Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? In 2015, as I approached turning 40, my life was opening up to me. My youngest child was well into elementary school, and his four sisters were making their way through the upper grades, applying for college, getting first jobs, and spending more time with friends. As they grew into independence, I felt a similar pull to shift my path, to re-design my life.

One day in that season of pondering what I might do with my newfound hours, I heard Gretchen Rubin pose a question on her podcast:

“What did you do for fun when you were ten years old?
It’s a clue to what you’d enjoy now, for work or for leisure.”

– Gretchen Rubin, “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” podcast, Episode 8

I thought back to my 6th-grade teacher, Mrs. Doll, who gave us nine months to explore a variety of career options. Four ideas had grown within me: be a game show host, an attorney, a hotel manager, or a writer. (I know, quite the range.) In a variety of ways I birthed all but one of those possibilities during my previous two decades—but I had not yet given writing a real chance.

Around that time, I found an online challenge to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. It seemed like a great opportunity to test the “Age Ten” theory. To my delight, I found that daily writing put me into a flow state where I lost track of time and came out with happy, high energy. At the end of that month, I had a little over 50,000 words—but more story to tell. I knew this was something I could stick with!

A little more than ten years later, I now have a solid first draft of that novel, Covelo Summer. In the meantime, I’ve studied story theory, refined my writing craft, started a second novel, and outlined a few others. A common theme has bubbled up:

I write stories of strong women choosing to love as they navigate messy family situations.

I’ve been encouraged by the feedback my manuscript has received in a couple of contests, and I have hope that my future readers will love and learn from my characters as much as I do. As an avid reader, I know that a book only belongs to its author until it’s published. I very much look forward to my novels belonging to a wide audience who will connect with the themes of courage. (My stomach flutters with excitement as I think of you all!)

If you’re interested in my monthly updates about this journey, what I’m reading and learning, a peek into my work in progress, and sharing your thoughts with me, I invite you to subscribe to my monthly newsletter (click below). So you can get a taste of Covelo Summer, I’ll give you my first-place scene when you sign up. Or bookmark this page to come back and find out when the story is ready to land in your hands and headphones.

I’ll see you in the sentences!