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I'm a reader,
too. A love for words is what made me a writer.
My school writing earned good grades. I was the editor
of a college newspaper. After college and marriage,
I wrote a few short articles for publication. But
I never took myself seriously as a writer until I was nearly
eligible for AARP. Many writers (especially women)
do this. They think they'll wait for careers to calm
down, children to grow, spouses to retire, and THEN they'll
write.
The event that
finally kicked me into a career as a writer was our move
to the Ozarks . . . a beautiful, exciting, inspiring place.
At first I painted Ozarks pictures with words (who says
writers aren't artists?) and shared my thoughts in poetry,
in essays, in nature writing. Quite a bit of it was
published, and all of it led to the publication of my first
book, a non-fiction collection of essays forming a true
Ozarks store, titled "DEAR EARTH: A Love Letter from Spring
Hollow." (See DEAR EARTH's section on this website.)
I said I love
to read. WHAT do I read for fun? Mysteries.
So wouldn't it be even more fun to write a mystery?
Since only a handful of writers become wealthy practicing
their art, it had better be fun. Oh yes, there's work,
too. When others are tucked in bed, resting from 8-5
labors, we writers are
awake, struggling with a turn of phrase, a tickling idea.
When others take weekend vacations, we do research.
When others "do lunch," we forget to eat while we pore over
lists of publishers. I don't expect you to feel sorry
for me. In fact, I hope you'll join me. I want
a never-ending supply of books to read. I hope you,
in your unique experience, your location, and with your
heart, will share with me by getting in touch through
the link on this Web site.
Before I sign off, I'd like to say a huge "Thank you"
to my web maven, Dawn Dowdle. Her help is
invaluable and deeply appreciate. (And I insisted
she add this.)
Radine
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