I spend a lot of time puzzling out how to connect the dots underlying why people do things, which probably explains why I like to write. Writing, if I were to define it unofficially, is a way of following threads from the fabric of LIFE; a way to examine the REASONS behind why people are what they are and why they do what they do: why they are good or hideous; happy or melancholy, miserable or carefree, driven or lazy.

The interesting thing, or maybe the bizarre thing, is that I would GUESS that people don't often know why they are who they are ... it takes MUCH inner strength to hold your own in this world. I find this the key challenge of creating characters: making them RECOGNIZABLE to others even though they are not always recognizable to themselves.

But I digress ....

I've been an artist from birth, but defining the KIND of artist I am is difficult. I only know I need to create, and whether it's a garden or a painting or a novel or a clean kitchen, CREATING is the pleasure, and when I'm done with a creation, I move on to the next. There are so many ideas waiting in the wings.

This probably explains why I self-publish. I don't come from money and I didn't marry into it (I work a full-time day job). I didn't graduate a masters program in writing; I graduated a state university with a BFA in graphic design. I don't have hours each day to market myself on the internet--I'd rather spend that time CREATING. I do manage a daily post on Instagram and an occasional blog here on Goodreads. Admittedly, I like my fingers in the dirt of reality :-)

When I write, I give myself over to the world I'm creating, and after I've edited a manuscript about a thousand times (NOT an exaggeration, BTW), I force myself to send it off to ONE beta reader and my mother (who was once an editor). I take all suggestions with a grain of salt, usually re-write about a third of my story, then labor over the self-pubbing rules of CREATESPACE (now Author Central) because every time I'm ready to publish the whole system has changed. I re-learn photoshop (I rarely use it other than to make my covers) and design a cover, upload everything then press PUBLISH.

Writing a novel is exhausting but worth it ... I have four books now and each one of them spins some secret from my life into a story. Pressing PUBLISH is daunting: it embeds a piece of my soul in the fabric of the world, forever. But publishing is the only way to feel 'finished,' so I do it.

My current WIP is called Earth, Alone. It's the sequel to SEEDS, and yes, I'm on edit 100+. I can't seem to help myself when it comes to editing, but the best way to describe it is like smoothing a VERY wrinkly cloth over a table. (So many wrinkles). Earth, Alone will appear on Amazon one of these days (probs not until 2021 or 22), I'll have a give-away and a few of you fabulous Goodreaders will get a free copy.

It's the same for me with painting ... which I try to do every day (small paintings in my sketchbook). I'll confess that for years, I had this dream that I wanted to have a solo art show, so I submitted my work to a few local places until I got myself a show. I then worked (after work and on weekends), for a solid TWO YEARS to get the art ready. When my show was over I was happy and felt pleased, but I didn't want to do another solo show (kudos to you, Georgia O'Keeffe, for solo shows spanning DECADES). I did, however, end up with my work in a small gallery.

Lately I feel my artistic journey coming into focus for the first time in MANY years. It's a bit scary, but I'll see where it takes me. In the meantime, THANK YOU, Goodreaders, for following along.

What is your artistic journey? I'd love to know.