When I opened this blog, I began with a story as to why I followed the path to
publication. Unfortunately, when we updated the site, that post went with it.
For the people who didn’t get to read it and who want to know a little bit about
me: I’ve always written. It’s in my blood. Don’t ask me why. It just is.
Like many another author I didn’t do it for publication or fame (snort). For years I quietly wrote in notebooks, then a typewriter, then a PC. Then one day I found the on line writing workshop for science fiction and fantasy. And I thought, why not.
Several years of being torn to pieces later…
Yes, years.
A few short stories published. A few ‘bites’ from agents. That close but not quite
close enough philosophy. But also a lack of confidence on my part. I didn’t
believe in myself, and, if you don’t believe in yourself, how can you believe in
what you wrote? Especially when it comes to selling it. Some people may say that
the two aren’t connected, that the writing and you are separate entities, but
for me they aren’t.
I’d never had a ‘career’. I worked with horses and was a proud stay at home mum of three sons, although I had a stint at secretarial college. I’d tried an office or two but it really wasn’t ‘me’.
Fifteen years ago we moved to Canada because my husband wanted to come home. That was an adventure and of course, life-changing. Scary when you get off a plane in snowy Alberta with five suitcases and a dog. Nowhere to live, just a whole country waiting for us with its possibilities. New schools for the kids, new jobs for the husband and learning how to drive on the wrong side of the road, and learning how to cope with ridiculously cold temperatures and lots of snow.
That was fun and exciting and different. Mountains dwarfed us and the
prairies stretched on forever. Which naturally gave me even more inspiration to
write, although I always wrote science fiction or fantasy or a combination of
both.
But, publication. With the ever changing industry I had got to the point where I thought, why bother? Too much competition, not enough moolah. Then tragedy happened and my middle son passed away. When something like that happens
to one of your kids, pursuing a dream of publication becomes something very
trivial. Yet it was something he always wanted me to do. He even downloaded all
my novels and took them to Afghanistan with him.
When Jeanne from Artema Press asked me for “Games of Adversaries” my mind was still in a bit of a fug. I found it very hard to focus for a long while. Was it karma that she asked me at that point? I’m not sure, but after a while I found that passion again, returned to that place only writers know.
So, Rich a lot of this is for you and your memory, but it is also for me, and for all those readers out there, who I hope will enjoy my stories as much as you did.
publication. Unfortunately, when we updated the site, that post went with it.
For the people who didn’t get to read it and who want to know a little bit about
me: I’ve always written. It’s in my blood. Don’t ask me why. It just is.
Like many another author I didn’t do it for publication or fame (snort). For years I quietly wrote in notebooks, then a typewriter, then a PC. Then one day I found the on line writing workshop for science fiction and fantasy. And I thought, why not.
Several years of being torn to pieces later…
Yes, years.
A few short stories published. A few ‘bites’ from agents. That close but not quite
close enough philosophy. But also a lack of confidence on my part. I didn’t
believe in myself, and, if you don’t believe in yourself, how can you believe in
what you wrote? Especially when it comes to selling it. Some people may say that
the two aren’t connected, that the writing and you are separate entities, but
for me they aren’t.
I’d never had a ‘career’. I worked with horses and was a proud stay at home mum of three sons, although I had a stint at secretarial college. I’d tried an office or two but it really wasn’t ‘me’.
Fifteen years ago we moved to Canada because my husband wanted to come home. That was an adventure and of course, life-changing. Scary when you get off a plane in snowy Alberta with five suitcases and a dog. Nowhere to live, just a whole country waiting for us with its possibilities. New schools for the kids, new jobs for the husband and learning how to drive on the wrong side of the road, and learning how to cope with ridiculously cold temperatures and lots of snow.
That was fun and exciting and different. Mountains dwarfed us and the
prairies stretched on forever. Which naturally gave me even more inspiration to
write, although I always wrote science fiction or fantasy or a combination of
both.
But, publication. With the ever changing industry I had got to the point where I thought, why bother? Too much competition, not enough moolah. Then tragedy happened and my middle son passed away. When something like that happens
to one of your kids, pursuing a dream of publication becomes something very
trivial. Yet it was something he always wanted me to do. He even downloaded all
my novels and took them to Afghanistan with him.
When Jeanne from Artema Press asked me for “Games of Adversaries” my mind was still in a bit of a fug. I found it very hard to focus for a long while. Was it karma that she asked me at that point? I’m not sure, but after a while I found that passion again, returned to that place only writers know.
So, Rich a lot of this is for you and your memory, but it is also for me, and for all those readers out there, who I hope will enjoy my stories as much as you did.
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