Kristie Cook's Blog, page 26

Teaser Tuesday

Need to warm up this February afternoon? Maybe this little teaser from Devotion will help...

Tristan and I changedtogether in the little room that contained only a bench with two piles ofclothes on it. I held up a black sports bra and black spandex pants–the onlyclothes for me–and nearly groaned, until I remembered my new body. Tristan hadbeen given nothing but a pair of loose black pants. With his hair pulled backin a ponytail, he looked as though he belonged in a martial-arts film, ready tofight in a tournament or take on his self-righteous teacher. In other words, helooked delicious. "I'm supposed to concentrate with you inthat?" Tristan asked, his eyes traveling up and down my body. I couldn'thelp it. I shivered. "Ditto," Imuttered and forced myself to tear my eyes from his very bare, very lickablechest.

Foodie Friday: Eating House Miami

Last week I asked you all to tell me where you think CJ (the co-publisher) and I should have dinner in Miami and nobody responded. I'm going to assume that it's not because you don't love me or care if I stuff horrid food in my body, but that, like us, you just couldn't decide which one you would pick. One is known as a favorite stand-by. The other sounded delish, but a little risky.

But no worries! We decided to brave it out and try the brand-spanking-new Eating Place Miami . It's the first pop-up restaurant we've ever been to. Don't know what a pop-up is? Have you heard of a pop-up bookstore? It's like that. No? Well, they come in on a temporary basis, either for some specific purpose (season) or as a test-drive. In this case, it's a test-drive.

I got a picture with a Chopped Champ!!!
Chef/Owner of Eating House Giorgio Rapicavoli.
As far as the service - REMARKABLE.
See, chef and co-owner Giorgio Rapicavoli is a Chopped champion (yes! for real!) and he used his winnings ( watch episode ) to give this restaurant-ownership-thing a try. And based on our experience and others', I think he and his roommate/business partner are going to do quite well.

Because It.Was.Ahhhh.Maaaaazzzzz.Ing.

Seriously, a total delight for the taste buds. I so wish I could share some with you but, honestly, even if I had some sitting in front of me, I don't think I'd bring myself to share. The best you get is a photo essay.

Roasted Bone Marrow - escargot/black truffle
ragu, marrow toast, grey salt Homestead Tomatoes - lime, ginger, nuoc cham
(fish sauce), peanuts, frozen coconut milk,
herbs, local flowers
Fried Chicken Thighs - buttermilk waffles,
house smoked maple, candied bacon, hot sauce-ranch Paccheri [Pasta] - 24 hour braised short rib,
berkshire pork belly, black truffle, crispy sage, bread crumbsMy faves were the fried chicken thighs and the paccheri. Divine. This article called the food an orgasm for the mouth, and I think CJ and I agree the chicken thighs are definitely moan-out-loud good. And then came...

The. Best. Damn. Dessert. EVER.
EVER I tell you!(and it doesn't even have chocolate in it - whowouldathunk?)
'Breakfast' - Cap'n Crunch mousse, milk panna cotta,
candied Cap'n Crunch, taha's vanilla bean saltOMG, my mouth is watering. I'm so ready to go back. If just for that dessert. And if you read that article, you'll see that they sometimes also offer a whipped Nutella and banana foster dessert. I don't know what I'd do if both were on the menu at once. I'd be too weak-kneed (and stuffed) to leave on my volition, that's for sure.

If you're ever in Miami (there are lots of bookish events every year!), you must go visit Giorgio, his roomie and his sister, who provided us with fantabulous service. And you must call me because I will definitely meet you there!

Here are the deets:
www.eatinghousemiami.com
Facebook: Eating House Miami
Twitter: @eating_house
786.942.7881

Foodie Friday

Last week I asked you all to tell me where you think CJ (the co-publisher) and I should have dinner in Miami and nobody responded. I'm going to assume that it's not because you don't love me or care if I stuff horrid food in my body, but that, like us, you just couldn't decide which one you would pick. One is known as a favorite stand-by. The other sounded delish, but a little risky.

But no worries! We decided to brave it out and try the brand-spanking-new Eating Place Miami . It's the first pop-up restaurant we've ever been to. Don't know what a pop-up is? Have you heard of a pop-up bookstore? It's like that. No? Well, they come in on a temporary basis, either for some specific purpose (season) or as a test-drive. In this case, it's a test-drive.

I got a picture with a Chopped Champ!!!
Chef/Owner of Eating House Giorgio Rapicavoli.
As far as the service - REMARKABLE.
See, chef and co-owner Giorgio Rapicavoli is a Chopped champion (yes! for real!) and he used his winnings ( watch episode ) to give this restaurant-ownership-thing a try. And based on our experience and others', I think he and his roommate/business partner are going to do quite well.

Because It.Was.Ahhhh.Maaaaazzzzz.Ing.

Seriously, a total delight for the taste buds. I so wish I could share some with you but, honestly, even if I had some sitting in front of me, I don't think I'd bring myself to share. The best you get is a photo essay.

Roasted Bone Marrow - escargot/black truffle
ragu, marrow toast, grey salt Homestead Tomatoes - lime, ginger, nuoc cham
(fish sauce), peanuts, frozen coconut milk,
herbs, local flowers
Fried Chicken Thighs - buttermilk waffles,
house smoked maple, candied bacon, hot sauce-ranch Paccheri [Pasta] - 24 hour braised short rib,
berkshire pork belly, black truffle, crispy sage, bread crumbsMy faves were the fried chicken thighs and the paccheri. Divine. This article called the food an orgasm for the mouth, and I think CJ and I agree the chicken thighs are definitely moan-out-loud good. And then came...

The. Best. Damn. Dessert. EVER.
EVER I tell you!(and it doesn't even have chocolate in it - whowouldathunk?)
'Breakfast' - Cap'n Crunch mousse, milk panna cotta,
candied Cap'n Crunch, taha's vanilla bean saltOMG, my mouth is watering. I'm so ready to go back. If just for that dessert. And if you read that article, you'll see that they sometimes also offer a whipped Nutella and banana foster dessert. I don't know what I'd do if both were on the menu at once. I'd be too weak-kneed (and stuffed) to leave on my volition, that's for sure.

If you're ever in Miami (there are lots of bookish events every year!), you must go visit Giorgio, his roomie and his sister, who provided us with fantabulous service. And you must call me because I will definitely meet you there!

Here are the deets:
www.eatinghousemiami.com
Facebook: Eating House Miami
Twitter: @eating_house
786.942.7881

Writer Wednesday - Susan Kaye Quinn

Today I bring you Author Susan Kaye Quinn, whose Open Minds YA paranormal has received some awesome reviews. I can't wait to read it!

About Susan Kaye Quinn

Susan KayeQuinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passedthem to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering degreesand worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines, NASA,and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author andRocket Scientist" and she doesn't have to sneak her notes anymore. Allthat engineering comes in handy when dreaming up paranormal powers infuture worlds or mixing science with fantasy to conjure slightly plausibleinventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, twocats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much as she canhandle.
[image error] About Open Minds
When everyone reads minds, a secret is adangerous thing to keep.Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someonewho can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't betrusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the bestfriend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearlykills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family andan increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's draggeddeep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyoneshe loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
So let's get to know Susan better!
Tell us about you in 10 words.Ex-rocket-scientistwho loves kids, books, and shiny tech gadgets.
Um, okay, wow. I don't think I've ever had a rocket scientist here before. I suddenly feel like my IQ dropped 20 points. So, uh, what are we doing? Oh yeah, interview. If you tweeted about your latest release, what would it say(140 characters or less)?What if youhad to mind control everyone you loved? Open Minds $2.99 #kindlehttp://amzn.to/BuyOM #paranormal #sciencefiction #yalit
Simon - Yeah, I could stare into those eyes for a while, too.Lots of punch in so few characters. Nice job! If you could spend the day with any of your characters, whowould it be and what would you do?ProbablySimon, the mindjacker who helps Kira discover her powers. I'd like to dive intohis head, figure out what made him go down the path of joining a nefariousunderground group of mindjackers like Molloy's Clan. Or possibly just gaze intohis dark eyes for a while.
Heheh. The truth comes out... So what's your favorite part of being a writer?That I getto invent future technology, without having to make it actually work? Or that Iget to write aching love stories about really cute fictional men? Hmm... Ithink my favorite part is creating whole new worlds that readers actually wantto read and experience and live with me. #SoCool
Very cool. What's the hardest part of being a writer?Not havingenough time to write. I need a 28 hour day.
I feel ya! Completely. What do you wish you would have known before you became awriter?That itwould be so creatively fulfilling. I would have started sooner.
Yes, I imagine you could have used that outlet while doing all that fancy scientific stuff. What made you decide to go indie?I knew thatI wouldn't shelve Open Minds:  I loved the story and wanted to share it toomuch for that.  I tried queryingagents,  and had lots of positiveresponse, but the process was way too slow. I quickly realized that it wouldtake years to get Open Minds on the shelves. I was dyingto write the rest of the trilogy, and with indie publishing I didn't have towonder whether it would be published
Plus, indiepublishing is a shiny new gadget. I have a hard time resisting those.
From what I've heard about Open Minds, readers are very happy you didn't resist. What do you like most about being indie?The factthat I control it end-to-end: editing, cover, timetable. Even the launch party,giveaways, and review requests are at a pace and flavor that suits my style,and it's really nice to be able to bring that kind of cohesion to my work.
If a writer came to you asking advice about going indie,what's the most important thing you would tell them?Well, Iactually have Seven Questions You Should AskBefore Going Indie.But if I had to pick just one, it would be this: make sure you know what yourgoals are for this book before you launch it. Is it a business or a hobby foryou? Because if you know what you want to get out of it, you're much morelikely to be happy in the end.
Excellent advice. You really can't be in-between or aimless, otherwise you'll get frustrated. So let's talk about your own reading. What's the last book you read and what's next?Justfinished A Million Suns by theamazing Beth Revis (So.Good.Buy.It!), and now I'm reading Goliath, the last book of the Leviathanseries by Scott Westerfeld-who is so awesome I really can't fangirl enoughabout him. After that I have a bunch of indie titles on my TBR, including The Veil by Cory Putnam and Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper. Myindie list is growing fast and is responsible for the groaning sound that comesfrom my Goodreads TBR list.
Excellent list! What book or author can you read over and over again?Scott andBeth (above); also Holly Black (I have a crush on Cassel).
Hmm...I started White Cat and couldn't get into it. Maybe I need to give it more of a chance? So what do you think - ebooks or Dead Tree Books? Why?Depends.Generally ebooks, because they're cheaper and I love my ereader gadgets. ButI'll spring for hardcovers at author signings, or paperbacks for writing books.
Finally, where can we connect with you?If you'reinterested in what's going on with my books, you can subscribe to my author newsletter! Or you can find me on Twitter way too often, or Facebook, or my blog, where I talk about all kinds ofwriterly and tech things, including indie publishing. I love to hear fromreaders and connect with other writers, so I hope you'll stop by!

Teaser Tuesday

For those who haven't read Devotion yet, well, uh, why the heck not? Need more enticement? Here's a tease for you:

"I'm the alien but theyall treat me like …""Royalty?" Tristanfinished for me.I sighed. "Yeah. Atthis rate, I'll be ready to get back to normal life sooner than I thought. Atleast in the normal world, I know how to behave, what to do."He gave me a squeeze. "We'llbe leaving soon enough, I'm sure. But first you have a lot to learn. You needto train. Have you been practicing at all, or just gawking?""Pretty much justgawking," I admitted and then I frowned. I hated listening to people'sthoughts, and it felt especially intrusive when the people close by thoughtthey were in the privacy of their own homes. At least on the main street,people would be thinking fewer intimate thoughts and more about their businessat hand. "Let's go back downtown, or whatever you call it, so I can bewith more people."As we walked, I pushed mycloud out to people we passed long enough to hear a brief thought, then quicklypulled the cloud in as soon as I'd succeeded. I kept to only one person at atime, afraid I'd lose control if I tried more. Fortunately, what I heard wasmostly mundane, except …"Can't stop thinking of him as Seth. Look at him, walking around asthough he owns the place, his hands all over the real royalty, as though heowns her. He's such a traitor. He'll be the downfall of the Amadis." 

Foodie Friday: Miami Restaurant Picks?

We're heading to Miami again next week and one thing CJ, the co-publisher, and I must do on every trip is eat well. We're both foodies and enjoy trying new places and types of food, but also have some favorites.

One of our all-time faves is Michael's Genuine . I've talked about it before and took The Man there for our 20th anniversary last October. It's different and delish.

In December, CJ and I wanted to check out the famous Books & Books store and I fell in love with Coral Gables. We ate at Charlotte Bistro , which was tasty. It was a little extra fun because of our friend Charlotte, whose name I borrowed in Devotion.

This trip, we're debating Michael's Genuine again, since it's been several months for both of us now. Or Eating House . Read this , their story about how they got started and why they don't call their place a "restaurant." It all sounds, well, interesting. I'm not sure if it's the type of place that I'll hate or fall in love with, but I'm game for anything. Especially when the menu can be this ... or whatever they decide for that day. Yeah, it sounds a little risky, but I think it could be kind of fun.

What do you think? Should we give this unique place a try? What would you do?

Foodie Friday

We're heading to Miami again next week and one thing CJ, the co-publisher, and I must do on every trip is eat well. We're both foodies and enjoy trying new places and types of food, but also have some favorites.

One of our all-time faves is Michael's Genuine . I've talked about it before and took The Man there for our 20th anniversary last October. It's different and delish.

In December, CJ and I wanted to check out the famous Books & Books store and I fell in love with Coral Gables. We ate at Charlotte Bistro , which was tasty. It was a little extra fun because of our friend Charlotte, whose name I borrowed in Devotion.

This trip, we're debating Michael's Genuine again, since it's been several months for both of us now. Or Eating House . Read this , their story about how they got started and why they don't call their place a "restaurant." It all sounds, well, interesting. I'm not sure if it's the type of place that I'll hate or fall in love with, but I'm game for anything. Especially when the menu can be this ... or whatever they decide for that day. Yeah, it sounds a little risky, but I think it could be kind of fun.

What do you think? Should we give this unique place a try? What would you do?

Writer Wednesday - Eisley Jacobs

Today you get to meet a fabulous person and an excellent writer with a heart the size of a, er, dragon. Which must be why she's writing about dragons. That's right - today we have the lovely Eisley Jacobs.

[image error] About Eisley

Eisley Jacobs lives in Denver, Colorado with her three children and husband.

Eisley actively writes the characters that stroll through her head. The first YA Novel she completed was in high school, but some how got lost in the shuffle into real life. While studying at college, stories began to plague her mind and she tried her best to keep them at bay while she did more important things like... like... who are we kidding. Her grades suffered because the voices wouldn't stop. So instead of going insane, she wrote.

It wasn't until 2005 that Eisley realized her love of words needed to go somewhere besides the bottom drawer of the file cabinet. She began to write a young adult fantasy series (which is still a work in progress) and continued until she had two complete books and feverishly worked to complete book three.

However in 2010, a blue dragon named Deglan interfered in her attempts to finish the final book in the YA series and thus BORN TO BE A DRAGON was hatched. The novel was written in less than two months and almost a year after completion, has found a home on Amazon and in the hearts of many children.

Now, with the second book in the DRAGONS FOREVER series out, BLINK OF A DRAGON, she is working on a YA urban fantasy called PIECES OF ME all while trying to keep up with the fan base for DRAGONS FOREVER.

About Born to be a Dragon (Dragons Forever #1)

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup…

This is what Lord Edric wants you to believe. He will do anything in his power to see that humans never come in contact with dragons again. However, he doesn't plan for Meia, the foster child who dreams of dragons, believing they are real. Or Deglan, the ten-year-old dragon who bears the ancient mark that threatens everything Lord Edric has worked for.

Join these two unlikely friends as they discover the truth behind a legend so extraordinary it will alter each of their lives… forever.

And now for the interview!

Tell us about you in 10 words. 
WifeMotherFriendDedicatedPassionateStubborn ExtrovertTechGeekArtistGrowing
Awesome list! If you tweeted about your latest release, what would it say(140 characters or less)?RivalDragons. Erupting volcanoes. Just another day in the 5th grade.
Yeah, of course. Just another day here, too. O.o If you could spend the day with any of your characters, whowould it be and what would you do?I'd like tospend a day with Sterling, the marvel. He is so quirky that I believe he mightbe just what I need to laugh the stresses of life away. He is so smart, yet so unbeknownst to things around him at the samemoment. It would be the ultimate giggle fest!
Knowing you, wanting to spend the day laughing doesn't surprise me. Sounds like fun! So, besides giving yourself the giggles, what's your favorite part of being a writer?I've hadthe privilege of being present when a group of kids finished Born to be a Dragonand their reactions were priceless! Which of course makes the feedback fromchildren my favorite part of being a writer.
Wow, I can only imagine being in the same room when readers finish your book. How cool is that?! Well, unless, you know, they didn't like it. Of course, you wouldn't have that problem! Okay, now, what's the hardest part of being a writer? Thediscipline. I homeschool my children and sometimes it's just more fun to spendtime with them then it is to sit down and pound on a keyboard.
Yes, sometimes there are many more fun things to do than pound on a keyboard. What do you wish you would have known before you became awriter?I wish Iwould have known what an emotional roller coaster it would be. I wouldn'tchange the way I've done any of it, but I would maybe go in more prepared (orso I tell myself). The emotions of a writer reach such highs and lows, it'salmost hard to fathom going these ranges in a twenty-four hour period.
Ohmigosh, don't I know it. My family thinks I'm insane sometimes. Well, more than usual. And what helps fuel those highs and lows? Being indie. So, what made you decide to go indie?I wasin conversation with a couple agents as I queried Born to be a Dragon (theseagents did not represent middle grade books) and was told the publishers werenot buying dragon books right now and I could either sit on it for a few yearsor go indie. When the second agent told me the same thing, I decided to do itand never look back.
So glad you did! What do you like most about being indie?I love thatI can hold true to the vision I had for my book and not have to worry aboutwhat someone else is going to disagree with.
Most definitely! But it's not all flowers and unicorns. If a writer came to you asking advice about going indie,what's the most important thing you would tell them? I will befrank with them and let them know that going indie is hard work but veryrewarding. I would also tell them to hire a professional editor and coverartist. Don't skimp on those things. They are expensive, but they make all thedifference.
Agreed! Okay, now about your own reading. What's the last book you read and what's next?The lastbook we read, as a family, was A Wind in the Door. Currently reading A Swiftly TiltingPlanet (Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L'Engle).
Love those books! At least, I did when I was a kid. I tried picking up A Wrinkle in Time about a year or so ago and couldn't get into it. I'm sure it was my mood and not the book. How cool that you get to share it with your kids! Speaking of re-reading books, what book or author can you read over and over again? Chroniclesof Narnia. The way C.S. Lewis weaved his worlds was amazing. Have you evernoticed how SMALL each book is yet the adventure is so great? That is talent.The worlds are so rich and you feel like nothing was left on the cutting roomfloor. Perfect.
I never thought about it, but you're so right! Okay, something else I need to re-read. Final question: Ebooks or Dead Tree Books? Why?In themiddle grade publishing industry, physical books are still outselling ebooks.But I believe this will change as more children get their hands on ereaders. Forme personally, both the print book and the ebook are equally as appealing tome. I like to have books on my shelves, but I also love that I don't haveclutter. Both versions share the experience that the author hopes you willreceive from the story.
Oh, wait, I lied. One more, very important question: Where can we connect with you?My Website: http://EisleyJacobs.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/EisleyJacobsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EisleyEacobs
Thank you, Eisley, for joining us today! Readers, I hope you enjoyed the interview and getting to know Eisley better. Please go stalk her - you won't regret it! And if you're in the mood for some fun reading or know any kids who love dragons, check out her books. Have a question for Eisley? Please ask!

Teaser Tuesday

I posted this last year, but I'm posting it again. After all, you need a little tease on this day.


Tristan says:

Origins Blog Fest

You may have already noticed it around the blog-o-sphere, but if not - this is pretty cool. Over 200 writers - published and not - are sharing the origins of their writing dreams. It's the Origins Blog Fest hosted by the awesome quartet of Alex J. Cavanaugh , DL Hammons (Cruising Altitude 2.0) , Katie Mills (Creepy Query Girl) and Matthew MacNish (The Quintessential Questionable Query Experiment) . Go check out the loooong list of writers participating and see how they got started in this crazy journey of being a writer.

But wait! Would you care to know my story? ;-)

I've talked about it before, so it may be old news for some, but I first wanted to become a writer when I was 8 years old. I'd started reading at 4 and loved books, but I don't remember writing stories before the 3rd grade. It was spring and I had recently left Denver to live with my mother in Silver Spring, Maryland, because my dad, stepmom and sister were headed to Germany to set up house. I would join them later.

I didn't fit in too well in my new school. I'd always been among the top of my class, but the Montgomery County school district was - and still is - one of the best districts in the country, and I was behind. I was in one of the lowest math groups (first and last time not in the highest), and in the average reading group (first and last time not in the highest). All other subjects were taught as a class and I had a lot of catching up to do. I made a couple of friends but, honestly, it was one of the few times in my life I felt stupid. Now that I look back at it, the experience, though short-lived (we moved to Chicago a few months later), was good for me. Especially because it led to this...

After a couple of months of feeling like a loser and the end of the year quickly approaching, we started studying Tall Tales. I loved the unit and enjoyed all the stories. Then we were charged with telling our own Tall Tale or at least something mythical. I was stuck on ideas, until the weekend, when my mom took me to a cavern for the first time ever. I thought it was incredibly cool! And Mom got to talking about how she wondered if gnomes lived in the cave and only came out at night. My story idea was born. I went home and wrote it all out.

Gnome Cave was my first ever story. And my first ever contemporary fantasy. AND it earned me an A. The only A on the assignment for the entire class. Was I proud? You better believe it! I beamed at all the other students who thought I was the dumb new kid. My teacher told me I had a knack for writing. My mom, grandma, aunt (all strong writers) - they all praised my writing and my story. And I decided then that I loved writing.

I wrote - or I should say, started - several stories over the next 10 or so years. Nothing ever amounted to much, though, except for school assignments. I couldn't come up with a whole story with a beginning, middle and end. But I still loved to write. I wrote for the yearbook and became co-editor my senior year. I wrote poems that were entered into contests and one published in a book. I wrote awesome papers for school. But by the time I had to choose a major for college, I'd decided I just didn't have a novel in me.

I started college for business. I changed my major to English. I dropped out and made a family, then raised the family. To bring in some extra cash, I typed term papers for college students, which led me into resume writing. Then writing and editing other marketing communications (brochures, newsletters, websites). I wrote and edited training programs. I wrote as a reporter and then served as editor for a newspaper. I returned to college and earned a bachelor degree in marketing.

Every once in a while, I thought about writing fiction again, but nothing came to me. Thank goodness because, as a soccer mom/club president, editor/manager, wife/student/etc., I just didn't have the time that would be needed to write a novel. Then I did get an idea. I ordered some craft books from Writers Digest, including how to get published. I immediately grew discouraged and my idea went no further than a chapter or two.

After finishing college, I couldn't wait to return to reading for fun. And boy did I! I devoured books as if I'd been starving - which I had been. I'd been starving for the escape of other worlds. I read and read and read. We moved to Florida. My kids were older, one driving and taking over some of my mom-taxi duties. The boys' interests narrowed and I was no longer spending entire weekends and every weekday night on ball fields or courts or on the road driving to ball fields and courts.

I had free time like I'd never had it before. I got into World of Warcraft for a while, thinking I could play with my boys, but they didn't like playing with me. (I kinda sucked at it.) I read some more. I read Twilight. I got sucked into the series, but it left me wanting. Wanting more, wanting deeper - more of a plot, a true soul-mate connection, real bedroom scenes, better writing and, most of all, deeper characters. I realized I'd become tired of what was out there. I couldn't find the story I really wanted to read, the characters I really wanted to love.

I finally asked myself why I didn't write what I wanted to read. And the idea to start writing fiction again began to flourish. I told myself I'd just play around, do some character sketches, just write for fun for myself. I still didn't expect to have a book in me. But once I started, I couldn't stop. In 6 weeks from the day I decided to give fiction writing another shot, I'd written what is now Promise and Purpose, ending it at 189,000 words! And not only did I have a full book in me, I realized, but an entire series.

I haven't looked back since. And now I have more than just one series idea. In fact, I have so many book ideas with beginnings, middles and ends, that I just hope I'm on this earth long enough to write half of them. Of course, now I hope, too, that there are readers out there who will continue to want to read them.

That's my story. Nothing crazy or surprising, but my story nonetheless. Now go check out some of those others. It's astounding how many different ways we all came to this writer's road.