Over the past decade or so, I’ve been picking away at a few novels here and there, but never really getting anywhere. I’m a mom of five, and needless to say, that has kept me on my toes over the years.
Recently, I spoke with an old friend who showed me a small series written and posted on Reddit, and it got me thinking about writing again (thanks, Jason!). I then happened to come across the CBC Canada Writes contest, and reading through the rules and submission guidelines, I realized I had only about a week to send in my short story. I started thinking about what I wanted to submit. None of my stories are short by any means. Many people have a hard time writing lengthy essays or stories, but for me, it’s the opposite. I had to fit an idea into a maximum of 2500 words, and I knew that would be a challenge for me.
Nevertheless, I had something polished and ready within a couple of days. I’ve never entered a writing contest before, but what have I got to lose, right? In fact, because you can enter more than one story, I decided to send in a second submission. I won’t find out until the new year if I made it to the long (or short) list, but here’s hoping!
In the meantime, I started thinking very seriously about the fact that I have always longed to publish, but have never bothered trying hard enough. Even with constant encouragement from my mother and a very dear friend of mine who has since passed, I didn’t have the courage to give it some serious effort and try to get myself published. However, with this cursed Covid happening everywhere, I decided that if I was ever going to have time to start this new adventure, it would be now.
I have had the same novels on the go for a long time, but I wanted to start with something fresh. I had the beginnings of an idea just hanging out in the back of my mind, sitting there waiting for me to take hold of it and run. When I started typing, the story basically wrote itself. And I love it when that happens!
When I started, I had no idea how this story was going to end or what characters would come to life, where they would lead to or the exciting things that would happen along the way. But my characters spoke to me and told their own story as it came pouring out of my head and onto the keyboard. Now, I have completed the first draft of my debut novel, and I’m so excited to move it forward. (You can read a little more about the novel here).
Having said that, I would like to thank you for popping over to read about this exciting new chapter of my life. I do hope that you enjoy the book when it comes out, and I hope you’ll stick around for the release! And there are so many more novels to come!
And hey, if you know anyone who loves a good historical drama-mystery with a little bit of paranormal thrown in, send them my way!
Kathleen Foxx || Author || Editor || Podcast Host 