As I watched coverage of the Winter Olympics last month, I heard several athletes say, “I owe it to my family.” An announcer said, “It’s all about family.”
The same can be said for writers like me.
My mother was a huge influence on my becoming a writer. She was a published poet, and she encouraged me when she saw I was interested. She was my first writing teacher, and she always made sure we had shelves filled with books. Reading novels convinced me those were what I wanted to write.
My husband supported my efforts and supplied the finances needed for conferences and workshops. When I decided to write historical fiction, he accompanied me on research trips, even when he had to sit for hours while I dug through archives.
As I wrote, one of my sisters read every page. Some were pretty awful, but she proofread and offered her opinion. When my older daughter still lived at home, she read a lot of my early chapters and begged for more.
Once when I became discouraged, another sister gave me needed advice that put being published into proper perspective. I am a writer and have to do it, published or not.
The being published took me many, many years, but when it happened, my family was there to help and support. All six of my siblings read my books, even though a couple admitted they were the only novels they’d read since college. My children, my cousins, and my husband’s family read my books and told their friends about them. Even my granddaughter spread the word to teachers and friends.
When I needed an author website, my nephew volunteered to design one for me. I’m very low-tech, so he also maintains it.
When NOT ON FIFTH STREET came out last year, I received an email from a woman who grew up in the house I wrote about in the book. How did she learn about the book? From my aunt.
The Ironton Tribune published an article about NOT ON FIFTH STREET (which takes place in Ironton). I put out the word that I wanted copies of the article. And a cousin sent them. The publisher of the Tribune assigned the article after he heard about the book from my niece.
I have always loved being part of a large family, and I am grateful every day for the part they have played in my published life. It truly is a family affair.
Come back to this page next month, and I will tell about the other half of the story: Friends.
