New Beginnings

 I’ve recently completed my first novel. I say first because I have every intention of it not being a one and done. I do believe I have more in me. How do I know that? Because I didn’t put the first one in me and I have faith in the One who did put it there that He is not finished.

I posted an earlier article I entitled, ‘Why She Writes’ which pretty much explains how I got to this point. If you haven’t read it, make it your next stop. But I want to talk about my book for a few moments. 

I have read other author’s writings on how they write. There are so many different methods of writing, it’s crazy. And while there are ‘right’ and ‘correct’ methods of writing, there is really no right process. Everyone has their own way of getting their story from their brain, or their heart, onto the page. (I say page, even though the average reader may never actually physically touch one. Odd times we live in.) I used to think I was just a bit ‘off’ because of all the different voices that would play out in my head, conversations between people that didn’t exist. I had a vivid imagination as a child, and I have several grandchildren now who are the same. I thought it was normal growing up, then discovered at some point that not everyone thought like I did, so began to keep it to myself to not be thought strange. I did get good grades in creative writing,  however. 

That brings me to my book. The concept for the book was built primarily upon a few experiences and conversations I had in my life. A couple of people I had read my rough draft thought at first it might be autobiographical, until they came upon some situations that clearly indicated to them it was not. It is not. The main character’s father is a Vietnam veteran, as was mine. They moved from the east coast to the west coast, as did mine. That’s pretty much the biggest autobiographical overlaps. There are some conversations that did occur between myself and my dad, between me and some friends which were so pivotal in my life that I used them in the book. In fact, a visit to the Infantry Museum at Ft. Moore, Georgia was the catalyst to finally get me to write the book. It is there that my main character, the daughter of the Vet, has the first heart to heart conversation with her estranged father on a road trip across the country that he has instigated with his three grown children to recreate memories. He is in early stages of Alzheimer’s and is on a journey to re-connect with his middle child, and she is on a journey to re-connect not only with her earthly father, but with her Heavenly one as well. 

I am in the midst of mercilessly self-editing at this point. I love my story. It is a story of relationships, forgiveness and finding your way home. My prayer at this point is that God directs me in the process of publishing as clearly as He did in the writing process.