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ABOUT RACHEL
For as long as I can remember I wanted to write
and have a book of mine published. Sometimes life gets in the
way, or we let it.
I grew up in the south and lived with an aunt and uncle
from the time I was ten until I graduated from high school. Both
my aunt and uncle worked long hours, giving me a lot of time
alone. With my love of reading and an active imagination, I was
never bored.
I wrote my first story at eleven or twelve years old
and read it to my neighborhood friends. They, of course, thought
it was wonderful. My story did not have a happy ending. My
heroine died a tragic death. I was in my melodramatic phase.
My first published work was a mother's day poem. The
local newspaper had a contest between the high schools. I won
and the prize was ten dollars and having my poem printed in the
Sunday paper on Mother's Day. I won't say what year.
My aunt was a very practical woman and had worked all
her life. You did not write for a career. You studied and got a
sensible job that kept a roof over your head and food in your
stomach.
My first career was Nursing. During my mid-life crisis,
I went back to school and earned my Master's degree in Social
Work. These were good choices, but in the back of my mind, those
characters kept knocking on the door and reminding me of my
dream job, writing.
I did write during those years, everything from poems, short
stories, and longer love stories. They filled my desk drawers
and the bottom of my closet.
With three grown children, three grandchildren, a very
supportive husband and many friends' encouragement I finally got
serious and decided in 2004 that it was time to commit to my
dream, make some goals, and start my new career. They do say the
third time's the charm.
My first big shock: Not everyone thought I was a great
writer. Like any other career you had to study, read, take
classes, and write, write, write. Who would know following your
passion could be so much work, but also so much fun?
INTERVIEW
Q: When did you decide to become a writer?
A: So long ago that I don't remember. I had an active
imagination from the start. But for many years I let life get in
the way until I made a New Year's resolution about four and a
half years ago to write with the goal of publishing. My goals
the first year were to join a writer's group, attend a writing
conference, and finish a book. I did all three.
Q: Do you have a writing schedule?
A: I try. I'm most creative in the morning, so I like to write
from around 8 or 9 a.m. until early afternoon. Then I think about
doing housework, maybe. Q: Where do you get
your ideas for stories? A: From TV,
things people say, numerous ways but especially early in the
morning when I'm half awake. Q: What's your
favorite romance genre? A: I enjoy most
all of them, especially historical, contemporary, and romantic
suspense. Q: What are you writing now?
A: I'm writing a contemporary story and beginning to edit a
historical, set in the Regency period. |
