I have always dated my desire to be a published author to my years in seminary and parish ministry. I learned the power of language to create reality and the importance of storytelling to create meaning. The Bible is a book of stories and the purpose of those stories is to bring listeners to the truths revealed in them. Writing weekly sermons for six years was an exercise in meaning-making through stories that were intended to understand, shape, inspire, heal, motivate, empathize with, and be relatable to the lives of my listeners. During those years, I wrote two failed book manuscripts. I also started keeping a journal, something I have done for over fifty years.
Ten years later, after having changed my profession to psychotherapy, primarily marriage and family therapy, I co-authored my first book (1990). Six years after that, I co-authored another book (1996). It wasn't until nine years later that I published my first novel (2005), followed by nine more in the ensuing twenty years (number eleven will be released in a matter of months).
My book writing interests began in my mid-twenties and eventually led to long-fiction writing, something I never thought I would (or could) do, twenty-five years later.
Recently, I read the obituary of a friend from my teen years. Curiosity led me to my old high school year books. I found her kind words written in the back of my Junior year book (1967). I was surprised by her PSS. She said, "Don't forget to write the book!" I don't recall what she was referring to, but I was surprised that even at age sixteen I aspired to do something that would shape the next sixty years.
Makes me wonder whether the seed was planted even earlier than this.
