I have always enjoyed writing. In fact, when I graduated from high school in 1965, my mother asked me what I wanted for a graduation present. The tradition had always been for my parents to give the graduate a Bulova watch. I asked for a small portable typewriter. My writing began.
Throughout my life…even as an adult, I have found myself doing a lot of daydreaming. It is during my daydreams that I have all these stories, situations and conversations running through my head. I would even have the characters carryon conversations…I know, I’m strange.
One day, many years ago, I began writing down all of the situations and conversations I had in my daydreams. Very slowly, they started to become stories. From stories, they have turned into an actual novel.
When my little typewriter died and before the days of my computer, I would write everything longhand in a spiral notebook. Occasionally, I still do and then transfer the words to my laptop.
I was sorting through some files the other day and came across a story I started a good twenty years ago. I think it has possibilities and one day may actually turn it into either a short story or a novel. I have many such beginnings but it is the story I envisioned about twelve years ago that I actually developed.
Once I completed it, I gave it to my sister, Ruth Kyser, who is an author of Christian romances, to critique. I learned so much from that critique. It took me awhile, but every now and then I would pull my book up on my computer and take a look at it.
I soon discovered that I was telling the story from too many character’s point of view so that is the first thing I fixed. Then, as I read through it, I cut out all the fluff that had nothing to do with the story I was trying to tell. If it wasn’t important to the story line, then it went bye-bye.
Another great piece of advice my sister gave me was to make sure there was conversation and not so much narration. How did I manage this? I would actually have conversations with my characters in the scenes I had written.
Since my story was a mystery, as I edited it, I asked myself how I could make someone want to find out what happened in the end. That is where I got the idea of putting little “hooks” throughout the story.
In October of 2019, I decided to try my hand at writing for others by starting a personal blog. I wanted to be able to share my wellness journey, our travels, recipes and inspirational stories. I realized then that I really enjoyed putting all my thoughts into the written word.
Since I had lived with the characters of Carron Maitland and Jake Brennan for almost twelve years I decided it was time to share them with others. I decided my blog would be the perfect launching point.
I began by posting the prologue. I had decided it would depend on the feedback I received on that post as to whether I would continue. I received a lot of positive feedback so each Friday, I would post another chapter. I ended up posting the first four chapters. I was constantly told I needed to self-publish the book before someone pirated it away. I was concerned this would happen, so took the plunge.
If you haven’t as yet read them, you can find the prologue and first four chapters under “Justice For Lindsey” in my menu. In June of this year, I self-published the novel. If you decide you would like to find out how the story ends, both the e-book and paperback are available on Amazon.com.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CWD4SW3/rf=cm sw r em api i RDBpFbJE1WC40 Click the link to order.
I found that by using Kindle Direct Publishing via Amazon was so much easier than I had thought it would be. I signed up for a KDP account and they pretty much walked me through the entire process. I did all my final editing and uploaded it to KDP.
It was surreal reading my own novel on my Kindle. However, being the perfectionist, I noticed some errors. With KDP, that was not a problem. I simply went back to my manuscript and fixed the errors and uploaded it again.
Of course, I had my sister to help me if I got in a jam. When I didn’t know where to go for my book cover, she gave me the site she uses…selfpublishbookcovers. I was so happy with the cover. My next step was to develop the paperback version.
As a first time publisher, that was a lot harder but again, KDP walks you through what you have to do. My biggest boo-boo there was not realizing when I copied my manuscript to the template that my pages would no longer be numbered. I was so happy that I ordered the proof copy my sister recommended. I was able to fix all of that before the final paperback went to press.
As a newbie in the field of authorship, I am working on developing my style. My favorite genre to read is mystery and suspense and that is what I enjoy writing. I have been told that “Justice For Lindsey” has just the amount of twists and turns that makes it interesting.
Once I made the choice to publish that first novel, I gained the confidence to continue my writing. I knew that I wanted to continue to write mysteries. Someone asked me where I got my ideas. I told them they just come to me. It might be a place we visit that I think would be a great setting or it might be a thought I have that I suddenly realize I can turn into a mystery.
Many of the little intricate details I include in my stories are things that at one time were part of a daydream I had. I try to have my stories take place in cities or parts of the country that I have spent some time in. I am a stickler for detail so do extensive research to make sure what I am writing about is plausible, even though it is fiction.
I prefer to write on my laptop but it isn’t always handy, like when we are traveling someplace. So, I always carry a small notebook with me. As I think of conversations I want my characters to have, I record them in my notebook. I also record scenes as they come to me or make notes of things I want to add to a scene I have already written.
I am currently working on novel number two. It is actually two novellas that introduce two new characters: Sophie London and Evin Foster. Both novellas are now in the editing mode. They too contain many twists and turns, as that seems to be my style. The title of novella number one is, “He Never Said Good-bye”, and the title of novella number two is, “Deception in the Moonlight.”
When you get to be my age, you sometimes think you cannot try a new venture. I am so happy that I did this. I am honored when someone asks me to autograph their paperback or when they tell me how good they think the book is.
Is there something you have wanted to try but were afraid of failure? Don’t be afraid. You will never know unless you try.
As always, “Don’t save today for tomorrow.”
Share this:
This is inspirational! As a woman who is a little older than you, I have been thinking I can’t have new dreams. This is a wonderful article!
Love this! You are never too “old” to try something new 🙂
Congrats! That is a lot of hard work!
What an amazing accomplishment! I have always wanted to write a book and hope to one day!
This is such an awesome story and journey! Love the typewriter
Good for you! What an accomplishment! Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to self publish a book!
I have also always loved writing, thanks for sharing your journey to becoming an author!
Love your inspiration of taking the plunge! Your novel sounds awesome and that typewriter is amazing! Thanks for sharing your journey through writing! What a great feeling to publish!
I loved hearing about what got you started in the first place!
I read the book “Story Trumps Structure” last year, which discusses many of the fiction editing points you bring up. Fun to hear about how you are perfecting your art!
I love knowing more about what led you to write! So cool. My mom gave me a typewriter just like the one picture, when I was a child. Same color even. I’ve always loved writing too. Look forward to hearing more about your new works.
When I first saw Justice for Lindsey was available on Amazon I bought it. I loved the book. I look forward to other books by you.
What a great success story!! I wouldn’t have had the faintest idea where to start with the who publishing end of things. Seems the writing is the easy part!
Great idea to publish your story bit by bit and get feedback! Seems like that might make the hard part (critique) easier to hear.
My kids are constantly writing stories and I hope one of them grows up to be an author.
Congratulations! Wishing you continued success!
Congratulations. Writing and publishing a book is a lot of hard work!
I encourage you to write and never stop writing!
Congratulations on the book! That’s wonderful, and I enjoyed reading about the process you took to get it published. I also got a typewriter as a graduation gift from high school, but that was right when computers were coming on the scene. It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve taken up writing for enjoyment again and have considered writing a book. Best wishes on your novellas!
I love this! Thank you for taking us on a stroll through your writing process!
Wow. I love the graduation gift. Way more exciting than a watch, I’d have to agree! And I recently acquired a small publishing company and most of the books are sold in print still, and I’ve been looking at moving them over the ebooks. Thanks for sharing your process for publishing an ebook!
This is so cool! My mom has always dreamed of publishing her own book. Maybe someday she will do it! I’ve got to check out your book!
My school age daughter wants to publish a book so this just gave me a push on how and where to help her start the process. Thanks
That is so impressive! I have always wanted to write a book, and have started some stories, but never finished them.
I’m so impressed that you published your book. It’s something I have dabbled with from time to time, which makes me even more impressed with a completed product.
It is never to late to accomplish those dreams! This is a cool learning experience
How cool to be a KDP author. Congrats!!
Keeping a notebook with you is a great idea. I started taking one with me on our adventures so I can write down little details that I don’t want to forget as they happen versus attempting to remember them when it is time to write the post.
Thanks for sharing your adventure. I have a book that has been in the works for about 15 years. I just started working on it again a few months ago. This has inspired me to get going on it again!
Congratulations on becoming a published author! It takes a lot of perseverance.
Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your journey! I always enjoy reading your pieces! Good Job!
You have accomplished so much by following your dream! Congrats! Enjoyed Justice for Lindsey and look forward to your next novels!!
Thanks for sharing your journey. I must admit that I chuckled when I saw the Bulova. Mine was a Remington manual typewriter and any papers pretty much killed my arms from my frantic typing. Enjoyed your post.
Thank you so much for sharing this! My passion for writing also came at a very young age. I wrote for years but never shared it with anyone – fear held me back. Two months before my dad passed, I shared it with him. He told me I had a talent with words and needed to pursue it, and I did. That Spring, I got my first paid writing job, with others after that. This lead to a quote I wrote, “Never let fear turn into missed opportunities.” I can’t wait to check out your book! Keep writing!
Great post! I loved reading your book and cant waitfor more to come!