins. I enjoyed writing more than singing and I think that everyone who knows me knows that I ENJOY SINGING!!! but singing required make up and pretty dresses and standing up strait and breathing right and using great showmanship and making eye contact with the crowd---you get the point. Writing, however, required nothing but an imagination and a wrist that would not get tired too soon.
I wrote in journals, diaries, every since I was 11. Would you believe that I have almost every one of those journals?
Maybe one day they'll be worth more than a few laughs. Somewhere along the way, I must have realized that writing was more than a hobby, but somewhat of a gift. It was my pleasure to write for any occasion.
One day in 2009, I came across a book in a library called Illusions. The book cover was simple and not over crowded with words or strange imagery which by the way runs me off every time. I scanned the synopsis on the back and thought to myself that this would be a pretty juicy read! let's face it, I like juicy reads. If I'm reading Christian fiction it can't be too churchy or too preachy or I'm already distracted by the birds outside my window. This story was about a pastor wrapped up in pornography--NEED I SAY MORE!?! At first, however, I worried that I would not like the idea of a pastor being caught up in this struggle. Christian leaders catch a lot of heat as is, but when I began to read it, I felt terribly sorry for the pastor because I could personally relate to him. Not his specific issue with porn, but his struggle with sin period. I could relate to his wife who questioned her own beauty and self value as well. By the time I finished this book, I was a mess and in tears! It was through those tears that I contacted the Author, Wanda B. Campbell by email. Foolishly thinking that she would never respond, I poured my little heart out anyway. When I saw her name appear in my inbox, I must have bounced 10 times in my kitchen. "She wrote me back!!" I sang and danced ridiculously. I told her about my passion for writing, and she was used by God to encourage and push me to fulfill my goals. When someone believes in you, you can jump the distance, you can run the race, and you can climb the highest mountain.
Wanda chose me as one of her featured 8 authors in her Anthology Home Again and 2 years later-2012 I am so thrilled and a little scared too I must admit because this is all so new and fast, but I am still excited to release my first (not short story) but FULL NOVEL! YAY--doing my happy dance right now as I type! After going through what I considered a friendly bootcamp of edits from Mrs. Campbell, she then released me to the wolves...or shall I say, the publishers. Which didnt turn out to be so wolf-ish after all. I waited to see what they would say. Would they decline? I watched my inbox day and night until three days later I received the notification that they had received my manuscript and wanted to see the entire work. I worried that they would not like the entire work, then after they liked it, I worried that the contract would be crazy, then after that I worried that I would not market right! Ughhh! OKay I admit, to be a Christian Fiction author, I do way too much worrying and not enough praying. So far things are going smoothly. Pulse publishing is a great way to begin my writing career and I'm glad to have such an amazing editor slicing and dicing through the things I missed. And when I say slicing and dicing, I mean it! Whoo! RED PEN MEMORIES FROM SCHOOL!! I realize that the skin has to be thick if you want to grow at whatever you do so I purchased a few layers because I have yet to finish getting back all the final edits.
UNCOVERED, the full novel will release in the late fall. I can't wait to see my book cover for the first time, or see the first purchase, or have my first book club meeting. OOOH! I'm so excited. It's happening everybody! This is real! I'm not dreaming! I am an author and I am going to release all the stories that have been locked away in my little creative and strange brain all these years! okay maybe not all of the stories. but the good ones!
THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ME. Wish me the best!...oh and buy my book!