My entire life I dreamed of performing on stage; using my creative talents to transport my audience from Kansas’s shades of grey to the vibrant colors and magical wonders in the Land of Oz (metaphorically speaking). I was in love with the idea of affecting others–or maybe it was more like infecting them–with aspirations to find the magic and happy endings in their own stories. So it was just my natural course to attend a university for musical theatre and dance.
Unfortunately, halfway through earning my degree, I realized that although I was a greater-than-most dancer and slightly-better-than-average singer, I was a more-than-super-sucky actor. So, to avoid another $30,000 of debt for what would surely be a fruitless career choice, I dropped out of school until such time that I decided what (else) I wanted to be when I grew up. In the interim, I staved off starvation, homelessness and mobs of angry bill collectors with a decent living in the administrative field.
I've been an avid reader of romance novels since the day I discovered Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught in high school. Since then I've read countless stories that have made me sigh, swoon and cry. Although I've read every romance sub-genre there is—from historical to contemporary and everything in between—my real love is paranormal. Whether it's magic, ghosts, Greek gods, celestial or mythical creatures...as long as it's considered paranormal or supernatural, it draws me in like nothing else.
One day, after devouring yet another amazing Gena Showalter book, I lay in bed pondering her ability to write such great – nay, phenomenal – characters, and how vested I found myself with all of them, even after the last page was turned. It was then that two characters popped into my head and introduced themselves. I listened to them talk for days while I went about my everyday tasks. I enjoyed hearing their story, but never considered doing anything more. However, Dominic and Angelica refused to accept their fate as mere fleeting thoughts in a wandering mind.
Eventually, I realized it would be a tremendous shame to let them fade away without the opportunity to share their story of love and perseverance against the odds. At the very least, typing it out in my spare time would make a great hobby, and at the most, I’d be able to say I wrote a really long story just for the hell of it. But the more I wrote, the more I wanted others to read their story as well. I felt they deserved it.
But more importantly, I discovered another medium for transporting an audience to Oz. I believe everyone deserves a little romantic fantasy in their life, even if only in the pages of a good book.
And so began my journey of becoming an author. I hope you’ll join me.
**Update**
As of March 7th, 2012 I'm a contracted author!! I signed a book deal with Entangled Publishing for my Prophesy of Souls trilogy. The first book, Desires of the Soul, is set to release in June 2013 in both digital and mass trade paperback. Sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me and my dream. I feel like I've finally found myself. :) ~ Ciao, bellas
