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Sometimes I feel as if being a writer is not really a choice. I’m sure there are others who would agree, in the sense that we writers each have this weird gene that *drives* us to write. Now, whether that writing is poetry, short stories, novels or investigative reporting essays, we simply must write. If we don’t, if we put it off for very long, there begins an itching down deep in our soul. It is an itch we cannot scratch without putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

Myself, I began writing short stories when I was around 12 or 13. The first A+ I ever received in school was for a short story I wrote in Spanish class my freshman year of high school. That single letter grade changed my focus considerably, eventually leading me down a very long and very winding path.

I’ve spoken to others about their writing experiences. I’ve spoken of my own writing experiences to classes and writing groups. I have come to believe that writers are a rather unique group of individuals. Our minds wander. A lot. All the time. Ideas float in and out of our conscious thoughts on a fairly regular basis. These fabulous (and not so fabulous) ideas tease and torment us until we do something about them. We either dig into them until we see there is nothing there, or we work on them until they very nearly consume our every waking moment.

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely adore being a writer. That classification pretty much defines me as a human being.

When I say that, I’m certain ears and minds will perk up with lots of clarifying questions. I suppose my next blog series will dive into that preconception and we will see how far down the rabbit hole I can take you all.

Still. Let’s get back to the point of this post.

I published my first poem when I was 19. Looking back, I consider it a vanity publishing, as I don’t think anyone who submitted was turned down. Still…it made me feel good that someone must have liked it. Right?

For far too many times since, I tried to get my work published. I always think I should have tried harder during certain parts of my “career.� However, it wasn’t until 2003, when I won an online, reader-voted writing contest that I thought to myself, “Hey, I might actually have a shot at this.�

Eight years later—after a lot of rejections, a lot of frustration, a hell of a lot of editing and a LOT of encouragement from family and friends—I self-published and I take great pride in the fact that I did take the time to do it right. On my own terms.

A couple of years later, I joined forces with a few amazing writers who had become friends, as well. We created a unique little entity called . It has been both the bane of my existence and the singular most accomplished thing I’ve ever done.

Business is hard. The publishing business is a daily kick-you-in-the-shins, pull-your-hair-out-slowly kind of hard. But, what can I say? I love it. I love the people I’ve come to know and love over the years.

I am always meeting new people, making wonderful and exciting connections with like-minded individuals. It is one of the greatest joys of my life. When I began this journey, everything pointed to the life of a writer being a very solitary one. Not so. Not even close. In a way it is…as you must create and to do that you need your quiet space. But, outside of that, there is an undeniable and incomparable camaraderie that comes along with being a writer. I have a term for it now: bliss.

Every time I send one of my babies (stories) out into the big bad world, I hope and pray that they will not get picked on, berated, or beat up. Yet, I still do it. I’m a writer. I simply must.

Yesterday marked the first time that I have seen one of my works (my babies) presented by someone other than myself or my own company. It is the first time that I really felt like I was accepted for the value of the work, not the value of my submission fee (there wasn’t one!).

Today, you can find my first professionally published short story in the pages among some extraordinary writers such as Court Ellyn, Richard Chizmar, Brian Rathbone and so many more. I want to thank Joshua Allen Mercier and Bearded Scribe Press for this incredibly important moment in my life, and in my career.

I wasn’t certain I was on the right path until I sent Joshua, the editor of the anthology, the first part of my story. I asked him to look it over and let me know if it was even something he might want in the collection, since I had not formally submitted yet. You cannot imagine the thrill of reading his response, which fell along the lines of �you’re in! Now, finish the story!�

Look for my modern day twist on the Rapunzel fairy tale, The Black Stair, in the new anthology: .

What if Rapunzel wasn’t tucked away in that solitary tower against her will, but for the safety of others?

What if the “prince� who came to rescue her was more trapped than she?

Not all stories end happily ever after, and not all stories only happen once upon a time.

A whirlwind ride through fairy tale and folklore, myth and majick. Treasured stories from your childhood are revisited and remastered into newly-treasured tales of hope and heartache, of adversity and adventure.

Edited by Joshua Allen Mercier. Cover artwork by Luke Spooner.

Featuring stories from Bo Balder, AJ Bauers, Carina Bissett, Rose Blackthorn, S.M. Blooding, Rick Chiantaretto, Richard Chizmar, Liz DeJesus, Court Ellyn, S.Q. Eries, Steven Anthony George, Dale W. Glaser, Jax Goss, K.R. Green, Kelly Hale, Kelly A. Harmon, Tonia Marie Harris, Brian T. Hodges, Tarran Jones, Jason Kimble, Shari L. Klase, Alethea Kontis, Hannah Lesniak, Wayne Ligon, RS McCoy, Joshua Allen Mercier, Robert D. Moores, Diana Murdock, Nick Nafpliotis, Elizabeth J. Norton, Bobbie Palmer, William Petersen, Rebekah Phillips, Asa Powers, Joe Powers, Brian Rathbone, Julianne Snow, Tracy Arthur Soldan, C.L. Stegall, Brian W. Taylor, Kenechi Udogu, Onser von Fullon, Deborah Walker, Angela Wallace, and Cynthia Ward.