The Little Things You Don't Expect.

 When I first "started writing", and I'm not sure at what moment in time that officially was, I also wasn't sure why I was doing it at all? I think the very first notion I had as to why I began to write was likely just a personal challenge to myself to see if I could do it. We often ask people who do things that we consider odd, dangerous, or extreme in terms of effort and perseverance why they do the things they do? Most will reply with something cryptic, like when the mountain climber proclaims "because it was there".

For myself I'm a very curious person. I like to know what my limitations are, and I like to imagine myself doing things that most would not consider doing. I can sometimes find myself in a bit of trouble as my appetite for pushing my personal growth seems to never be satisfied. At one point I felt good just because I had begun. Then I felt better when I reach the word count for a full length novel, even though only I had read it. Eventually I finished the book, and began to share it with hopes of nothing more than having someone other than myself enjoy it. As it turns out more than a few people have enjoyed it, and I hope over time the number will grow substantially.

I'm very likely (almost assuredly) never going to get rich off this. I'm probably never going to make a full time living off it either. In fact as of this very moment from a financial view point if you (or my fairy godmother) told me I'd break even, I'd be pleasantly surprised.  So there needs to be something more to it. Something to keep me pushing through all the hours I've devoted to a "hobby", and the hours I've worked at my real job to finance the hobby. 

Fortunately I found out what this is very early on.  It's J.B. Lexington  (pen name) who I've know since the fifth grade but lost touch with until recently. It's L.K Elliot, a fellow FriesenPress author, it's about Kelly Armstrong the well known author, and  JJ Sherwood, who I had no idea existed only a few weeks ago. Basically it's about the people, the places, and the life experiences.

J.B. Lexington is someone from my past who is now a published author (Forever Eve). She has gone to great lengths to help me with my dreams, as she chases her own. L.K Elliot is someone with enthusiasm and passion I've never seen anywhere else in my life. She radiates such positive energy that the rest of us can charge our own batteries just by following her journey. Kelly Armstrong is the first really big name author I've met. I met her in a very small Canadian town while she spoke to a small group of her fans. This experience reminded me that there are still people in this world who never forget the rest of us no matter how much personal success they find. And then there's JJ Sherwood. A total stranger who while trying to manage a huge fundraising event of her own stopped, and took the time to explain to me what exactly was going on. 

That's what I love about this writing thing. It's the little things you don't expect, it's the people you never knew you'd meet, and the places you never imagined you'd find yourself.