Hi there!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me! 
I thought I would kick this off by sharing where this writing journey began—

I’ve always loved to read and both my parents have encouraged me, though in different ways.
My Mom would read to us with our schoolwork and I’ll never forget those memories and the never ending “Pleeeeeaseee, just one more chapter?”. She also invested in books that are still beloved today(looking at you Little Women and Hank the Cowdog, among many others).

I got my love of etymology and hunger for learning from my Dad. I distinctly remember conversations that spanned bizarre topics. For example, there was one specifically that went from the root of certain words (pinto), to the evils of specific regimes in history, to strange bugs. Good memories for sure!

Needless to say, my family has definitely had a huge impact on this journey!

When we were about ten or eleven, my cousin and I had a “newspaper” we’d mail back and forth to each other that featured stuff we’d been up to, short stories, weather forecasts, and games for the other to do(my cousin made really good mazes for the notebook paper stapled together ensemble that it was!). I wish I’d kept one! 

We also had a “name database”, which was all the first and last names we could think of, had read, or heard kept on the computer. 

I had several notebooks filled with stories too(hey, my cursive wasn’t bad even as a kid either). I found one of those not too long ago with a story I’d started and it actually made me wish I had developed it more. 

Those were good days!

Life happens of course and, though I continued to read voraciously, writing was something I put down until I was about 22. 

My grandpa was a wonderful storyteller. He led Bible studies at our church and could remember details of people and places like very few people I know. He loved history and learning. He had such a unique sense of humor. He had lots of stories about his father and from his own childhood that I knew needed to be recorded. 

So I sat down with him a few times because I wanted to put it together for him. I’m so thankful I did! 

But I regret I haven’t finished it. 

Especially before he passed away in 2021. 

I miss him so much. 

It was hard to listen to those recordings, knowing I hadn’t brought it all together for him in time, but to hear his voice because he’s gone(it made me tear up a bit just thinking about him while writing this. I can’t believe it’s been three years without him. He never met my youngest daughter). 

It is a comfort to know I’ll see him again someday!

In the meantime, it is a project I do have on my mind that I will finish. 

There are aspects of the writing and publishing process that I’m glad I have more experience with now, because I have learned so much that I didn’t know then, so that I can do his story justice when it finally does come together. 

But that’s where this wild ride began!

Not too long after, I saw a pop-up of Young Writers Workshop and their Crazy Writing Week(also lovingly known as CDubs). 

I joined and had a blast! 

One of the sweet friends I made then told me about a virtual writing community called King’s Daughters Writing Camp and I’ve been part of that going on 3 years now. 

The first KDWC anthology I wrote for, Hope, includes my short story dedicated to my grandpa because it is set in the year of and a scene based off of one of his stories from his teens. 

Frankly, my life certainly changed because of all of this! 

I know I wouldn’t be where I am now with my writing. 

I would never have imagined when signing up for CDubs that I’d go on to be published in four anthologies and working on a novella, with more project possibilities in mind!

All the lovely ladies I’ve met and made friends with, everything I’ve learned from them and about the whole writing process, is mind blowing to me thinking about what a difference they have made! 

So here I am! -jazz hands- 

Thank you for letting me reminisce! 

I think I needed to—it’s good to be reminded of how far God has brought us! 

I’m so thankful for this journey and I hope I can bless others along the way!I hope you have a lovely first day of October!With love, Olivia