As a kid, my mom always encouraged me to write. But it wasn't until I backpacked alone in New Zealand for 3+ weeks in 2004 and sent stories of my adventures to a growing list of followers every few days that I started to believe in myself as a writer. One friend told me when I returned that I "found my voice." Another told me she cried when she read the last installment.
Sixteen months later I was shoved out the door at my comfy government job (and THAT'S a story) and I knew that was the time. I went freelance and never looked back.
