Reading and writing never came easily to me. A one-page essay could take three days, a dictionary, and my trusty thesaurus—and still come back with grammar mistakes. But the stories in my imagination kept calling me to other worlds.

For a while, I let doubt and a lack of support quiet that call. With the help of a dear friend and my amazing husband, I found my way back. Thirty-six years later, I’m writing my first fantasy novel, born from a world I imagined twenty years ago.

The road may be winding, and the hard days may come. Keep going anyway. Your story is still waiting for you.