So, I have this blog, and I never really write about what I feel. Why have a blog?
This is not going to come out the way I see it in my head. I am in no way a writer and can never truly express my feeling with words, it is always been visual for me. I am still going to try.
Since I can remember, I have always devoured books. I was potty trained on them, seriously. I was reading by the age of three. Amazing I have the worst spelling in the world, but it is true! Ask my mom. She has pictures of me reading the encyclopedia at 3. Books just “do it” for me. No matter what I am going through in my life. I can always pick up a book and be right where my soul needs to be. I truly believe that God made words for that reason. While I was growing up, they never let me down. I could find the adventure I was craving or the romance, I knew one day it would be in my life. When I got grounded for something, you know what it was from? Books! My mom would come in and take them away, she knew I didn’t care about T.V. or toys.. take my books away and that was the worst punishment imaginable! It worked, I didn’t get in trouble too much growing up ( I did get a little sneaker and not caught though!)
Now that I am older, I realize what an impact they have on my life. When I was 21 I found out I was pregnant. I had a very hard pregnancy and my son and I almost died. My life was turned upside down and the ONE book I sought was the Bible. The Word, and it is still in my heart and still keeps me grounded. I wasn’t able to work like I wanted after my son. I get sick too easily to be in the workforce, so I focused on being a good mom and wife. I had my second son at 24 and went through a horrible pregnancy as well. That solidified, me not ever reaching my goals in the workforce. When I was younger, I had a great art portfolio. I always dreamed of being able to show the world a book from my eyes. After the kids, that didn’t seem possible. Life moved on.. I dealt with it.
Then a magical thing happened. I started connecting Online with a group of friends, that loved a series as much as I did! It was Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed Series. I started finding my artistic eye again, trying to capture the feelings her books gave me. I admit they were not good at first.. but you know what?! Lara, encouraged me. In little ways, just by saying.. ” Hey, that rocks!” Through her, I started to gain the confidence I had lacked for so long. It showed me that, Yes, the authors actually care about their fans! They want to interact as much as they can. So.. I started the long journey of teaching myself as much as I could about photoshop. It was HARD! I knew I had a good eye for composition and placement, but to execute it? Gah…. HOURS a day. I got addicted.
Then, as my skills progressed, I started working with photographers. Re- touching the models making them skinny, blemish free….. BORING! I had to take a good look at myself and say…. HEY! This is NOT what you wanted to do! I realized I was getting off track. Books.. it Always came back to books. So, I re-focused. I began to scour the book stores, not to read them, but to look at the covers. I would buy the book, and see if the cover gave me the same reflection the author had portrayed in his or her book. For the most part, the answer was no. 😦 So, I decided, to hell with what the cover shows.. I SEE the characters in my mind. Let’s use this talent for good, for us fans! Hello.. Character portraits. I started with Lara’s because I really connected to her writing. Then moved on to J.R. Ward‘s This is years ago when she still was able to connect to fans, and the one little message I received from her telling me that the artwork rocked, was enough to catapult me forward!
When I fell in love with a book, the character JUMPED into my head, and made love to my muse.. she told me.. get him out of my head and onto the eeer.. paper? Computer screen? LOL It was like I was home.. does that make sense? The more I read.. the more I felt at peace. I just love the connection I get with the character.. beyond the writing. So I did more and more. Along the way I have connected with THE MOST AMAZING authors! I thank God each and every day for putting them in my path!
Now, I can’t even begin to tell you the simple joy I get when I connect with an author. It just makes my dream book world so real. I have had the honor to call so many my friends. They encourage me each and every day. The support makes me want to scream to anyone who is there…. READ their books!! To try to list everyone I love would take days, but there are a few who just by being a simple friend, make my life more complete in each and every way. Laura Wright, Donna Grant, Larissa Ione, Rae Monet, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jennifer Ahsley, Alannah Lynne, LaVerne Thompson, Franny Armstrong, Teresa D’Amario and many more. Thank you for the encouragement, support and just well.. doing what it is you do… WRITE! Love you all from the bottom of my heart!
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