Often, starting something is the most daunting task. I have been curating a long list of blog topics that I want to dive into, but you have to start somewhere. So before I start writing on all the subjects that inspire me, we need an introduction. For those who have already read my ‘About’ section, I will do my best not to repeat myself too much!

I will admit right off the bat, that being an author was not the path I originally set out on. When in high school and choosing a possible career path, writing did not cross my mind. That is not to say it is not a passion of mine, but rather, I thought that is where it would always stay. Until that is, I took the coveted Creative Writing course. One of our last assignments was to write a short story. I do not remember all the stipulations, but I knew I wanted to write a fantasy story.

I have always loved reading fantasy! I still have my favorite series from middle school that my friend and I probably read at least five times through before reaching eight grade. We would spend our mornings in the back of the school’s library talking about our favorite worlds and what was currently capturing our imagination. Even now, my bookshelf is filled with fantasy books from my years in school, and my audible library is no different. As a commuter during college those audiobooks were a lifesaver – and I’ll concede, at times a distraction.

But back to Creative Writing class. This was my first experience of truly getting lost in a world. Writing fantasy is hard. To do it right you need to create a world with different rules, a different makeup, and you need to remember all of them! I remember sitting at my old PC with the lights off and my eyes closed trying to see it in my imagination. I wrote draft after draft of that first short story until I was satisfied. But even then, I knew the story wasn’t over. I knew that this idea was not fully formed, it needed more time.

So I turned in the paper, I have no idea what grade I received, but a spark was ignited. Through the remainder of high school and my years in college I let the idea simmer. When I attended the recitals as a part of my major, I would let the music inspire my imagination and the note in my phone entitled “Book” slowly grew with ideas. But life as a Music Education major does not leave an overabundance of free time. So it remained an idea for over five years, until I finally felt there was enough there to start writing.

For me, music and writing go hand in hand. Even from the very first night in September 2019 when I sat down to work on Chapter 1. Sitting on the porch swing wrapped in a blanket sweater, earbuds in and music blasting. Today my Spotify Writing playlist changes as I get inspired by new music, but it is always instrumental. When the songs I use to write, pop up in my master list, it always makes me smile. I know what scenes were inspired by that piece, what mood influenced the character’s emotions.

I’ve come a long way in the last few years, and the process of writing Dawn of Fire has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life. Because of that, author is now the path I choose to take. If something is truly important to you, in should be shared. So I am choosing to step out and present my work to the world. It is a terrifying and exhilarating idea all at the same time. But I cannot wait for January 2022, when I can hold a physical copy of my first book and share it with the world.