File Test 8 Reading

My biggest dream has always been to become an author. As an enthusiastic reader since I was a toddler, books have been a steady influence, a friend, and an escape. (–––– 1 ––––) To me, reading is second only to breathing. From cereal boxes to fiction, I devour anything and everything I can get hold of. I read from morning, while eating breakfast, to night, before going to sleep. Some of my favorite genres include contemporary women’s novels and thrillers

I guess this love of books is what drove me to become a writer. The fact that I am always talking, thinking, and plotting helped me with my ambition. I have a need to create and to put into words feelings, thoughts, and desires. To me, books should present a welcome break from the stresses of every day and be a way to relax and unwind. There are horrors all around us. (–––– 2 ––––) Novels can carry people away to another place and allow them to forget, for a short time at least, all the awful things in life. Any type of reading inspires the brain and gives a change of pace. Children require fantasy and play, and adults also need a break from reality

Exciting as it is to be able to inspire others, an author’s career is lonely and often dull. Writing requires self-control and determination, and writers, as well as having knowledge of the difficulty of getting published, need to be able to deal with criticism. For every potential writer that there is out there, many give up or fail. I kept trying with the burning desire to do well. (–––– 3 ––––) I needed to try to see if I could do it.

My first writing experience was as a reporter for a small newspaper, almost twenty years ago. I submitted two articles for each of the three months the paper was published. The first month, I was given a bridal show to cover, and I had to write an article on how to prepare an elegant, yet inexpensive, wedding. Two local newspapers gave me assignments for various topics, and I realized this is an excellent way to learn the basics as a writer. (–––– 4 ––––)

Unfortunately, life took over, and I had to put the book on hold for a while. After my husband and I moved, I returned to reporting, receiving several assignments for a local magazine and two national and international food-trade magazines. (–––– 5 ––––) The desire to complete and submit the book for publication was as strong as ever. Fortunately, I became a member of a wonderful group that offered support as well as excellent suggestions. My book, a children’s book intended for ages 8 – 12, was accepted by a publisher and released three years ago. The sequel is almost completed for submission, and to this, I hope to add two or three more to the series, though all of the books work equally well on their own