Writing, Faith, and a Whole Lot of Caffeine: My Publishing Journey

I still remember the moment I hit "send." With one dramatic click, my finished novel was off to the editor for upload to Amazon. After sixteen years of dreaming, writing, and rewriting (and maybe some crying), my first novel, When Darkness Sings – Redemption’s Melody, was finally complete. But I never imagined the journey would be filled with so many lessons, challenges, and moments of pure joy—and a fair amount of caffeine.

Oh, what a journey it was! I guess you could say it started way back when my fourth-grade teacher handed me a shiny 1st place prize for the best story. The Christmas ornament I received still hangs over my desk, reminding me of that first spark of possibility. One teacher made me believe that maybe, just maybe, I could be an author one day. Then life happened—hello, childhood trauma—but that little ember refused to go out. In the 7th grade, my teacher handed me a column in the school newspaper: "Dear Donna." Could I be the next Dear Abby, doling out wisdom and advice to my fellow students? (Spoiler: I had no business giving anyone life advice at that age.)

Then came high school, where another teacher saw something in me and gave that ember another gust of encouragement. I wrote my heart out, won the "Most Creative Writing" award, and then—life happened again. My dream of publishing a book took a long nap. That is, until I found myself in a little cabin in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, feeling called to Write it to Right it. I had no clue what that meant, but the idea wouldn’t leave me alone. Sixteen years later (yes, sixteen), the novel was finally born.

I wrote everywhere. Literally. In state parks, in the pitch dark with only my laptop keyboard and a solar lantern glowing beside me like a beacon of inspiration (or maybe survival). I wrote by the river at Blanco State Park in Texas while a family of white ducks waddled past, silently judging my plot twists. I crashed at friends’ houses, sneaking in writing time while they worked. But one of my favorite places? Corolla, North Carolina. I tucked myself into a cozy nook overlooking the ocean, the same Outer Banks setting where my novel begins and ends. Talk about full-circle moments—I rewrote the last three chapters right there, with the waves cheering me on.

Writing while working full-time as a nurse? Not for the faint of heart. Some days, I stared at a blank screen, convinced my brain had left the building. Other days, the words poured out as if they had just been waiting for me to sit down and listen. Writing taught me discipline, patience, and that procrastination is an art form.

Then came publishing—exciting, overwhelming, and slightly soul-crushing. My first draft went to the content editor, and my heart took a direct hit when he suggested cutting several scenes. My characters had become my friends (and sometimes my enemies), and deleting scenes felt like saying goodbye forever. But I powered through, rewriting sections to keep the story’s heartbeat strong. Next, the line editor took a fine-toothed comb to make sure no hair was out of place. Then came the endless decisions—cover design, formatting, page numbers, acknowledgments (yes, people read those!), and all the things I had no idea were part of this process.

The biggest surprise? The endorsements. Just when I started doubting myself, kind words from readers poured in, reminding me why I had written this story in the first place. God’s faithfulness showed up in every step, from opening doors to bringing the right people into my path.

And now? Marketing. Oh boy. If writing was like giving birth, marketing is like realizing you have to raise the baby, and it never stops crying. Most authors are introverts—shouting "Hey, buy my book!" into the void is not in our comfort zone. But here I am, learning the ropes, figuring out social media, and resisting the urge to hide under a blanket.

The strangest part? Holding the finished book in my hands. After all the years of anticipation, it was like giving birth and then thinking, "Wait… now what?" Some authors churn out books like a well-oiled machine. Me? It took 16 years, countless cups of coffee, and adventures in the most random writing spots. When people ask, "So, when’s the next one coming out?" I feel like a mom who just went through labor being asked when she’ll have another baby. But the answer is yes—I’m working on it! Hopefully, this one won’t take quite as long.

So, if you have a story in your heart, don’t let fear hold you back. Start writing. One word, one page at a time. You never know—your story might be exactly what someone else needs.

I’d love to hear from you! What’s a dream you’ve been holding onto? Drop a comment below or connect with me on social media. And if you’ve read When Darkness Sings – Redemption’s Melody, I’d love to know what part resonated most with you!