July 21, 2026
It’s here, it’s here, it’s FINALLY here!
Well, obviously it is, the website, that is! You wouldn’t be reading this otherwise! Still, it is something to celebrate, as it is monumental to me.
At first, social media was for teenagers. My kids had them and surely didn’t want me viewing them. Honestly, I didn’t want to invade their privacy. I didn’t snoop in their bedrooms and I wasn’t going to in their online accounts, as at some point you have to trust your kids. I raised them as best I could, but outside influences hold such allure. You hope your kids won’t make regrettable decisions—and I’m not 100% in agreement with every choice mine made—but it’s their lives to lead in the manner they choose. Not mine.
As more parents I knew accessed their kids’ Facebook accounts, they became addicted to them. A few coworkers would post about their kids and become very upset if people didn’t post reactions in return. I found it best to avoid the entire social media world.
Our local library hosted a class on the steps budding authors need to take to become published. I followed the query letter template and…rejections. How disappointing, as the beta readers gave such positive feedback! Yes, it could simply be because they are friends, but when so many said, “You made me cry,” I knew my prose connected emotionally with my readers. My editor said so as well. What might be wrong with my query letter?
Thus began a year of research. I learned so much about the publishing market that I realized I’d made some mistakes. I’d queried too soon, before I had refined my hook and had appropriate comps. (Finding appropriate comps is a challenge in itself. Don’t get me started on writing a synopsis!) I also discovered agents want to know who you are, as they will work closely with you to represent you.
Among the resources I found, I discovered a YouTube channel run by Jessica Faust, the president of BookEnds Literary Agency, along with one of her agents, James McGowan. The channel made learning about the publishing world fun! The discussions between Jessica and James felt like having brunch with two good friends who work in the same field. Not the same field as you, but their engaging conversations drew me in.
Because I have no social media accounts, I’m an unknown entity, an internet ghost. I told myself, “Better nothing out there than terrible stuff to erase, right?” Maybe. Maybe not. On the channel, Jessica said she didn’t consider a lack of social media accounts a negative, but she encouraged viewers to establish their own website.
Yikes! How do you do that?! More research and more fears of expenses, all for attracting an agent. While this was occurring, I read a Chicago Tribune article about a senior man who wrote a book centered in a Chicago newsroom. Hey! Chicago is the location of BELIEVE, and many of the landmarks make appearances! Intrigued, I contacted the publisher, only to discover they are a hybrid. Hmm…I’ve heard that term, but what does that mean? What I learned suggested that without an internet following, hybrid publishing wouldn’t bring instantaneous success. And it can be costly.
When you want to hurriedly erect a pop-up tent for shelter—and discover you need to learn architecture and actually fire the bricks as well—that’s an analogy of what this journey feels like. (I’ve thought up many, BTW.)
My number one fan, beta reader, and editor—my extremely patient, intelligent, and supportive spouse—agreed to fire those bricks: he taught himself web design and created this site. I am very appreciative!
My goal of going live at the end of 2025 passed, and every new setback pushed it further and further into the future. Random encouragement of those who’ve already forged a path soothes the moments of defeatism. “You’ll get there,” “You have talent,” and “Your books need to be out in the world,” are the Force that keep the Sith Lord of “impostor syndrome” at bay. You know who you Jedi are. When, not if, but when my manuscripts are published, all will be acknowledged.
Thanks for reading, and WELCOME!!