Writing always came naturally. I was walking before turning one and reading at age 4. Reading gave me joy and took my imagination to freedom.
By fifth grade, I studied and planned to be a lawyer and retire at 50 and become an author. I wanted to write but also be rich. I watched The Cosby Show every Thursday and wanted to be Claire Huxtable. She was pretty, petite, and a lawyer. I wanted to be her when I grew up and tried to take any class that would shape me into a future lawyer. That was the money
maker in my mind for a very long time. My books were never an option to bring in the money a lawyer made.
I was young and believed what I saw on TV and the things my family said. School and college were pushed into my mind. Becoming an author had no relation to either of those institutions. Although I failed Law in high school I continued believing I'd be a lawyer when I grew up and retire and write books until God called me home.
That was my plan for a long time. While in college I double majored in English and Criminal Justice. My first-generation mind told me that double majoring would get me into the top law schools. My imagination was good at making impossible plans. My English grades were soaring while my criminal justice classes embarrassed me and almost lost my scholarship. I
had no interest I'm these classes. The texts were boring and the lectures were comparable to someone scratching a chalkboard.
By my Junior year, I had a come to Jesus moment and realized being a lawyer was not for me. My aunt told me about the Masters in Creative Writing. After discussing this option with my advisor I chose to pursue the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Emerson College. I was 20-something and dreamed to be the next Toni Morrison. I didn't know how but I wanted a Pulitzer like Toni Morrison and write books forever.
After getting my Master's I knew I needed to experience more life to add breadth to my chapters. I worked at my undergraduate and helped students apply to grad school. This job offered me space to learn about myself, ‘find myself,’ as they say, and write.
Of course, this didn't happen because my goals switched to being a dean of multicultural affairs. Writing was not on my mind, just losing weight, marriage, and children were overcrowding any thoughts of publishing a book.
Then it happened. I defied God and moved to Texas despite His warning. After spending 3 months at my new job in Texas, my leg was dragging and my speech slurred. I came home for Christmas and got diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 26.
During my healing process, I was falling in love with Jesus. He was the only One who could save me. I joined Living Faith Community Church and became very active in the church and built a friendship with Pastor William Gates. Yes, THE William Gates, Hoop Dreams co-star.
Those first years were horrible. Once I got my walk back, I became blind in my right eye. It was crazy but it didn't stop me from driving to church and Bible Study. Pastor Will even hired me to work in the church office. I refuse to let Satan win and wanted to write about my physical struggles and share how God was healing me through His Word.
Years went by and I was back home and teaching college students about writing better and going to grad school. I was thirty and loving it. My weight was under control, the MS was in recession, and I felt beautiful for the first time. Again, I let life silence my book and was barely writing but dating like crazy. It was wild but my prayers changed. I want children and a husband. I lived the life I imagined a 20-year-old would. It was fun and I was healthy until I lost a friend and depression sunk in.
I lost one of my best friends and stopped caring. Stopped loving me and avoided my laptop. Crying brought me comfort. Continuous crying, sadness, and negativity controlled my thoughts and actions. I held it all in and kept going to work.
Then again it happens!! Cervical Cancer was the next battle and another chapter to add to my memoir. This time God won the battle! After the 9 pounds ten-inch tumor was removed from my right ovary everything pushed me to write and live the life of an author.
I quit my full-time job and opened DreamWriterInk! Writing & Publishing in 2013. I was broke but happy and healthy. Getting hired as an Adjunct Professor of English was a prayer come true. God pretty much laid it in my lap. I became a better instructor from my years at UMass-Boston and Brandeis University, and continue publishing books by BIOPIC authors.
Becoming a FEARless Author was written for other writers like myself. I'm sure your story isn't like mine but, what is blocking you from writing your book? Sickness? Doubt? FEAR? Despite whatever is stopping you from buying Becoming a FEARless Author will walk you through finishing your book.
Get your copy today DreamWriterInkWritingPublishing
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