Writing fiction has been my dream since childhood. I loved to read as a young girl and was always getting in trouble for hiding with a flashlight under the covers. A few years ago, my mother moved and I found old journals in her basement filled with story ideas and character sketches. The notes app on my phone is filled with ideas and inspiration. It was an ambition I assumed would never come to fruition.
I read my first romance novel at age 36. I don’t know why I was such a latecomer to romance, I had certainly been a book lover since childhood. I had read most genres, and loved YA and women’s fiction, but had never picked up a true romance.
That changed in 2019 when I was up late at night nursing my newborn son, desperate for a way to stay awake. At the time, I was also dealing with postpartum depression. My depression robbed me of my attention span. I was unable to watch TV or movies, and totally incapable of concentrating on anything at all. Suddenly, books I had loved for years held no appeal. Looking for some kind of escape (and a way to stay awake late at night), I I stumbled upon one contemporary romance on my kindle and the rest was history.
Romance was there for me during a particularly difficult period in my life. It brought me laughter and joy while I was suffering, and for that I will always be grateful. I was also lucky enough to discover what an inclusive and diverse place the romance community is. I started following my favorite authors and joined reader groups. I continue to be blown away but the kindness and enthusiasm of romance readers and writers. It is truly a beautiful community.
When I decided to take my writing hobby more seriously, I knew I wanted to write romance. I wanted to provide the joy and laughter that I had needed in a very dark period of my life. I wanted to create worlds were readers could escape for just a short time.
Life is tough. And life in 2021 is really tough. I write to give back to the community that gave me so much. I hope my writing can help to brighten your day.