That’s exactly what happened to me in July of 2007.

I had just graduated from college with my degree in Business Management. It took me ten years to earn that degree. I should’ve been breathing a sigh of relief. Instead, I felt incomplete. Like a part of my life was still missing.

So, I did the only thing I could to compose my thoughts and figure out why I felt this way. I wrote. Over the course of days, my journal entries went from how I was feeling, to new characters that popped into my head and pleaded for me to tell their stories.

In six short weeks, I’d completed a historical romance manuscript and was working on the sequel. I wrote during my lunch hours, when I got home from work (in-between homework, dinner, etc.), and from the time the kids went to bed, until sometimes one and two a.m.! The next day, I’d get up and start all over again. On the weekends, I’d sneak in as much writing time as I possibly could. And you know what? I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER.

It had been nearly twenty years since I put on my writer’s hat, but in that short period, my world came into focus. This was what I’d been missing. So now, I’m making up for lost time. The ideas and characters just keep coming: from the American South, Ireland, Wales, and Italy. I’ll be writing a tale for each, and I’d love to share them with you.

When I was sixteen and asked for a Brother word processor for my birthday. I just had this insatiable need to get words down on paper. I felt affirmed when I took my newly typed ramblings to my sophomore English teacher who told me that I had more talent than she did and I should really consider writing as a career. Her passion for the written word and enthusiasm for what I wrote really made me feel like a successful writer.  When I am not writing my own stories I love a good historical romance, preferably Celtic themed. When I am in the middle of writing or editing, I only read self-help or research books. I’m terribly afraid of plagiarizing someone else’s work or taking on their voice, so I don’t read anything within my own genre if I am writing.

What I find more tragic is not the loss of sanity, but the loss of imagination. Today’s kids have so much instantaneous gratification at their fingertips that they have forgotten how to play. I remember a few years ago trying to pretend play with my daughters and they just weren’t getting it. I made it my personal crusade to uncover childhood imagination again. Now my girls and I get lost into other worlds together.. Making up stories and characters. Even their friends get into it now. It’s awesome! Sanity and adulthood are overrated.

The two accomplishments I am proud of most. 1- Having my three daughters watch me walk across the university stage with my college degree in hand and 2- being able to share my writing journey from idea creation to submission to publication with those same three darling girls. I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to show them by my own life that if you believe in something strongly enough, you can achieve it. How many parents get to SHOW their kids that?

Historical Romance Author Sheryl Brennan brings the past to awe-inspiring light with her debut book Celtic Sacrifice. Sheryl is not only an author, but also a mother, has a degree in business, and volunteers her time and expertise. Sheryl's writing experience ranges from journalism and corporate communications for non-profit organizations to Web content editing. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Kentucky Romance Writers, and Louisville Romance Writers. She currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her three beautiful daughters.

Want to contact me?

Simply log on to www.sherylbrennan.com or www.underdogpress.com . While your there, send me an email so I can add you to my newsletter distribution list. I love to hear from readers.

CONTEST

Sheryl is hosting a Month Long Contest, for each person that visits her site and signs her Guest Book they will be entered into a Drawing for a few gifts from Sheryl Brennan. 
Those that buy an advance copy of Celtic Sacrifice from UnderDog Press www.underdogpress.com will be entered into a drawing for an autographed copy of the book, a beautiful full color bookmark, and the recipient's name in a drawing for one of twelve Celtic Sacrifice logo'd coffee mugs filled with Celtic treats.  More information can be found at http://sherylbrennan.com/.