From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. But for some strange reason, I never took my writing serious. Even though I found myself winning writing contests at school even in the 1st grade, I just considered writing to be just another hobby. As the years progressed, I won writing competition after writing competition and by my senior year in high school, I was co-editor of the school’s newspaper. And yet, when I found myself having to decide a major at the University of Memphis, I picked Marketing Management.

And of course with writing being just a hobby then my obsession with comics was certainly just a fade. I clearly remember my granny purchasing my first comic book. I was only 5 years old, but I instantly fell in love. In my usual teasing manner, I even attempted to write a comic book that ridiculed my younger sister’s love of rice. Stupid, yes, but the adventures of Rice Woman became quite popular at my elementary school and soon I had a small following. But alas, as I grew older I lost interest in comics and began to write depressing poetry and even more depressing short stories.

But then, during my Jr. year in high school, I rediscovered my first love- Comic Books. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and I ran up to a neighborhood drug store for my grandmother. As I walked down an aisle, I spotted a comic book stand. I don’t’ know why, but I stopped and all of my childhood memories flashed before my eyes. Without really thinking about it, I purchased my first comic book in years. As I walked home, I nearly tripped several times because I couldn’t stop reading. I ended up going back to the store to purchase several more issues that same day.

My mother who has always been very supportive of my reading found a local comic book store for me. I remember walking in and being in awe. I just couldn’t believe that I had never known that this world existed. Needless to say, the obsession was back in full force and this time I was old enough to really appreciate the world of comics.

Anyway, so there I was- a Jr. at the U of M with one more year to go and that’s when I realized that I really wanted to write. In fact, I even wrote a 7 issue comic book. However, being the lazy slob that I am, I didn’t want to change my major. I was on a scholarship and I had one more year left. So I stuck to my major. Sure I graduated with honors- a 3.6- but as I walked across the stage to accept my folded up piece of paper, it was a bittersweet moment. There was a nagging voice that keep saying that I had taken the easy way out. But I’m not a risk taker by nature. And honestly, I knew that I could easily find a job with a Marketing degree vs. struggling to get published.

Thanks to an internship that I had during my Sr. year, I got my first job and for a while, I was o.k. But then, the need to write came back and I pulled out my old comic book series and began to shop it around. To my surprise, I actually found a comic book company in Canada willing to publish it. The first issue was printed, but before it could be release, the company closed. I cried for days and decided that I couldn’t handle the heartbreaks of writing. A couple of years passed and I found myself quickly advancing in my marketing career, but the writing bug wouldn’t leave. I found myself writing yet another series and submitting it to several companies. Nothing happened and so I gave up again.
More time passed, and my best friend asked me if I would contribute 10 short stories to a book she wanted to write honoring grandmothers. Having such a wonderful relationship with my grandmother, I quickly agreed and got to writing. It was great writing again and when I gave my stories to my friend, I knew that I had to get back to writing. Short stories weren’t my thing, but I knew that I wanted to write comics. Several months passed and she called me with exciting news, a publisher wanted to publish the book. It was great fun attending book signings and being interviewed by our local t.v. station.

I’ll spare everyone all of the details, but the past few years have been a roller coaster ride. I would submit to companies and sometimes I would get so close only to have it fall apart right at the end. Finally, I decided to write what I wanted to write. I began to create a world around a character that really reflected some of my own personal issues. But life has a way of taking you down a different track. My career in Marketing became very demanding as I found myself being promoted to director. My writing once again took a back seat to everything else -until this last January when my grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For two months, I prayed and fought with everything that I had to save her, but on March 1st she peacefully passed away. For two weeks, I lived in a haze. She was easily the most important person in my life. Honestly, I wanted to give up. Nothing matter anymore. But then, I began to remember how she always encouraged me to write. She was my biggest fan and my greatest inspiration. As I picked up my laptop again, I made a vow to finish my graphic novel and to self publish it in memory of her.

So far so good. My job is still taking most of my time, but I always sit down and write even though sometimes I really get frustrated and think- why am I torturing myself. Self doubt plagues me constantly. But I refuse to give up. I promise to keep everyone updated on my progress.