As I write this, I'm sitting in seat 22E on Emirates
Airlines, a mere three hours away from Dubai, super jet-legged, but even more
excited! I was invited to speak at the Sharjah International Book Fair, which
is the reason for this unforeseen adventure my husband and I are about to
embark on, and it all started with one single idea that I sunk my teeth into,
pulled my hair out over, and defended as if it were my own child.
My first book, Nightshade City, started as picture book, but
quickly morphed into a middle-grade novel of good versus evil, in a cutthroat
world of underground rats. As many of
you know, it was an upward battle getting my first book published, so to be on
my way to another country--another world--all due to that first book, it puts
everything into perspective. I won't say I always believed in myself, but I
believed in my book, and just kept going, no matter what boulders were dropped
in front of me, and trust me, there were plenty of those. Now I'm onto new writing ventures and in the
process of editing the final book of the Nightshade Chronicles, Lords of
Trillium. It's strange to think that I'm working on the final book, when, for
the longest time, I was unsure if there would be a first book.
In terms that make sense to even in this late hour (3AM in
Dubai), start with an idea, build on it, believe in it, don't give up on it,
and see where it can take you.
Now please enjoy my super cheesy video and ignore that uber dorky freeze frame of my face. ;)
