A Dream Come True

 

I loved writing

I really did

I guess I’ve stayed somewhat creative

And driven since being a kid

 

As an adult I took a cross road

I wanted to be a writer

But the field of journalism seemed to be faced with

Dicey ethics and uncertainty

A career of nursing seemed brighter

 

And then I became a:

Nurse— writer

Surfer— fighter

I realised I could hold on— to more than one identity

I didn’t need to cling on— to only one entity

 

When I wrote an article about being a new grad

I didn’t think it was amazing 

But I also thought— it’s not ‘too bad’

 

I doubted it could be published— but it was

So many other nurses said the article resonated with them

Which felt like praise and applause

 

And many articles later

That success of publishing (without being paid) continued

And my confidence in writing further developed and ensued

 

A friend later said

‘With all your nursing stories,

You could write a book’

I wasn’t famous or controversial

But I figured these were honest and important stories

And that would be my hook

 

It took five years to edit

When it had taken me six months to write

What was a labour of love

Was also a plight

 

And then the time came for me to become a lot more humble

Dozens of submissions to publishers

Came back with more subsequent rejections and ‘ghosting’

Than I’d ever received on ‘Bumble’

 

And I I could think was

The common denominator here is me

How can it not be the case

When all these publishers agree?

 

So off I went to produce my book

Solely in my own name

Which to me— equated to failure

Which was really just a story in my head

 Created by shame

 

And with that I realised 

How many writers were in my shoes

And that the world does embrace independent authors

It was a revelation

That provided a remedy to heal my bruise

 

And on that path

A beautiful friend of a friend

Volunteered to read my book

He believed in my work and became my coach

And with that

He suggested a publisher I had not yet approached

 

I didn’t think the publisher was a fit

But having written so many submissions before

 I had nothing to lose

And I knew I could complete it pretty quick

 

And so I did..

 

 Three days later 

The editor in Paris wrote me an email

That made me gawk

 It said

‘I really love your work —when can we talk?’