An author I will become

Writing comes easy to me. I've wanted to be a writer since I was eight years old. I knew that's what I wanted to do and I never wavered in my desire to become a writer. I've been a journalist for small town newspapers, college newspapers. I've written for work and written for pleasure. The one thing I've always wanted to do, for as long as I can remember is write a book. If I could just have my name on the outside of a book I would be the happiest person alive. I want to thank the people who have supported me all these years inside the book. My mom and I attended The Author's Luncheon at Rancho Solano in Fairfield on Sunday for the second year in a row. It's an event put on by the Solano County Library Foundation to raise money and awareness for literacy. It's a huge fundraiser with a live and silent auction, great food and above all, some of the world's greatest authors. Yes, I participate in the silent auction because I like to win things that I can give as a gift. But where I get truly captivated at this event is listening to the authors. I love to hear their stories - how they became writers, what they like to read, what inspires them, how they develop characters. They are funny, they are serious, they are down to earth. I pictured myself up on that stage, speaking about my book, speaking about what inspired me, speaking about how I wanted to be an author and that if that's what you want, you can do it, too. I know that I belong on that stage someday. I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of authors during the book signing session afterwards and I continue to be blown away at how helpful they are to aspiring writers like myself. Anyone can say that they want to write a book. To a published writer, that's just a bunch of crazy talk. But when you preface that statement by making small talk about what newspaper you used to work at and joke about how you escaped from journalism and crossed over to the dark side of communications/PR, you grab attention. Ears perked up. These authors were more than willing to talk to me and offer advice on what I could do to get my book published. I am a realist. I know that a lot of rejection comes with getting a book published. I am OK with that. That's why I am not putting everything into becoming an author. I haven't quit my job to become a full-time aspiring writer. It's a process, and it could be a long one. If it takes me 20 years to get this book published, so be it. I do believe that it will happen though. I might have some time coming up to dedicate to sending this book out and trying to find an agent and a publisher for it. That will be my goal. I can handle the rejection that could possibly come my way. I'm prepared for it. But I have to give it a shot. To make my career as a writer come full circle.