It’s certainly no secret to those who know me that I sleep occasionally, live on espresso and ambition, and generally plan my day on task lists that are as long as my arm. I’ve been this way since birth- every single job I’ve ever had– even simple ones– have turned into more because I couldn’t just be content with what I was doing. I always wanted to do more. I needed to do more. I’m not sincerely happy unless my plate is full.
March marked my first full year without a full time (out of the house) job. When I decided to quit my job last year and stay home so that I could devote more time to both my writing and Cobblestone Press — it was a huge step. I’ve had a “job” since I was 19 years old and often had more than one. In fact, all through college I worked two and went to school full time. When I graduated and came home– I came to the realization that I was entirely too sensitive to the pain of others to work in my degree field. It was a harsh moment but I know that I wouldn’t survive it. I knew it would slowly but most certainly take me apart.

I am a writer. A published author. I kept my writing to myself for 18 years. There are four people to “blame” for where I am today:

1) My mother who gave me the tools and support I needed even at the age of 12 to be a writer. She never once said that it was a mistake, made sure I had ink in my type writer and fresh paper to type on. It’s amazing, really, how much she gave me. I still don’t know if she understands how important it was to me. How relieving it was that she didn’t say that I was foolish for wanting to be a writer.
2) My husband who asked me point blank “When are going to do something with that?” in reference to the writing that I threw myself into every night after dinner. *Yes, he survived it*
3) My best friend, Sable Grey, who told me I couldn’t play on her forum when we first met because I claimed I wasn’t serious. She made me stand up for my dreams before I even fully realized what publication meant to me.
4) My agent, Jessica Faust, who emailed me after reading one of my eBooks and pushed me in a direction I never thought I’d take — the path to print. I was so comfortable in eBook land that I don’t know that I would have ever taken the plunge without her. I’m stunned daily by her belief in me and work like hell to make sure I’m worthy of her believing in me.

In a recent interview on Donna Grant’s blog, I talked about the landmarks of my life and they were all related to my writing career. Ever since I wrote that I’ve been trying to figure out what my next land mark will be and honestly I just don’t know what it will be. I don’t know at all. But I can’t wait for it come.