 The first draft of Waiting on Justin The truth is, I like to write, I LOVE to tell stories! I could spend the rest of my life doing it and be happy... and that's what I'm trying to do.
I know I'm biased because I write the stuff, but I think my writing is good enough for me to make a living off of it. It's not easy to put together a story from a simple thought or feeling, but I can, I have an aptitude for it. My stories will get into your heart and head and change you. They are probably not for most guys, in fact I've gotten in trouble when guys have read them before, so much so that some of my stories had to be destroyed. They are for women, like you, or your sister, or daughter, niece, or friend. I am a woman, I know how we think and more importantly, how we feel. I know the little insecurities that play in the back of your mind, the secret longings and desires the good women of America aren't supposed to mention in good company. I know the fears and doubts because I feel them too. It doesn't mean I think exactly how you think but it means I can relate and I can be a voice where there is silence. What I want to do with my stories is wake up your soul. I want my words to ignite feelings inside you that stir up your emotions. My son wrote an eloquent post on FaceBook once about how our culture tries to rush over the “ugly” feelings in life. He said we prescribe pills and fill our lives with distractions but we're not doing ourselves a favor when we do that. I agree with him and I write the way I do as proof of that. Yes, my intention is to entertain, to distract, to give you an escape from your reality but also to bring up the feelings we try to bury or ignore. I hope my words make you laugh, make you cry and wake you up so that when you're finished with the story you'll embrace your own life and live it well! That's why I write and what I want to get out of it... but apparently I can't just write stories and hope people find them. No, no, no, I have to be a professional about it if I want to make it my profession. I have to market my work and since it's my work I'm trying to share with the world, it's my name I need to brand. This blog is my first attempt to get my name out there and despite thousands of assurances from tons of people that it'll be easy, it is not easy for me. I'm confused by the layout and preview tabs and all of that mess, but I'm determined so I'll get it sooner or later. On that note, if you have any pointers about blogging I'd be ever so grateful if you share them! Right about now I'm questioning, and I think some people around me are questioning too, why I need a pen name and a blog and a this and a that if all I want to do is write; so for anyone that cares, here's why I'm doing all of this when all I really want to do is write. “They” tell me I need a blog if I want to be an author in today's market, “they” tell me I need a website, and a FaceBook account, and an Instagram, and a Twitter, and a Pinterest, and all these other things to get maximum SEO, which I've learned stands for Search Engine Optimization. (I think SEO is a fancy way of saying “having your name show up when someone types it into Google”). Who are they? Well, they are actually them. I've been looking into both self-publishing and publishing with a new hybrid-style publisher. I'm currently in conversation with Booktrope but I'm antsy so I'm two-pronging the approach and looking into it self-publishing as well. So they are the many successful self-published authors making a living, or a portion of their living from their books, and Booktrope. I'm doing the best I can. I know FaceBook and InstaGram already so they're pretty easy but I don't know the rest. I'll get it because I want this bad enough, but know that my end goal is to tell you stories. All of this is for you. I hope you like it. My current time line puts my first publication out around September 2014, unless I do sign with Booktrope and we set a different date. I wanted to release, “Waiting on Justin” first but because of some of the recommended marketing plans that price books at free, I'm hesitant to do that because I wrote it with my former high school students. Every book is special to me but this one is extra special. To remedy the situation I'm currently working on another story, “Catching Tatum” which is the first book in the series and, if I keep my fingers working fast enough, I should have it done and ready in time to keep my original publication date. As much as I love to write and hope my stories will leave a lasting impression; I find it hard to believe there is anyone out there that will be interested in me and how I can take an idea and form it into a complete story. I can't imagine there is anyone that really wants to follow my journey to make my dreams come true, but, on the off chance you're out there, and you've read all of this and you are interested... I'll do my best to keep this blog updated at least weekly. I don't know how it'll turn out... but that's part of the fun now isn't it?
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