I never
thought I would be an author; that possibility never crossed my mind. I went through my life, changing careers as
circumstances demanded. High school teacher, stay-at-home mother of four, food
service, travel agent, teacher again. The kids grew. The end of college bills
were in sight. Now was my chance!
I could
do whatever I wanted to do with my next career. But I had no idea what that
would be.
I didn't
know I wanted to be a writer. I started on a whim, inspired by Diana Gabaldon's
statement that "the best way to learn to write a book is to write a
book." That sounded like a challenge. A fun one.
So I bought
a laptop and began writing my first manuscript on August 1, 2006. And that's
when my life took a hard right turn.
The words
flooded out like I had turned on a faucet. The characters emerged,
three-dimensional and suitably flawed. The plot had twists. And the story
turned out to be a trilogy, following the same couple for three years.
Over the
next four years, I learned how to write "right" for today's market. I
rewrote the rewriting. Again. I won over an agent. Eventually I
self-published, and after that a publisher offered a multi-book contract for
one of my ongoing characters. Five books, so far.
Along the
way, I began to see how my previous experiences could help me in my new career:
art background for graphic design, event planning from running proms -- plus
countless other Student Council events, using my speaking and teaching skills
to help others do what I have learned to do.
Everyday
I celebrate that very fact: I am using all the various skills I have acquired over my lifetime in this, what is possibly my culminating career.
I don't
know if I will ever do anything else, and I say that for two reasons. First, I
was already 53 when I started, and I will turn 60 in September. Secondly, I am
having more dang fun than should be legal! Don't get me wrong, I'm working my
fanny off about 60 hours a week. But I can't see a reason to ever quit writing and publishing.
No one
ever told me as I grew up, that who you are today will be different than who
you are tomorrow. Each day our experiences mold us. I don't think we ever
finish that process. Our future is always new uncharted territory. We can always try a new path.
Now
THAT'S a reason to celebrate!
