2013 Debut Author Guest Post - Dani Morales
/As a writer I have a process for how I go about my writing. Basically it involves lots of snacks, music and yelling. I will detail my crazy process for you eventually but for now I have something even more special...
I sat down and asked other 2013 debut authors to do guest posts for me on how their process has been. I basically gave them free will to write anything that described a bit about becoming a published author.
Today I have
Writing has always been an
interest of mine, but I never thought I would take it to where I am currently.
I recently moved which means packing and un-packing, going through old stuff to
see what to keep and get rid of. In that process I came across a folder that
was labeled “Danielle’s Stories” that my mom compiled since I was able to write
up until I graduated high school. She always told me she was surprised that I
never went into journalism, but it didn’t surprise her when I told her I was
writing my first novel.
I started blogging around
this time last year about books that struck a chord with me. It’s those authors
who brought back my love of reading and writing into one. Then I had the
pleasure of meeting a few people off of twitter through my blogging, one person
in particular that convinced me that my own personal story would make a great
book. Which is how Entrelacen came to be.
After a few months of going back and forth on the idea of writing the
story, I sat down one night in October and began typing away. About 4 hours
later, April was born and her story was being unfolded in 9 chapters. Just like
that I knew this was going to be something more than I bargained for. I
absolutely fell in love with writing and finally felt like I found something that
made sense.
I stopped writing at the 9
chapters to get to bed, it was late and I had to be up to take my kids to
school in the morning. Well, sleep was the last thing on my minds agenda. My
body was asleep but my mind was taken over by a new entity named Logan. He
showed me his story and I knew it needed to be told. So like April, I began
writing. What took me for a turn was when April and Logan decided to meet and
well their individual 9 chapters turned into the beginning 18 of Entrelacen and
then a new story unfolded with hope, love, and magic. I spent any time I could
writing, even when I was in class learning about stick techniques and medical
terminology for what tube goes to what test. It was all consuming until their
story was told. I spent a lot of nights awake while the kids slept to get most
of it written. Ear buds in with music playing, dr. pepper next to me the story
took off on its own. I’m a fly by the pants writer, I don’t plan anything out,
I let it flow when it wants to. I was lucky with Entrelacen that it came
immediately, I didn’t feel the need to step back. It basically wrote itself. So
something that started in October was finished by December.
Then the uncertainty began.
The idea of someone reading what I wrote to edit and pick it apart freaked me
out. I was blessed to have a great support team around me pushing me forward
and a friend who edited it for me. Nightmare diverted right? Well not so much.
I’m still terrified to put it out there but I imagine everyone who’s a writer
feels the same way. It’s the fear of the unknown but I didn’t write Entrelacen
to make money, to be honest I would be ecstatic to sell one copy. Truly. I
wrote Entrelacen to tell the story that kept begging to be let out. To let
people know that life isn’t always easy but you can make it what you need it to
be.
So the one thing I learned
through writing is this: if you have a passion for something, whether it’s
writing or something totally different, the only person standing in the way of
your dreams is you. So dream, dream big, and then set out to accomplish those
dreams. You might surprise yourself, I know I did.
A Little Tease:
With April distracted I tackle her into the biggest mud puddle. We both start laughing. I still have her pinned underneath me when the sprinklers go off. I’m looking down at her as dirty water falls off of me onto her. She’s looking up at me, and I wipe the mud off her face and lips.
Her eyes are shining bright with excitement, and I can feel her heart beating rapidly. It’s like our hearts are synced to each other. Our breathing is labored, and our eyes are searching each others. That’s when I decide to do it. I’m going to take the leap and hope it’s not for nothing. I lower my head, she closes her eyes, and my lips touch hers.
About the Author
Dani Morales is a native Texan currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada with her three boys and her mother. She adopted the boys in December of 2011 and loves spending every minute playing with them. On her spare time you can find a book in her hand or sitting in front of the computer typing out stories that run rampant in her mind.
Another fabulous new author and book to check out in 2013!
Check back with me next week as I bring you another one...until then keep reading!
