 Me, during a writing session in 2018. I wrote a book simply because I had no other choice. Okay, maybe it's a little bit more complicated, but that's what is boils down to. One day, Alex and Caidy came to visit me, and they never left. They had a story to tell - an incredibly complex and winding story full of adventure and intrigue - and once I started listening, I knew I had to write it down. I promise I'm no crazier than you are. I know that Alex and Caidy are fictional characters, but as I think any author will tell you, our characters feel as real to us as you do. I know Alex and Caidy's secrets and their struggles, their goals and hopes and fears. And once they started talking to me about their lives, I realized there was so much important in them which needed to be shared. I grew up, as Willy Wonka would say, "in a world of pure imagination". As long as I can remember, I've been creating worlds, building characters, and exploring vast stories in wild and untamed lands. I was that kid on the playground who played make-believe instead of football; that teenager who journaled every night while listening to Taylor Swift (and let's be honest, I still do); that young adult who gets lost in daydreams, traveling to far away places with the blink of an eye.
Writing for me is a way to process and understand the challenges that life throws my way, and it always has been. When times get tough, I tend to "turtle": I withdraw into my shell, and don't ask for help. Instead, I turn to my books, my characters, my worlds. Through their struggles, I come to terms with my own, and through their triumphs, I learn how strong I truly am. I know right now the world has reached peak insanity; it seems like every day things somehow get more bleak. It's at times like this we need writing, we need coping skills, and we need to escape the most. Summer Twilight could not be coming at a better time, for me or for you. I am so excited to share this journey with you. On the blog, I'm going to post everything from in-depth character profiles to behind-the-scenes updates on my journey. Right now, I am five chapters from finishing a complete first draft - and I couldn't be more excited. I've partnered with New Degree Press and the Creator Institute to bring my book to a bookstore near you (virtually or in person) in December of 2020. Comments are closed.
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