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| Mary Alford |
Most success stories don’t happen overnight. For many, it
takes years of perseverance and hard work. But our goals can only be reached
when we refuse to give up on our dreams. Author Mary Alford shares how her dreams finally
came true.
~ Dawn
It
Starts with a Dream
by Mary
Alford
It starts with just a simple thing … the dream.
I was about seven years old when my dream began. It started
when I read my first Nancy Drew mystery and knew that I wanted to create
stories when I grew up. That was it. Career settled. Life put neatly into
place.
If only it were that simple. Fastforward six years and then
I discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and became hooked on the
romantic suspense genre. I had no idea when I decided to write that I was about
to embark on a dream that would last a lifetime.
In the beginning, writing was a trial and error experience
for me. I confess I tried other genres in the process before I came back to my
first love, inspirational romantic suspense. Some wise author once told me,
write what you enjoy reading and then perfect it. In other words, if you don’t
read contemporary romance, then don’t try to write it.
Fast forward again many
years later. For me, my ten years of writing came down to just five minutes in
the spotlight. In 2012, I entered the Speed Dating Contest that editor Emily
Rodmell hosted, and I was one of the lucky ones who got an appointment to chat
with Emily. On the day of the pitch, I was on vacation in Colorado. At our
cabin, internet service is nonexistent. I could have given up and said, well,
that’s it, better luck next time, but I didn’t. My husband and I drove into the
small town of Pagosa Springs where I did the entire chat on my laptop in the
parking lot of the Ace Hardware Store.
Emily was kind enough to request a synopsis, although I was
so nervous she probably didn’t understand anything I told her. I promptly sent
the synopsis out to her. Then she requested the first three chapters followed
by the full manuscript. With each request, I tried not to get my hopes up.
In December 2012, Emily called. To this day, I can’t tell
you what she said to me other than that she wanted to buy FORGOTTEN PAST for
Love Inspired Suspense. It was a surreal moment. One that still hasn’t fully
sunken in yet. It's a great feeling to have your dream become a reality and
even greater to hold your book in your hands.
So my advice is simple to anyone whose dream is to become a
published author. Keep writing through all the bruises and tough breaks the publishing
industry can dish out (did you notice I said it took me ten years of writing
seriously to become a published author?). Don’t give up when life gets in the
way and makes it seem like your dream is a near impossible feat to accomplish.
Keep writing because if you’re a writer that’s all you can do.
Tweetables:
It starts with
just a simple thing … the dream. Click to tweet.
Keep writing
through all the bruises and tough breaks the publishing industry can dish
out. Click to tweet.
Don’t give up
when life gets in the way and makes it seem like your dream is a near
impossible feat to accomplish. Click to tweet.
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Forgotten memories. How can you have a future if
you can’t remember your past?
Two
years ago, Faith McKenzie died. The woman who came back to life after a brutal
attack that took her memory and the life of her best friend, Rachel Jennings,
wasn’t the same person who died. Faith doesn’t recognize the woman she’s
become. In fact, she doesn’t remember a single thing about her life before
waking up in a hospital room in Austin, Texas and being told how close to death
she’d come. Although her doctors believe the amnesia is temporary, when weeks
turn into months, the detectives working her case are convinced Faith is hiding
something significant about Rachel’s murder. A few days after her release from
the hospital, someone begins calling Faith’s apartment. At first, it’s just a
couple of random hang-ups, until one day Faith hears the words that send her
running for her life.
Reviews:
Romantic Times: 4 1/2 Stars!
Fast-paced,
edge-of-your-seat action and false leads make this a keeper that gets more
engaging as the story progresses. Faith is a strong character who shows that,
despite insurmountable odds, God is in control.
--Marion
Faith Laird
Mary Alford is a
Texan whose debut novel, FORGOTTEN PAST is now available at Love Inspired
Suspense. When Mary’s not dreaming up people in dangerous situations and
writing them down, she’s also a mom, wife, grandmother, avid reader, a proud
geek-girl. For occasional updates and news about upcoming publications, please
go to the contact form on her website: www.MaryAlford.net
and subscribe to her newsletter!
You can learn more and connect with Mary here:
Website: www.MaryAlford.net
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mary.alford.1272.
Twitter: @MaryAlford12
