“Are you the author?” It was a phrase I heard a lot this year since my book Islands of Deception was released in April. I was called a lot of things in my 35-year career, but never an author.

In my last job before I retired, I managed some contentious community issues where people called me things I can’t repeat here. When I was a writer at an ad agency in Detroit, a client once told me that I didn’t know how to write. My boss at the time told me afterwards, “Just remember, if he had to write for a living, he would starve.” His words have proven true.

From ad agency jobs as a copywriter, to corporate jobs writing advertising and public relations, to freelancing, I’ve made a living writing. Along the way I learned to persevere and hone my writing ability. I was blessed to work with so many talented writers and editors who patiently taught me how to become skilled at putting words together to build an effective message. 

Along the way, I wrote hundreds of things from magazine ads, commercials, brochures, and video scripts, to articles, blog posts, and news releases. Yet I never had the audacity to publish a book or call myself an author. When I look back on everything that’s happened over the last year since my book was released, it’s hard to fathom how I arrived at this point in my life as a published author.

Maybe it was the statement my editor made after he read the first draft of my book in 2017 and told me, “If you ever want to see your book in print, you should look at self-publishing.” Perhaps it was the statement my coworker made in a note she gave me when I retired in 2019: “P.S. I expect to see at least one book published by you soon!” Whatever the reason, in the fall of 2019 I started work on revising the manuscript. I soon found there was a lot more to learn about writing and publishing a book.  

Sometimes I think if I had known the amount of work it would take to get a book into print, I may have not chosen to go down that road. However, looking back on the last year, I am grateful I chose this path. It’s been such an amazing adventure getting out and promoting my book at bookstores, talks, and book signings. I am forever grateful for so many people who have encouraged me along the way and hosted events for me. What a joy it’s been to meet so many readers and to discuss the book and its characters.

Several readers I encountered this year asked me, “Are you writing a sequel?” I must say now that I’ve published my first book, doing it again doesn’t seem as overwhelming as the first one. I completed the first draft of the sequel last month. As I edit, I remember the advice someone gave me at my book talk on Beaver Island last summer, “Don’t rush it, I want it to be good.” If all goes well, it could be in print by this fall. More on that later. 

It might just be that the title author now fits a little better than when I first tried it on in April. Thanks for reading and joining me on this journey.