The Story Behind the Stories

It was a dream that started when I was just six years old after reading Roald Dahl's BFG for the first time. Lots of girls dreamed of their weddings. Others dreamed of being mommies. But me? I dreamed of writing books. 

I used to lock myself in my room, staple paper together, write stories, and draw pictures. For hours. Day after day. Late into the night. Reading. Writing. Drawing. 

As a third grader, my teacher Ms. Weiss always gave me 10 sheets of paper during creative writing instead of the four she gave everyone else. She'd learned early on that it was easier to just give it to me ahead of time rather then me keep asking for more.

I did the yearbook thing, the newspaper thing, and the switch from Journalism major to Advertising and then to English Lit to my parents' dismay. But I had thankfully discovered early enough that my school offered a children's literature studies track and ran as fast a person who hates running can to the Liberal Arts college. One of my professor's last names was Kidd, I kid you not. We wrote, drew, read, bound, studied, crafted, discussed, dissected, debated children's books of all kinds -- I was hooked, SOLD, and convinced more than ever I was on my way.  

But as you know, life has a way of life-ing. 

I did have the wedding. I eventually became a mom. I built an award-winning career in communications, writing anything and everything for nonprofits and companies to help kids, teachers, readers, you name it. But the dream of writing children's books remained a dream -- something that happened to "someone else." 

So when I was diagnosed with cancer, that "someone else" this time was me, just not in the way I hoped. Yep, cancer. You read that right. On my 33rd birthday nonetheless.

I was dismayed at the thought of never giving my dream a solid chance and then leaving this earth without knowing if I could have done it. So I finally took the chance. 

I joined SCBWI thanks to the advice of talented and gracious author/illustrator friends. I joined a critique group. I attended conferences. And with each of those opportunities -- rejections included -- I learned more about my writing style, the industry, the craft, and the stories that I had in me that needed to be told.

Over the years, the feedback grew more positive. Mentors took me under their wings. I published a few non-fiction children's books. I entered some contests. I won! I won again! And though there will always be rejection, and I will always be learning, I will also always keep dreaming and always keep working. 

As cliché as it is, life is too short. I know that for a fact. I hope that whatever might still be on your list of lifelong dreams to pursue, you give them a solid chance. 

Your dreams are worth it. And so are you. 

- Audrey