Writing my debut book through motherhood

Most people want to write a book. I was most people. I started Unraveling Fate back in 2019 right after my daughter was born. I had this whole grand idea that I would write the book, submit it to a publisher, and become the next bestselling author.

NEWS FLASH: that did NOT happen. I wrote three chapters. No outline, no idea of how I wanted the story to go or end. Life happened, I was trying to navigate being a new mom, and I didn't touch it again until my daughter turned one. This was 2020 (yay covid). I made a New Year's resolution that I would complete my book, 100% no matter what. I wrote and erased and wrote some more. Wrote another 5 chapters. I was 8 chapters and 30k words in and I felt great. Then the worst writer's block hit and I stopped. I didn't try to work through it. I just hit save one night and next thing I know it's 9 months later and she is getting ready to be two. Still did not even have a first draft manuscript. Again, life happened. I had another baby, I went back to work, and I kept telling myself that. "When the kids are older, when they don't need me as much, I will complete it. I will become a published author."

Until the end of 2024. Something hit me. My kids and my family will always need me. SOMEONE will always need me for something and that's okay, but what wasn't okay was not making time for something that I had dreamed of for so long.

I spent the next several months writing. During nap times, staying up late. Any free moment that didn't take away from my husband or kids, I sat in front of my laptop. Don't get me wrong, the first draft was rough and I mean rough—like a tire in a wood chipper rough. My writing was all over the place (it still is, but hey that's what makes it fun). I changed my title and the cover twice. Then I had no idea what the next step was once my manuscript was done. At the time I was an ARC for a few different people and one of the amazing authors basically held my hand through it. By it I mean self-publishing. (It's not as scary as you think). She talked me down from the panic, let me know her marketing secrets, and is now a really good friend. (Rea, if you are reading this, I am forever in your debt.) Now here I am, my book is complete and published with my second book coming out in December. Although this one didn't take 6 years.

Moral of the story: Write the damn book. Post the silly video. Life will not wait for you to go after what you want. Who knows what might happen when you do.