The Journey

Blink.

I did it.

I wrote a second book and proved to myself I wasn’t a one-trick pony.

When my writing journey began, seeing myself published was an elusive dream. To see my name on an actual cover with my words inside it – was something I was looking forward to – in my next life perhaps.

When I began winning online contests on various sites for writers for my poetry and short stories – something happened. That little voice inside me said “Maybe you can do this.”

I wanted to write a book damn it!

One day, Sandy and I were tripping around Barnes and Noble and she stumbled upon the “Women’s” section while I was 1/2 mile away from her in the stacks where I usually found something to read. “What’s this? Books about lesbians BY lesbians?”

How come I didn’t know about this?

Before you ask yourself what rock I was living under – I’m going to tell you that’s another story. I might even tell it one day 🙂

Back to this one…

Once I held a glossy Bold Strokes Book – I read every one I could get my hands on. Now these were some stories I could sink my teeth into. Regular stories about women like me. Stories where women made NO excuses for who they loved.

There was that little voice again.
Here’s your niche, Yvonne.

I looked at Sandy, the love of my life, saviour, soul mate and best friend and thought about our journey together.

What if…
…I could write a book.

So I began.

Here’ the kicker – ideas are easy – writing an entire story with a beginning, middle, and end – is – well – NOT!

I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up. Oh heck, truthfully? I have at least four stories in the bottom desk drawer to prove it.

Then one day – I was cruising MySpace (remember that site?) I saw a little tiny post by Bold Strokes Books that read: New Author Development Forum.

The top of my scalp tingled, goosebumps raced up my arms, and my hand froze on the mouse. It was a moment full of possibilty…

Really?

I could pull out one of my stories, do something I loved, AND be selected to work with authors that I idolized?

I held my breath.

Do I dare?

In true Yvonne fashion (meaning – let’s make it really hard) I had two weeks before the submission deadline – let’s start a new one! Oh yeah, and it has to be 50 pages – single spaced…

I began Sometime Yesterday. I wrote like a mad-woman, reached the required page count and *gasp* hit enter.

Is it good enough? There’s that little voice again.

I diligently (okay, obsessively) checked my email every half hour for the next few weeks. I was accepted! Though the NADF eventually had to disband…

Well, you already know the ending, right?

The birth of Sometime Yesterday was a long journey for me but a dream that I didn’t want to let go of.

Out of the goodness of their hearts – the wonderful team at BSB supported me- and on their own time – continued to work with me. Complete strangers that didn’t give up on me. How cool is that?

Sometime Yesterday comes out next month. August 14, to be exact.

I’m a published author. To say that and feel the joy that bubbles up from my Spirit is the most amazing feeling in the world.

To know that I could pull another book out of my imagination – is priceless.

This is really happening. To me – the little lost girl who searched most of her life for a place to fit in, a place to belong.

I found it.

And it’s AWESOME 🙂