One Writer's Journey, Or, How I got Here

Back in the Dark Ages when I began this sacred journey (being younger than some writers who claim they hail from the time of cave dwellers) I wrote by hand on college lined notebook paper with a certain kind of Bic pen--had to be that kind. And I went through bottles of whiteout. Once a page was stiff with whiteout, I'd crumple and throw until I was surrounded by a pile of discarded prose.

My cats collected about me, often sparring with each other for the prime spots, known only to cats. Those furry bodies heightened the summer heat and I had no air conditioning in my bedroom back then where I do most of my writing seated in my bed propped against the headboard with pillows. Only, now I have a laptop.

When my now grown children were small, they snuggled in my roomy bed for story time. We spent happy hours sailing to new realms in our imaginations. Thus, it seemed the apt place to weave my own tales. As it’s also my husband’s bedroom, I often wrote late into the night with dim lights so as not to disturb him. He graciously tolerated the grating of the quill pen and I even favored candles until I caught my hair on fire. Not to worry, I soon beat it out, but now prefer a lower watt bulb. I also went from excellent vision to needing bi-focals…hmmmm.

Back to my digression: In those medieval days, I knew nothing of computers. My long suffering mother typed up all my jottings on hers, after I handed over my latest work in an envelope marked, "Guard with life!" As it was my only copy. If her home caught on fire, I expected that envelope to escape unscathed––and her, of course, and my dad, and the dog, with my envelope clenched in its teeth.

Faithful Mama and I actually made it through multiple revisions of book one, a lengthy epistle, and were well into book two before my dear husband gave me his old desktop computer and I was launched into cyberspace. No internet for me before then either. A whole new world opened up nearly as vast as the universe.

With much floundering, I’m learning how to navigate, although I recently got lost at the Coffee Time Romance website. They ought to have search and rescue. That’s a mighty big café.

Fortunately, I have cyber-savvy friends to whom I frequently turn for direction. A word of advice to newbies, make fast mates of graphic artists. Fellow Pink Fuzzie Pam Roller was already my pal before I hit on her to do my website, but after the superb work she’s done, it’s safe to say I am indebted to her forever. Rather like that Moor, Azeem, who faithfully served Robin Hood after he saved the guy’s life. So, Pam, your wish is my command. Just don’t actually ask for anything. :)

And then, there are the dreams. I knew I had some psychic ability, but have discovered this second sight is more deeply rooted than I realized. From that initial dream twelve years ago, about a warrior taking a young woman captive at a river in the Shenandoah Valley, to the elderly brave shrouded in mist who gave me a warning as I sailed away on a black sea, to the characters who’ve appeared with revelations of their stories, these many visions have guided my journey.

I’ve also been led into a foreknowledge of how I would fare with a certain agent/editor. The dreams were always right, dang it. Like the British agent (I queried the world) who was impressed with one of my colonial frontier stories and was on the verge of signing me when I dreamt I met her at a party where we chatted happily until others came between us and I lost sight of her. I knew before she said that she’d decided to go another route. Thus it was with anyone in the publishing world with whom I had contact. If I didn’t dream of them, then they were not to be. If I did, it didn’t usually go well either.

Ditto for contests. Early on, my hopes were soaring high for a particular contest, when I dreamed my hot air balloon (is that apt, or what?) crashed on the rocks. Yep, so did my entry. But, I recently double finaled in that same contest. Ten years later, but what’s a piffling decade?

Lately, my ‘spidey senses’ have detected a new wind blowing, a change in the direction I should track. Ever mindful of that inner voice, I decided to submit my light paranormal romance, Somewhere My Love, to the Wild Rose Press. Within a week, I received a raving reply from the editor who offered me a contract. And I finally figured out what that old warrior had been warning me about all those years ago, that it would take quite a voyage before I’d find my harbor. But ‘Land Ho!’

Now, the rich icing on the cake is my final in the 2008 Golden Heart with my historical romance novel, Through the Fire, one of the world's most rejected manuscripts! An excerpt of 'Fire' is posted on this blog.

To all my friends and supporters, a hearty thank you!

Posted by Beth Trissel