Happy Fourth of July to all my American readers and friends!
As people gather with family and friends to celebrate Independence Day, I’ve been thinking about journeys, especially the ones that don’t always follow the path we expect.
My writing journey certainly didn’t.
I first tried writing a novel when I was in high school. I don’t even remember exactly when it was, perhaps during my senior year. I had a story in mind and eagerly started writing.
It never got very far.
A few chapters later, I set it aside.
In college, I dabbled in writing again. I wrote poems and a few articles for campus newsletters and organizations. It was fun, but life eventually took over. Like most people, I needed to find a real job, build a career, and writing quietly slipped into the background.
Years later, during a particularly difficult season of life, I found myself writing again.
That time, I finished an entire novel.
Looking back, I realize it wasn’t just about telling a story. It was part of my healing process. That manuscript has never been published. In fact, after several moves across the country, it’s probably still tucked away in a box somewhere in our house.
Then, several years ago, I decided to give writing one more try.
This time, I approached it more seriously.
I finished my first novella, Dylan’s very first story, and confidently pressed the Publish button.
Looking back now, I smile because I knew almost nothing about writing or publishing. That first version was far from perfect. Eventually, I unpublished it, learned the craft, rewrote it as a full novel, and released it again as Buried Secrets.
As they say, the rest is history.
Today, several series and many books later, I’m grateful I decided to try again.
Sometimes our dreams don’t disappear.
They simply wait until we’re ready for them.
However you’re celebrating this Fourth of July, I hope you have a wonderful, safe holiday with those you love. And if there’s a dream you’ve set aside for a while, perhaps this is the perfect time to dust it off and take another step toward it.