Use it or lose it! As
retirement approached that old saying kept reverberating, haunting me. I
worried that there wasn’t heaps of brainpower left to take any chances on
losing even a little bit. So I decided the answer was to keep busy, get
involved and learn something new.
I tried ceramics and
stain glass, quilting and cross-stitch. They were just too much work. All that
stitching, glass cuts and cleaning up my messes, (you wouldn’t believe the
messes!) exhausted me. I needed something that would be less taxing, more fun.
For as long as I can
remember, I’ve lived with this force inside to create something that would make
me proud—an endeavour that would delight my family and also keep my juices
flowing. Since I've read thousands of romance books, and everyone knows how
easy they are to write (uh-huh), I decided this cushy pastime would fill my
days and keep my mind occupied.
How could a mature
(notice I didn't say old) woman be so…so dumb?
But in my defence, it
did seem like a good idea, and so I got started—wrote the first book. Now you
might ask yourself, where do the ideas come from? My best professional answer
is...heck if I know! For me they
magically appear after reading a particularly funny article or watching an
appealing show on television. It’s not the whole story, you understand, just
that one small glimpse of a character, or it could be a little nudge about a
‘what-if’ scenario where maybe an angel has to kick-start a shy, young women to
get on with it, live up to her potential, and then be happy with who she is.
Remember though, books
don’t get out there by themselves. I needed help to market this…ahhh
‘bestseller’. (Unknowledgeable about protocol in the business, I actually sent
it along to a top New York agent, Donald Maas, with instructions for him to
tell Nora Roberts to move over because there was a new author in town.) Still
have a copy of the e-mail, and blush when I remember how serious I was, but it is sort of funny.)
Not hearing back from
Donald, I decided that I would do more research and used the Internet, but this
didn't work. Feedback from real people, living breathing individuals who were
either going through, or had gone through, the same experiences would be a far
better way to learn what was necessary. You know the old saying – search and
you shall find? Well that's what happened with me.
I joined a local RWA
group and met wonderful, giving, kind-hearted ladies who were happy to share
their knowledge with a raw beginner…and trust me, some of my questions were
pretty silly and naïve. Their patience was unending, more than I deserved and
they took me to a place where I began to gain knowledge and the confidence to
create a book that made me proud. Back in those days my stubbornness carried me
through so many setbacks. Persistence and my new found love with being a writer
kept me glued to my computer.
Slowly, I became
involved with other groups, pushed myself to promote my work, and even entered
contests. That was scary! But doing so opened the door for me to be published
with Wild Rose Press. This time I didn't hesitate to join their loop and
interact with their super friendly group of authors. Once again, in this my new
career, I found strength and unprecedented support. Women, who I interacted
with online, people I never saw in my life, became my friends. Not just
co-authors, but honest-to-goodness pals. I suffered their bad reviews and
celebrated their successes, as they did mine. They made the introverted daily
grind behind my lonely computer screen something to look forward to—even enjoy,
because I wasn't really alone.
Since then, I've
reached out to many others and realized I've come full circle. I now have
something to share and give back. Over time, I've learned so much about this
wonderful profession, and now it's my turn to repay. I've managed to create
something lasting, a gift worth more than wealth—friendships that make me truly happy and a career that has given
this old brain more activity than it should be subjected to.
I do love these golden
years!
As a recipient of Mimi's assistance and support in my writing journey, I can attest to her altruistic character. It has been a great pleasure to have her on my blog today.
Mimi and I are involved this week in a FREE promotion on Kindle. She is featuring her novel, His Devious Angel. May 7-9 ONLY.
Here is my review of her book. I loved it.
If you love tongue-in-cheek paranormal romances, you’ll love
this story.
We all carry baggage from our childhood. Sadie cannot
forgive or forget the taunting and abuse she endured as an overweight
schoolgirl. She believes all members of the male species are jerks.
Liam’s childhood demons feed on the shame he feels for his
parents who shared a difficult and complex relationship. Traumatic experiences
as a Special Forces operative in Iraq have only worsened his state of mind. He
is a haunted man, plagued by shame, guilt and insomnia.
They struggle to help each other come to terms with their
ghosts, aided by an unlikely guardian angel who looks like Johnny Depp, and a
motley crew of whip smart dogs.
This seemingly light-hearted romance touches on deep-seated
fears and nemeses that only love and forgiveness can counteract.
You will LOVE the ending of this story. And if you are a dog
person, it’s a must-read.
