Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

My Strange Path to Writing

I started reading ebooks back in 2005 or so because I could find the kinds of stories I wanted in much larger quantity in ebooks than in the bookstore. I still remember combing the spines (back when I didn’t know how else to find certain sub-genres) for logos that might indicate the book was a futuristic or sci fi romance. I would spend hours in the bookstore, reading every blurb and examining every cover, looking for some hint that the book might contain elements I’d like. Then I discovered ebooks. Sci fi & futuristic romance abounded, as did paranormals that were edgier and more creative. I was hooked. Then I tried my hand at writing the kinds of stories I liked to read and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, celebrating the relase of GRADY’S AWAKENING, my 17th story with Samhain (Can you believe it’s that many? I can’t!), I look back on everything with a sort of satisfied grin on my face. I never really thought I could build a career out of writing the kinds of books I liked to read. I am happy in this case to be proven wrong.

It’s funny how life takes turns you don’t necessarily expect. Writing is my… um… probably my fourth full fledged career and it’s one I’m really enjoying and have yet to tire of. Yes, I sometimes have a short attention span and get bored easily. But writing is something new every time and I can’t imagine ever growing tired of it. Maybe I’ve finally found the “keeper” profession I’ve been searching for! (About time. tsk, tsk)

I studied everything under the sun in college and grad school, but never took many English or literature courses. (I guess that shows sometimes when I abuse the language with abandon.) I think it’s funny that I prepared for careers in completely different disciplines and ended up doing something that I didn’t go to school for at all. You never can tell where you’ll wind up, I guess. And it also goes to show that writers can come from all walks of life.

So if you have a dream of writing, brush up on your skills but don’t worry if you don’t have a PhD in English Lit. I guess that’s my message. If you’ve followed my rambling observations to this point, perhaps that’s the take-away message of this stream of consciousness. That, and a hearty thank you to all those who read my work and make it possible for me to continue on this surprising, unexpected and throroughly delightful career path.