Growing up, I was an avid reader and writer. As long as I had a pen and paper or a book, I was happy. I loved doing homework, writing notes in class, or corresponding with various pen pals from around the world (pre-computer). In high school, I scored a 3.5 – 4 on a West Virginia State-County writing assessment which stated: You are to be commended for your outstanding writing skills and are to be encouraged to continue writing.
My writing was put aside after high school when I fell in love, got married, and had children. In 2007, the urge to write once again made its presence known, and I decided to take a class through Long Ridge Institute for Writers. The first course taught me how to write and shape my stories using proper grammar and sentence structure. At the end of that course, my instructor insisted I take the next course, Novel Writing. This is where the idea of my bookLove vs Blood originated.
By the time I finished my writing course, both of my children had graduated from high school. In 2013, I found a publisher on Facebook and decided to publish my novelette, Love vs Blood, with her company. Being new and naïve to the publishing world, I trusted her every word. There was a small fee upfront (red flag), and I was told I had written a great story. How little I knew. By the time the book was released, promises had already been broken; I had to beg to get royalties owed to me.
A few months later, red flags once again popped up everywhere, and I was told by a few people familiar with my publisher’s reputation that she was a scam artist. I didn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it because that news was crushing my dreams of becoming an author. Those familiar with this publisher sent me links about the investigations and allegations against this so-called publisher and her company. Eventually, I had to pay in order to break my “fake” contract. The devastation caused me stop writing for a few months. Maybe I wasn’t meant to be a writer.
Early in 2014, a documentary on werewolves caught my attention. A few nights later, I had a dream that sparked my creative imagination and revived my interest in writing again. I wrote Legends of Castle Rock and found an excellent publisher, Fountain Blue Publishing, and started publishing again. I continued to work on Love vs. Blood and published it as the novel A Taste of Evil in March 2016.
RL Smith
I’ve recently finished a suspense/thriller which is currently in the editing stages. I veered away from the paranormal to try mystery and suspense. Currently, I’m working on another book, a mystery/suspense which should be out in 2018, and I will publish both independently as I continue to learn more about writing and publishing opportunities.
My life as an author has had its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
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