Why and how I started writing.

I must begin by saying that I was not one of those people who always wanted to be a writer. I had dabbled in a few stories on no consequence when I was first married, but it never amounted to anything. Then one day after my husband and I watched the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice with Column Firth, I was smitten.
My husband, too, enjoyed the movie very much, especially the subtle English humor and asked me when the movie ended, “What happens after that?” I
I admitted that I didn’t know but went downstairs to my computer, absolutely inspired to make up a story about how the Bennett sisters faired (I eventually changed the story from a J Austin follow up to one of my own). This was in 1998. At the time I was a marketing director with a high profile in the business community in Ventura County, CA. However, my enjoyment with the position I held was beginning to fade. I had done some corporate writing, but I soon found out that it had little to do with writing fiction.
The programs on television never impressed me nor did the stupid commercials; it seemed to be a good reason to stop watching TV altogether. Instead, I thought that perhaps I could write something that was worth watching or reading. Hence, I begin to write every day after work and late into the nights. I loved it and found that it challenged me more than anything I had ever done, with the exception of my Bible studies, which I have done daily since 1984 when I was born again.
Six months later I quit my job so that I could write. Of course, my nasty boss and many of the other employees laughed! Until I retired in 2008 I had various management positions in the retail world and later when my husband and I moved to Sacramento, CA I worked as an office assistant with two different financial institutions.
Writing was so much fun, and I was wholly and completely inspired by the Lord. I know this because the words and ideas just poured from me, beginning at age 54 - someone who never thought of writing a book. I was mesmerized by how difficult it was to make the words in my brain come out on paper in story form.
On my next blog I will tell what my husband thought of my writing abilities.

Just starting

I have renamed this blog and hope to replace it with my website, which is outdated. Currently I am working on my latest book, Gifts for the Road. It is approximately 91,000 words and I have been editing it and proofing it for the last month. I want it to be perfect when I send it out.
It was at one time with an agency, but I was not happy with their progress so I took it back. Since then I have rewritten the beginning and made it more exciting.
Oh! And did you wish to know what it is about- here is a snippet:

Ordered by God to flee from Bethlehem, Mary, Joseph, and fifteen-month old baby Jesus leave town in the dark of the night. They know King Herod has sent his soldiers to kill the baby, but they are unaware they’re being followed by two bungling thieves who are after Joseph for the money from the magi. One thief must choose his destiny—to find salvation or return to his life of crime.

Is it Baby Jesus or an Angel of the Lord who saves the travelers from a lion in one of the caves where they spend the night — helps them escape the soldiers through an underground tunnel leading away from Beersheba into the desert — delivers them from archers and an angry mob of Egyptian priests — saves them from a falling boulder?
Mary’s maidservant and Joseph’s carpenter helper traveling with them must decide whether to marry in Egypt or wait until they return to Bethlehem, all the while being careful not to let their lover for each other overstep the bounds of proprietary. Meet the families that host Joseph and his troupe as they journey from Israel to Asyut and back, via Alexandria, Egypt. Feel the excitement when a wealthy Roman citizen offers safe passage on a Roman cargo ship back to Israel? See the pastoral home where Mary, awaiting the birth of her second child and Joseph gather with family and friends. Inspect Joseph’s carpenter shop as he rebuilds his carpenter business and Jesus prepares to attend the synagogue school.