When dreams come to life

Summer, 2010.  My life had taken an unexpected u-turn on the job front.  It threw me for a loop at first, but looking back now, it’s one of those events that defined me.  Or at least set me on the road to figuring out who the heck I am.  At 37 years old, I still didn’t know.

With a lot of time to ponder life, a story popped into my head.  One that came from ::ahem:: ‘dreams’ of the daytime sort, and no, I won’t elaborate more on that.  😉  My crazy imagination spun and twisted ideas, characters, settings and a collision course for my heroine and villain to follow.  I lived and breathed the story in every quiet moment, playing scenes like movies in my mind.

I’d taken an online writing course or two.  I knew I had it in me, somewhere deep, to create a story that would entertain … well … someone.  So, I opened my laptop and typed Chapter 1.  I find that blank page daunting, always.  Daring me to fill it with something interesting.  And I’m not one to back down from a challenge like that.

Six weeks later, I had the first draft of The Glass Man stewing in my laptop.  With the help of my buds from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens at Scribophile.com, I had it polished up in another six weeks. To my utter shock, most liked the book.  Yes.  Mine.  The one that came from my own mind, heart and soul.  I’d entertained someone.  My goal had been achieved.

Then the amazing happened.

I knew how hard the publishing world could be, and I held little hope that my baby would ever reach any readers beyond my writer friends.  I was okay with that.  Though, fine, I admit it, I did fantasize about holding my own novel in my hand one day.  By some fantastic twist of fate, I got in touch with a new and crazy-talented publisher, J. Taylor Publishing about The Glass Man.  Their response:  We want to publish your book.

WHAT?  After reading the email about a hundred times, pinching myself until I was certain I was awake AND made certain I hadn’t slipped into an alternate reality, I responded:  Um … hell yes!  Okay, so I didn’t say that in my response, but translate that into something moderately professional with a hint of excitement, and there you have it.

There were so many exciting moments over the last six months.  Signing a contract.  Seeing the cover design for the first time.  Getting a release date.  Bookmarks, cool pictures, pre-release reviews.  Today, I’m going to be signing the first run of paperback novels at Chapters Bookstore in Peterborough, Ontario.  A real bookstore.  My novel!

I am, truly, living my dream.

And now I know who I am.  I’m an author.  A professional daydreamer, and proud of it.

RELEASE DAY!!!  The Glass Man is now available!!!

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