Guest blogger Lenora Worth

Captain’s Log, Stardate 01.08.2007


Today, Lenora Worth is guest blogging about her latest romantic suspense novel, Fatal Image, book 1 in the Secrets of Stoneley series.

From the desk of Bianca Blanchard:

Everything I was raised to believe has been a lie! The photo Leo Santiago gave me of our mothers together--dated a week after my mother's death--and my father's evasions set my legal mind racing, so I hired a detective to investigate my mother's long-ago accident. Turns out she's alive! I've been so thankful for Leo, who has been incredibly supportive. He works for my father, so catering to the boss's daughter is part of his job, but the looks this handsome man gives me make me think there's more to our relationship than business.

THE SECRETS OF STONELY:
Six sisters face murder, mayhem and mystery while unraveling the past.

And now, here’s Lenora!

Hi. I don't do much blogging, but when Camy calls, who can say no???

People often ask me what's it like being a published writer. I smile and try to be honest. Being a writer is a dream come true, but it is also a job just like any other job. I love what I do, but as with any job there is a responsibility to live up to. the commitments of getting things done.

First, I have a commitment to myself--to write the type of books I can be proud of, to write books that show the love of the Lord and hopefully help others to find that love, too.

Then I have a commitment to my publisher, to deliver what I promised to deliver to the best of my ability.

And I have a strong commitment to God--to honor Him always, to give Him the credit for my talent, and to never take anything I am given for granted.

So ... writing is fun, sometimes very glamorous, sometimes very lonely. Some days I write in my pajamas because I can't wait to get started right after breakfast. Other days, I stall as long as I possibly can, because I have no idea where my story is going. But I wouldn't change it for anything. I am blessed to have this job.

You see, the odds were against me. I grew up poor in rural Georgia. I lived on a farm and we worked very hard. I knew how hard my parents worked, but I didn't know that we didn't own the land we lived on until I was about seven years old. I felt cheated to find out that the land I loved didn't even belong to my family!

There wasn't very much money for extras--so I turned to the library and books to help fill my days. I loved to read because reading allowed me to escape into worlds I'd probably never see. For a very long time, I resented living on a farm, but now I give thanks for that isolation.

My love of reading made me want to be a writer. I knew this at a very young age. But it took many, many years of self-taught writing attempts to get to the point where I could actually call myself a writer. I didn't finish my formal education, but I tried to soak up every aspect of writing until ... amazingly, I got it right.

Now, why am I telling you all of this? Because I'm sure there are some of you out there who think it is fruitless to want something so badly, to hope and pray for a chance to write, just write.

I'm telling you--don't give up. Keep trying, keep learning, keep fighting the good fight. Learn how to write, listen to others but be still and know that He is God. Go to your own upper room and listen to what is in your heart and listen to what He knows is true. It can happen.

Writing has allowed me to make wonderful friends from all over the world, to expand my horizons, to travel to places I never dreamed I'd see, to grow as a human being, to face challenges, to reach goals. Writing can be a dream forever, but it can become a reality only by DOING.

So, having given this pep talk, I hope that anyone reading this will find strength in my story. There's lots more to the story, but ... that's for another time.

I'm thrilled to be a part of Steeple Hill, where I get to write such things as my latest book, Fatal Image, a dark gothic suspense that is the first in The Secrets of Stonely series at Love Inspired Suspense. The other writers in the series are wonderful. I loved being a part of this series.

And I'd like to thank Camy for asking me to chat on her blog. Camy, did I do it right??? I hope so.

Lenora Worth ;)

Camy here: Lenora, you were exactly yourself! If any of you guys get a chance to attend a booksigning and meet Lenora, she’s a total sweetheart. Thanks for being here and sharing your inspiring story!