The Phoenix Curse (Book 1): After
Page 13
I had never written anything this big before, but just recently, my daughter had started writing on her own. She asked me for my ideas on her stories, and then I started editing her work. While doing that, my passion for writing that I thought long dead rose again to the surface.
I decided to try the NaNoWriMo challenge.
I have many books that I have started, maybe gotten as much as 10,000 to 20,000 words into them over the course of many years, but I needed something fresh. Without having any outline at all for what I was about to start, I fell back to the little blurb I had written over the summer. As I started writing, the characters blossomed, and the story started writing itself.
I succeeded in winning the NaNoWriMo challenge with five days left to spare, and I kept going. On March 25, 2013, I finished the first draft of my first book at a little over 130,000 words. The feeling of accomplishment was indescribable. Not only did I complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, but I finally crossed the finish line in a life goal that I thought I would never achieve.
And I kept going.
Book 2, Dreamland, has already been started, and I am well underway into that story line as well as continuing to edit the other 2 parts of After. I cannot promise a timeline at the moment, although I wish I could. I still work a forty hour workweek at my day job, and add in the unpredictability of life in general, any timeline I give truly is a shot in the dark.
But now that I know that I can do it, I will keep going.
I have to thank my beautiful, inspirational daughter. I don’t think that I ever would have lifted the metaphorical pen again if it had not been for her. Her spirit is indomitable, and despite any setback she’s ever come across, she has faced it down and charged right through it. I cherish her as my daughter and as my friend. It was from her strength that I drew the courage to try again.
My husband’s role in this was no small part, either. He tolerated my midnight ravings, and always listened as I bounced ideas off him. He was my beta reader and editor, but most importantly, he supported me. This book would not be what it is now without him.
Now, I’d like to invite you all to join me on my blog for all the latest updates on The Phoenix Curse as well as my new projects I have lined up on the horizon.
http://drjpublishing.blogspot.com
http://www.thephoenixcurse.com
This is just the first of many journeys to come.
Thank you all!
About The Author
Debra R. Johnson was born July 20, 1976 in Oklahoma. She lived the first 30 years of her life there before moving to the Dallas Metroplex. She currently resides in Grand Prairie, Texas. Reading has been a passion of hers from a very young age, her favorite authors include Stephen King, R. A. Salvatore, Robert Jordan, and George R. R. Martin.
Debra has three children. Her eldest son is a musically gifted genius. Her daughter is as equally gifted with her inspirational stories, and her youngest son of two is mastering the art of walking, talking, and using the big boy potty. Debra is married to a wonderfully supportive, and loving husband.
They also have two carpet whales that some people would call cats.
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
PART 1
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
PART 1
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5