Love this so much! That newspaper pic of you - priceless. And Ranger Rick! What a thoughtful dedication ☺️. And your John Fogerty reference immediately had me singing.
I was a high school and college athlete. I played volleyball for 32 years, pretty competitively too, right up until weeks before lockdown. Haven’t been able to play since. I was the opposite of you - great at offense, not so great at defense 😂
Since I was the self-appointed President of my own personal Ranger Rick Club, it only seemed fitting to dedicate my first book to my members! Ha! I was such a weird, quirky kid. Were you a front row hitter? I played volleyball, too, but only in high school. I was a back row specialist. Surprise! Basketball was my only "offensive" sport.
I played the full rotation. I was pretty good at receiving serve, so they kept me in. I wasn’t awful at back row defense, I just wasn’t amazing. I could never wait to get to the front row though 💪🏼
Katrina, my heart warmed when I scrolled to the image of your first book.
I wrote mine around that age, too.
At age 10, I entered the young authors' conference with my friend (and co-author) Kristine. Our book was titled, The House on Haunted Hill, a mystery.
From that point onward, my dream was to become a published author.
The thing is, I am a published author. But I'm still unsatisfied with the level of "success" I've attained. I needed to go to the next step, and, like you, I'm trying.
It's arduous. But I think if you love anything, the pain is worth the effort necessary.
Do you still have The House on Haunted Hill, Jeannie? I'm so grateful my mom saved my book for me. I threw away so much of my early writing... and all my journals. I was so afraid someone would discover all my deep, dark secrets--like how much I loved Adam Ant.
I don't. I wish I did. I'm pretty sure my mom gave me all my old art, including my early books, but I disposed of them when I was a young adult. I guess I thought it was all a child's dream.
Love this so much! That newspaper pic of you - priceless. And Ranger Rick! What a thoughtful dedication ☺️. And your John Fogerty reference immediately had me singing.
I was a high school and college athlete. I played volleyball for 32 years, pretty competitively too, right up until weeks before lockdown. Haven’t been able to play since. I was the opposite of you - great at offense, not so great at defense 😂
Since I was the self-appointed President of my own personal Ranger Rick Club, it only seemed fitting to dedicate my first book to my members! Ha! I was such a weird, quirky kid. Were you a front row hitter? I played volleyball, too, but only in high school. I was a back row specialist. Surprise! Basketball was my only "offensive" sport.
Ha! Did you have any actual members?
I played the full rotation. I was pretty good at receiving serve, so they kept me in. I wasn’t awful at back row defense, I just wasn’t amazing. I could never wait to get to the front row though 💪🏼
Absolutely! There were 5 of us, and we were TIGHT.
I love it! 😍
Katrina, my heart warmed when I scrolled to the image of your first book.
I wrote mine around that age, too.
At age 10, I entered the young authors' conference with my friend (and co-author) Kristine. Our book was titled, The House on Haunted Hill, a mystery.
From that point onward, my dream was to become a published author.
The thing is, I am a published author. But I'm still unsatisfied with the level of "success" I've attained. I needed to go to the next step, and, like you, I'm trying.
It's arduous. But I think if you love anything, the pain is worth the effort necessary.
It was the image of Katrina's first book for me too, Jeannie.
Love this essay, Kat. You move my soul.
Ditto, my friend. Ditto. <3
Do you still have The House on Haunted Hill, Jeannie? I'm so grateful my mom saved my book for me. I threw away so much of my early writing... and all my journals. I was so afraid someone would discover all my deep, dark secrets--like how much I loved Adam Ant.
I don't. I wish I did. I'm pretty sure my mom gave me all my old art, including my early books, but I disposed of them when I was a young adult. I guess I thought it was all a child's dream.
What precious keepsakes you have. The fact that you are still in the game, still writing, means you are winning.
Thank you, Amy. <3