My First Interview!

A few days ago I had my first media interview. While part of it was fun, another part of it was very scary. It let me know quite clearly... I won't be sitting on Oprah's couch anytime soon. I've got too much stuff bulging inside and it's banging against the walls to get out. Once I let out a little trickle, the rest will push hard against the small opening and a dam will bust if I don't get the flow under control.

October was a great month for me... and I'm looking forward to a very blessed November.

For those of you who love wild and exciting rides... hop on. There's plenty of room.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

It's official! I am now a published author. Today is the first day I step onto the road in the next leg of this journey. What lay ahead of me, I don't really know, but I'm excited to find out. Before I look ahead and start marching forward, I must take a quick glimpse back at the many different paths I've left behind.

I see the the faint outline of a small trail winding its way through the tall leafy jungle, moving beside the winding river, leading deeper into the dense forest. I then notice the dusty dirt road with its many mud holes and cozy tunnels of overcast trees, giving way to the one lane gravel drive. Soon loose stones turn into a smooth unlined two lane with its low shoulders and caution signs.

Next, white and yellow lines appear along with small reflectors as the rules increase along with the dangers of accumulating traffic. Speeds are limited, miles are marked and direction choices become more often, each leading down different journeys.

I'm now entering the on ramp of the busy interstate, ready to mingle into the already moving heavy traffic toward the city. My seat belt is securely fastened and my vehicle has been inspected (lights, blinker, oil, tires, horn and engine) and I'm ready to merge. I know I have to accelerate to be up to speed by the time I reach the flow.

I hope you're in the car with me, because once I get on, I can easily get lost in the frenzy.

Thank you, everyone, who has supported this dream. I wasn't alone in making it come true and I won't be alone when it soars through the universe or when the next dream decides to take flight.

As my title says up at the top... Buckle up... it's going to be an exciting ride!!!

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

About to be Published.

It hasn't really sunk into my brain yet and still feels like any other business transaction I make on a daily basis, but it's not the same. My heart and head are not on the same page... yet.

I'm about to be published. Sure, it's not like I had pictured it in the beginning, but it is a part of the dream that I've had for a long time. But, it was always something that was just beyond grasp, just at the end of the fingertips, but not something that I could wrap my fingers around. Most of it having been my fault, because offers have come but I didn't take them.

Why now? What's different this time? I don't know. I just know that it is. I will soon be able to hold in my hands a printed, published copy of a story from my dreams. My name will be splashed across the front and my picture placed on the back. Within the covers, small printed letters will dance upon the pages as they tell a story that swirled within the ocean of my imagination. Life breathing into the characters as their personalities become known to those who dare to read.

Part of me wants to hold them close to my bosom and protect them from others, but then another part wants to share them with the world. Will they love them as I have? Will they see them as I do? I guess I'm about to find out.

Thank you, everyone, who has supported this dream. I wasn't alone in making it come true and I won't be alone when it soars through the universe or when the next dream decides to take flight.

As my title says up at the top... hang on... it's going to be a bumpy ride. Boy, what a great ride, though!

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Becoming an Author

When I introduce myself as an author, I meet lots of people who say, "Oh, I've tried to write a book once, but never finished it." That one fact is the biggest obstacle that makes someone an author. But, it's only the beginning.

You are a writer if you write, then edit, then re-write, then contemplate, then edit some more and then re-write again. You are an author when you submit, query, wait, wait, submit again, query again, wait and wait some more and then the writing gets published.

Until that time... you're just someone who had an idea and didn't follow through with it because either you didn't have the drive, determination or discipline required; and believe me - it takes all three.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Who Really Does the Writing?

I've had many people ask me, "How do you come up with all those stories?" Most of the time my response is usually something profound as "life is a story, I just choose to write one down." But even I wonder where the thoughts of my imagination begin.

I have no doubt that God is the true author of all life and this ability to see bits of it all around me is a gift given. I find it quite amazing when I discover that not everybody can see the same way. A painter can see the true beauty of color and depth perception more vibrantly; a musician and singer hear the sounds of the world and the soul much clearer; writers and poets see the power of life and death that are encased with the spoken and written language. Yet, we all only see the true picture around us in part and we are vain enough to think we understand everything because of what little we've seen, heard, smelled, felt and tasted.

I can only write what I know and can imagine. My imagination is limited yet without bounds, and my knowledge is constantly growing but has limitations. Yet who truly has the power of creation. The definition alone disqualifies me, because I do not have the power to make something from nothing. I am a master of manipulation, because I have an uncanny gift to take elements of what already is and manipulate them into something else. I can take bits and pieces of the story (world) I know, have known and have experienced and mold those experiences into a new story, just as a painter takes the colors that already exist and make them into a picture of manipulated bits and pieces of a world they've come to know. But I do not "create" anything from nothing. I make something new from what already exists.

So who really does do the writing? I do. Writing is a gift. While many people may know much of the same as I do, not everybody can write it down in the same way. I am a scribe, and my gift comes with much discipline and skill. It's not always easy and requires much dedication, but how it makes my soul churn within me and stirs the passion inside, I cannot fathom doing anything else.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

It's a new day, a new week and new opportunities sit and wait for the taking.
I choose to reach out and grab what sits before me.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

The Land of Anxiousville and Anxiety

Don't you just hate that place between deciding what you want and obtaining it? You know... the land of Anxiousville and Anxiety? It's horrible and I don't particularly like it. Who does? Despite how I feel about it, I find myself there quite often.

We're not supposed to be anxious for anything, but how does someone achieve that? No matter what my intentions are... I find myself dog peddling in a deep pool of it.

Where does it come from? Is it from a lack of trust or faith? I don't think so, because I truly believe I have ample supply of both, yet still walk in this state. Perhaps having trust and faith isn't enough? Being able to use them properly may be the key?

I have a lot of things I want while I journey through this small span of time I have on this earth. I've already obtained of lot of those things already. It isn't the obtaining that makes up this life - it's the journey it takes getting there. So, today I'm going to try and not allow anxiety and the overwhelming feeling of being anxious mar today's journey - because that's my life we're talking about.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

The Blood of Cain - Update

Well, I finally signed a publishing contract for the Blood of Cain.
It is scheduled for release in October 2009! (So, make sure you buy a copy - need the royalties!)

I'm getting excited. I've still got a lot of work to do between now and then, but look forward to the challenges that lay ahead.

First thing... I want to give a shout out to all those who've helped support and inspire me and my writing. May each of you receive a double portion of blessing for your support and inspiration.

First, my Father, my Friend and my Savior, Jesus. Without You, all would be meaningless. I'm only the scribe to the gift You've given me. I love You with my whole being.

Though he hasn't actually even read any of my novels, I thank my husband, Rick. Without his support and encouragement, I may have given up on my dreams a long time ago.

Next, my children, Meagan, Johnathan and Kelly, and my in-laws, Virginia and Paul. You fill my heart with all the emotions (love, anger, fear, pride, trust, hope, frustration, etc.) I need to identify in my writing. To my Pastors Dan & Carla Patrick, who are the parents I never had but always dreamed about. Dreams do really come true, maybe not always in the package we imagined, but in hindsight... still the same dream. This is the family I dreamed about as a little child.

Now, to the rest of you. My editor, Steven Henderson, who I may or may not like in the coming months.... depending on how much mutilation is involved. I appreciate honesty, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. My publisher, Lois Bennett and the family at Fireside Publishing for believing in me and my work enough to want to publish me. My friends and family at DLCC, you know who you are (or maybe you don't...LOL!). To all my friends and foes at Critique Circle, who've helped shape my writing with all your opinions, hats off to you. And, to those who helped inspire the characters that sprang to life on the pages of this manuscript - Jensen Ackles, Steven Strait, Paul Bettany and Allison Mack.

Thank you all... and as the opening to this blog says... 'hang on... it's going to be a bumpy ride!'

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Poetry This Morning

I haven't written poetry in a long time. When I was a teenager, that's all I did, I wrote poems and songs. I didn't write stories, didn't know I could. But, I had a lot of pent up emotions and poetry was release.

While I'm not sure I have any pent up emotion right now, but I feel 'inspired' to write what comes out. So, here goes.

Gray clouds swirl, not dark, not light;
no fear, no joy, just numb.
Moving forward, not left, not right;
no past, no future, just now.
Breaking through, not blind, not sight;
no friend, no foe, just help.
Sunlight beams, not day, not night;
no win, no lose, just Him.

Well, there you have it... my attempt at poetry after all this time.
I think I'll stick with my writing for now.

Have a blessed day.

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray