When I look at that circled number and know I write a lot, I smile to myself, knowing I still have stories to tell, and I hope I can get to 100 in the next ten years.
(If you can’t see that number, circled it says 56 titles) 🙂
Waaaayyy over 25 years ago, I stood in this really long line to see a romance author, Judith McNaught, praying this would be the one that would give me the wisdom to make my dreams come true. I finally got to the front of the line to talk to her and get my book signed, and I asked her, How do I write a romance novel? I was writing them, but I didn’t feel like I was writing TRUE romance, and I wasn’t good enough to be writing them. IMPOSTER SYNDROME, I know.
She looked at me and said, Just finish one story and then go write another one and then never stop.
I was very insulted and disheartened because those weren’t the words I was looking for, but she was right. I was writing stories, but I wasn’t going to the end. I’d get to the crap hits the fan part and then stop writing.
A week later, Beverly Jenkins was signing books at a women’s expo. I skipped my classes that day and bused myself out there to the suburbs, having no idea what I was doing because I’d never caught a bus that far. I saw her standing there with books all around, and seeing an African American woman standing next to HER books just blew my mind. I still get emotional at that image.
And I asked her the same question,n and maybe because Ms. Bev knows your heart so well, she took the time out, between greeting other people and signing books, explaining the world of romance and going to get published. She told me to write the stories my heart tells me to write, and if you feel their love, the reader will feel their love.
Those were the words I needed, and I was blessed that day with wisdom and lots of love!
From that day forward, I dedicated myself to writing the stories that I wanted to read and that I fell in love with, and I appreciate Ms. Bev for giving me the words to get over fear and get started.
REPRESENTATION MATTERS! She’s my shero and I will forever be grateful to Ms. Bev! xoxo
