If I Only Knew Then, What I Know Now

If you have been following this blog, you no doubt know that I have had nothing less than a tumultuous year. I lost my job in early 2011 when the company went bankrupt with no warning, not to be employed again until October, more than six months later.  As weeks turned into months, the economy and my bad attitude made the extra time seem like a death sentence.  My marriage was affected, my relationships suffered, and I began to experience self-doubt and a lack of confidence, the likes of which I had never experienced before.  I had one silver lining.....I discovered writing.

Not entirely, mind you.  I had written my debut novel a year earlier and received a contract offer exactly two months before I was let go.  I was never a super internet-y person, but I learned quickly I had better become one.  So, I joined facebook and read all the blogs I could get my hands on.  They all said the same thing....while you wait for the first book, write another.  And another.  And another.  So I did.  You would think that having all the time in the world would be wonderful for a budding author.  It would have been, if I didn't have two kids home from summer vacation.

So, I wrote at night, the same way I did before.  I wrote a second paranormal YA, a bunch of short stories, and started the sequel to the first.  I got a second, then a third contract for my novels.  I sold to a second publisher.  Then a third.  And still I couldn't get a job.  So I took more advice I found on the web and started killing off my enemies one by one.....in stories.  It was quite satisfying.  And always, always, I did the next thing on the list and remembered nothing is permanent.  Those are two of my Mum's sayings, and they saw me through.

So, I write this because I just realized that I just passed the anniversary of the publication of my first novel.  A year later, and I have a wonderful new job, my marriage is intact, my relationships thrived, and best of all, I am the author of six published books.  And the ideas still keep coming.  Thank Musina.

I also am stepping my toes back in the convention scene.  I could only go to one before I lost my job last year, but I am gearing up for two in 2012.  The Southern California Writer's Conference in Newport beach is a must.  I met agents, editors, famously published authors, and aspiring ones who have become friends.  Check it out here:  http://www.writersconference.com/la.  I hope to meet some new friends there this year.  Funny story, I read portions of Spellbound, my debut novel, in the Rogue Reads, and it was met with great favor.  I'll definitely do that again with a new work-in-progress.

I also am deciding on another one as well.  So, if you live in Los Angeles and plan on attending either the SCWC in Newport, or the Writer's Digest West Conference, check it out here: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=33554& .  I'd love to connect with you!