TRAPPED, release date: November 14, 2011.
Ten years ago, I began my journey into the world of writing with a goal of becoming published. At the time, I had lost my job due to a corporate cut-back. With time on my hands, I started pursuing my passion for writing stories. Soon my little children’s stories grew into a longing to write a novel.
A scene had been playing in my head for a few years and I decided to explore that and write a book about two sisters, twins, who could communicate through a psychic link even after one had been murdered. Three months later I had completed the book. Naive and untainted by fear, I submitted it to a “top” literary agency thinking that’s all I had to do to see my book on the shelves in major book stores.
Needless to say my book was rejected. A canned rejection with nothing to tell me why my bestseller had been returned. Sigh. The job market still remained small. Let me tell you, it is difficult to find a job when you have been a senior manager in a corporation, you are a woman, and you do not want to relocate. I also knew I wanted out of the rat-race. I wanted to spend time with my family instead of working late, bringing work home with me, staying up all night to finalize reports for meetings. I wanted my life back. And I wanted to write.
Thus began my journey to learn the craft of writing. In doing so, I began to understand the complicated world of publishing. I did find the job of my dreams–an administrative assistant job in a business only six miles from my home. Eight hours a day, no overtime, and I didn’t bring work home with me. I did have a lower income…less than half what I’d been earning, but the lesson God taught me was that money isn’t everything and doesn’t bring happiness.
In 2006, my publishing dream came true. My book about twins, HIT AND RUN, received a contract and was published in September of that year. In January 2007, my second book, FOXFIRE, followed. That year I also published three short stories, one which won first place and was printed in an anthology. Life was good. In September of 2008 my third book, JOSHUA’S HOPE, was published and launched my career in a new direction. Christian/inspirational publishing.
God call us and speaks to us if we only listen. I found my niche. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up! I started writing my next book and that’s when life began to change again. Family illnesses and caretaking took precedence. God was calling again. During the next two and a half years, I asked myself why I wanted to write. What did I hope to gain by writing. It wasn’t fame. I’m an introvert, comfortable with family and close friends. I’m uncomfortable in large crowds of people I don’t know. I didn’t hope to gain riches by writing. Not only is that next to impossible, but it wasn’t something I cared about. So why did I want to write? Because I love telling stories. I love the idea of people reading my stories and liking them. I wanted to touch others in some way through the weaving of words.
Thus, I decided to take my publishing career into my own hands. I would write the stories I wanted to write, in the way I wanted to write them, not to a “formula” dictated by someone else. I wanted to release my books when I wanted them to release, not on another’s time table. Thus began the self-publishing phase of my career. The decision has brought me peace and happiness, freedom and flexibility. God’s answer? I like to think so. I’ve been in a turmoil for the past few years, on my knees, asking for guidance…and now I feel a huge burden has been lifted. Yes, I placed this at the throne of Jesus.
So, why do I write? Because I can’t not write. Because God has given me a gift of storytelling and I want to share that with others…and I want to bring Him glory, for after all, these are His stories.
