From Reader to Author
Books and reading play a big part in our lives. From that first board book to the picture books withcolorful illustrations and beginning words. They spark our imagination and awaken curiosity. We meet memorable characters and visit rich landscapes of fiction and non-fiction alike.
Some of us go from reading the stories to writing our own. We give shape to voices and visions that linger in the back of our minds. We create worlds that others can explore and experience. We create characters that mirror both ordinary and extraordinary lives. We weave plots that captivate and challenge.
As authors, we want to do our best. Learn any skills that will enrich our writing, the subtle art of storytelling. Writing becomes both a discipline and a liberation. An opportunity to reflect on our inner landscapes and the worlds that move us. Connect us.
For those of us who embark on this path, the journey from reader to author isn’t a career or hobby; it’s life’s calling.
Meet Kay
My Journey from Reader to Author
Books have always been a part of my life. As a child, they were my constant companions. They opened doors to endless adventures. Captivated me with the worlds hidden within the pages. Reading books laid the groundwork for my eventual transition from reader to author.
In my teenage years, I helped organize my uncle’s treasured first editions. Studying Library Science in college was a natural extension of this passion. It grounded me in the structured yet magical world of books and storytelling.
From Reader…
A big change came when my husband and I moved to Caroline County, Virginia. A friend gave me a box of romance novels, and my writing journey began. Each book drew me in, planting a simple idea: “I can write one of these.”
My first attempts at writing were a blend of excitement and fear. I created stories but wondered if the publishers would like them. There were many walks to the mailbox with my children as I awaited Harlequin’s response. They were rejections – not what we were looking for, but you have great potential. Those letters served as fuel for my determination.
While raising three children and starting a library career, writing remained my passion. I retired from the library in 2013. I began reading again. Revisited my early writing, and embarked on another journey from reader to author.
To Author…
December 19, 2014, marked a milestone with the release of “Spicer’s Challenge” as an eBook on Amazon. Followed by “Dreams Fulfilled” two months later. In 2016, my adventure in Indie publishing started when I published “Newfound Love.”
I have written ten romantic suspense novels, three biographies, and two grandparent journals. Each project captured stories that have lived in my heart. Blended my passion for fiction with the intrigue of real-life narratives.
There’s an indescribable joy in seeing your words in print. Sharing stories that resonate with readers. As I continue my journey from reader to author, I hope my books please you as much as I enjoy creating them.
What I am Reading
I
am a
Will Trent
fanatic!
What I just finished
Journalist Pip West grew up in foster care, but during college found a best friend, Cindy Resnik, whose family accepted her into their family. Cindy was on the brink of patenting an anthrax vaccine when she was murdered. Because Cindy’s death is related to another biological warfare case, Special Agent Hunt Kincaid is assigned to the case that is initially considered a drug-related suicide.
Cold Blooded portrayed Pip’s fierce devotion to preserving her friend’s reputation and proving Cindy was murdered. It also shows the dedication of FBI agents to solving their cases and being unable to share their findings even with family.
It is fast paced with one jam-packed week of murders, attempted murders, red herrings and heartbreak. I also learned a lot about anthrax! This was book 10 of the Cold Justice Series and I enjoyed every one of them!
I look forward to reading Toni Anderson’s other series books.
Five Fun Facts about Kay
I enjoy a glass of sauvignon blanc wine at 5:00 PM
I own 200 of the 250 books Nora Roberts has written.
I enjoy networking with 10 authors in zoom calls every week.
My favorite Viking trips were on the Danube and to Alaska.
I am retired but still get up most mornings at 5:30 AM to write.
- One of my favorite places to write is in Deltaville where the sunrises and sunsets are magnificent.
- I enjoy a good thriller movie with a bowl of popcorn and cold glass of Coke.
- My favorite book character is Eve Dallas, and her handsome, charming and fabulously rich husband Roarke.
- I loved reading Daphne duMaurier as a teenager and Frenchman’s Creek was my favorite of her books.
- My parents owned a chicken farm and I packed eggs every afternoon after school until I graduated high school.