I discovered my love for creative writing about 10-15 years ago when internet message boards and chat rooms were still a thing, and Fanfiction was something I was just hearing of. I was a fan of a certain TV show, a member of a message board for my favorite couple, and the Fanfiction section intrigued me. I wondered what I could come up with if I tried it, and no one was more surprised than I at what came out of the page!
My most recent inspiration was from the idea of reading apps and seeing the level of writing that was available from "regular" people like me. An author whose stories I really enjoyed took me under her wing and encouraged me to try, and Wesley's Heart is the result.
No. I was either going to be a nurse or a professional cellist. I ended up becoming a nurse because...well, life. Writing was never ever a thought in my mind.
Yes, actually. Portions of Wesley's Heart are inspired by pieces of my life. The relationship between him and his sister when they were growing up is mirrored of my younger brother and sister's relationship. The importance of music in one of the character's lives is based on myself, but I think most profound element is the experience of the female lead as she was trying to find her way through young adulthood and into college.
So far I have. I have been blessed and humbled that they have been complementary. I'm sure there will come a point where I don't read them or will have to be selective about which ones I choose because the bad reviews will come, and those will be the ones I ruminate on (I know myself).
I think if a "bad" one is still kind or constructive in its content, that can be valuable. That, I can take as an opportunity to learn and to do better next time. The others, the ones that are rude or that seem to be mean for meanness's sake? I can't get caught in them and let them ruin the satisfaction I feel in my work.
