In 2009, I was working as a school bus driver. While waiting outside an elementary school for the afternoon bell, I'd pass the time sketching folklore characters into a notebook. The drawings were rough, but the kids were enchanted. They'd gather around with curiosity: "Who is that? What's their story?" These questions sparked the beginning of my first fantasy novel. In 2010, I found a literary agent. It felt like the start of everything, but life took an unexpected turn. The manuscript, the dream, and all the momentum I'd built were put on hold. Soon after, I joined the Army National Guard, embarking on years of service that included deployments, juggling training, long nights, the demands of military life, plus single parenthood, my novel became a dream I shelved. Fifteen years passed before my two adult children asked, "Why don't you try publishing your book again?" What began as simple edits turned into a journey of rediscovery. I didn't just revise the story; I imbued it with a truth that only lived experience could provide. The whimsy endured, deepened by resilience and grace. Today, with the quiet support of my grown children, the resources I lacked before, and the spirit of someone who fought her way back to the page, I am finally ready to share this world.
