Why do I write books?
Simple answer, I can't NOT write books.
For as long as I can remember, I've felt a compulsion to express my creative side. When I was a child, I made up silly little poems and songs and hummed them while skipping to my own beat. In school, I actually hated reading and writing, and I was told I needed to focus more...but I already was, just on my own things. Yes, I was a daydreamer, and I still am today.
Throughout my life, as I discovered the wonderful world of words (it took me a while) I began expressing myself through songs and poems of the adult version. I learnt to play guitar but something still didn't feel right. I felt I was meant to do more. Maybe it was that middle kid syndrome growing up that made me feel that way, I don't know. I felt I wasn't important enough because I wasn't the oldest like my big brother. I wasn't even the oldest girl in my family like my big sister. And, I wasn't as important as the youngest, like my little brother. I was just plain old me...the kid in the middle, insignificant as I felt. So, the quest my entire life was to matter. I wanted everything I did to matter, what I thought, what I did, what I wrote...and what I write today. Perhaps this is a dysfunction, but whatever you want to label it...it is me.
And so I began one of the most profound journeys of my life: My writing career. I didn't do it to make money, yes, that always helps, but it started out my passion and still is. I wrote when my kids were young and became frustrated because I didn't know what exactly I was suppose to do to get my books out there. My first book sat on a shelf collecting dust for ten years.
Now that my kids are grown and on their own, I decided to blow off the dust of my old forgotten novels, and get them published. Little by little, I put one foot forward to seek my dream to become an author...and every day I'm challenged to find the time. I work full time at a busy cable company, and still try to squeeze in as much writing time as possible. I wake up early, two hours before my shift starts every day, and write my heart out. Yes, finding time to write is a constant struggle, but I will do anything to make time for my passion.
I call writing, my passion, because I want other people to learn from my experiences. I have been through a lot of hard things and the only way I have made it, is because of my faith. I am a Christian, and follower of Jesus Christ, my saviour and friend. He has helped me through so many things. I want to share that. I want to write my experiences and show how God has helped me through, in hopes that others may share in the blessing. This is my purpose, my drive, my destiny in life...my reason for writing.
And if this isn't enough reason for writing, I have one more that burns inside my chest. Not only do I want to matter, but I want God's words to matter. I want everything I write to lead people to Christ. Perhaps you can call me an evangelist, I don't know. But what I do know is that I am a non-traditionalist. I don't evangelize in the normal way, I do it through my characters. Yes, I also write true stories about my own life, and love to encourage and help others through difficulties as God helped me, but I have an imagination too. I like to create flawed characters and watch them learn and grow into the men and woman God intended them to be.
I don't write about perfect people, or make it seem like Christian's have it all together because we don't. I don't! I'm flawed, just like the next person. I make mistakes like everyone else. The only difference is I'm saved by God's grace and he helps me through the tough times. I want my characters to do the same so that my reader fans can relate to them and learn through them...and ultimately turn to Jesus for a love so unbelievable, it makes your heart sing. And...I want my readers to know...they are loved no matter what, no matter how screwed up and flawed they are...because he loves us ALL!
Why do I write books?
Because I matter to me, and I matter to God...and so do you!