I I cut my teeth on Stephen King. Not because I like horror. In fact, I slept with the lights on after reading “It” and “The Shining”. But I was enticed by his stories, his power to make me turn page after page into the wee hours of the morning, his ability to paint outlandish worlds that seemed so real. And his words. I loved his words.
It was my 6th (and 7th) grade language arts teacher, Mr. Rhine, who first made me feel like a writer. He encouraged me and challenged me as he had us writing short stories and term papers. And so it was in junior high that I decided I wanted to write. Like Stephen King.
And I did become a writer. Though not of fiction. With a degree from the University of Illinois’ advertising program, I got a job at an advertising agency, a couple of television stations, and finally at famed WSM Radio in Nashville, TN. I liked writing copy, and I was decent at it. Eventually I moved onto writing a nationally syndicated country music radio show. I wrote and produced The Crook and Chase Countdown for more than 15 years.
But what I really wanted to do was write like Stephen King. In 2008, my husband and I decided we were at a point where I could quit my full-time job to go freelance. Or as a friend calls it, I became self-unemployed. Actually, I did well enough for the first few years, continuing to work with Crook & Chase, as well as on projects for American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks and The Blair Garner show. Several years ago, I finally pushed past my doubts and fears and started my debut novel. It took me three years of fits and starts to finally finish it.
But I did. And then I did it again. And now... I've finally completed my BUKU trilogy. These aren't horror novels, but there are monsters! And action. And suspense. I’m quite sure it’s not as good as anything written by Stephen King. That’s alright. I’m just pleased to finally be able to say to that timid girl in 6th grade – “Look what we did.”
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