Empty Nest and Dreams

...Empty Nest and Dreams

I know that the empty nest is a hard transition for many parents. We are not quite there as we still have one daughter at home. That being said, she is a pretty independent personality and now that she is driving, she is very independent. Things have changed rapidly in the last 6 years for all of us. After spending 25 years raising kids, I finally have the time to indulge in some of the things that I knew I enjoyed and was good at. Painting and writing are two of these passions.

I’ve written my whole life. I started the book we are just now releasing shortly after college. It has taken a long time to get serious about it. Now I’m 47 and everything is different. I’m from the learn to type on an actual typewriter time period. I was in high school when the internet was becoming a thing, but only the rich kids had it at home. Yes, there was an annoying sound while you connected. Computer labs were just becoming a thing. The whole concept of texting was years away.

I am just above the Amish as far as technology goes. That has been a challenge but not a deal breaker. Stage right - enter my daughter-in-law. I knew that I would struggle to get my book out there if I did it all on my own. Thankfully in my family, I am not on my own. My DIL has been amazing at helping me bring my book to life. She speaks computer, while I just learned how to download. My oldest son jumped in and quickly read my novel and came up with ideas for a cover and then worked with me while I pondered over fonts and colors. Not to mention my oldest daughter who has read the manuscript over and over editing things, pointing out inconsistencies and taking on the task of narrating the book.

Friends, cousins, and my phenomenal church family have been excited for me to succeed. They have been early readers, ready to post a review as soon as it releases. They have looked at the cover art and helped with the characters. They are all asking, “What can I do to help?”

I know that is not every author’s experience, but it is mine. I am thankful to God every day for the blessing of the people in my life. I now realize how challenging the whole process is and my admiration for the authors doing this on their own has skyrocketed. I’m much more prone to purchase a book than to borrow it because I know how much that fifteen dollars, of which an author gets one, means to each of them. I am quicker to repost and promote an author or any artist or person working a side hustle than ever before.

I encourage anyone who has made it this far reading my thoughts, to think about someone who is putting themselves out there. It is hard, it is scary and much of our success is dependent on people like you simply sharing their shop, art, or attending events. In a world where AI is taking such a prominent role, let's hang on to our artists, whatever the mode, and show up.

I love you all and I thank you for being in my life. If you have any thoughts or questions or even just prayer requests, send them to taliadayne@yahoo.com.

In him,

Talia