A Very Crooked, Rocky Path to Publication
By Brenda B. Taylor
By Brenda B. Taylor
For most of my
life I dreamed of becoming a writer of wonderful novels about the extraordinary
lives of ordinary people. While studying history in school, I imagined the many
ups and downs, the twists and turns in the lives of the characters we studied.
Sometimes stories and even conversations between the characters ran around in
my head. My teachers called my thoughts, daydreaming, and I suppose they were a
daydream of sorts. At times when I finished my school work, I found a clean
sheet of paper and began a story. The first one I completed was about a horse
similar to Black Beauty. The plot had a happy ending and my parents enjoyed
reading the two-page story. Their smiles made my day.
After that first
attempt at being an author, I wrote short stories for my family’s enjoyment,
but never shared with others outside the family circle. I felt too embarrassed
about my attempts at writing and my ambitions to be an author. After finishing
high school, a college degree became my goal and ambition. In the meantime, I
married and had children, but finished a degree in elementary education. Life
became hurried and hectic with a husband, children, and teaching career.
Writing was pushed to the background, but as I stood over a stove cooking one
of many meals, stories popped into my head. I engaged in daydreaming again,
while watching the beans boil or waiting for bread to bake. I wrote many
stories in my mind, but never on paper.
After retirement
my husband and I bought a recreation vehicle, traveling most of the United
States and Canada. During that time, I began putting thoughts on paper and
making copious notes. Several of our trips were made to the home sites of my
ancestors, especially those who resided in Missouri. The Wades of Crawford
County series came from those RV journeys to Virginia, Tennessee, and
Missouri.
Through genealogy research I discovered my
Scottish roots and heritage. My ancestor, Duncan Munro, immigrated from
Scotland to North Carolina in the early 1800’s. He married, then moved his
family to Alabama. After the Civil War, his son immigrated to Louisiana where
his daughter met and married my great-grandfather. I traveled to Scotland three
times in search of my Scots family and found them in the Highlands. While in
Scotland, I toured the seat of Clan Munro, Foulis Castle, and the land of
Ferindonald or “the land of Donald. Donald, ancestor of the Munros, ventured to
Scotland from Ireland as a mercenary soldier to assist King Malcolm in fighting
Viking invaders. After visiting Scotland, the Highland Treasures series
was born.
My efforts in
traditional publishing were fruitless, and self-publishing loomed as a viable
means of getting a manuscript out to readers. I joined several author
organizations and attended conferences. After studying the self-publishing
process, I decided to form a company and publish my own books. Also, I came to
the conclusion that I don’t have enough life left to go the traditional
publishing route.
I view my writing
and publishing as a fulfillment of a long-time dream, and I encourage other
writers to go ahead and jump in there. Don’t give up, write those fantastic,
amazing stories. Someone is waiting to read them.
About the Author
The
desire to write historical fiction has long been a passion with Brenda B.
Taylor. Since elementary school, she has written stories in her spare time.
Brenda earned three degrees: a BSE from Henderson State University,
Arkadelphia, Arkansas; a MEd from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville,
Texas; and an EdD from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; then
worked as a teacher and administrator in the Texas Public School system. Only
after retirement could she fulfill the dream of publication.
Brenda
and her husband make their home in beautiful East Texas
where they enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working
in Bethabara Faith Ministry, Inc. She crafts stories about the extraordinary
lives of ordinary people in her favorite place overlooking bird feeders, bird
houses, and a variety of blooming trees and flowers. She sincerely thanks all
who purchase and read her books. Her desire is that the message in each book
will touch the heart of the reader as it did hers in the writing.
Her latest
book is the Scottish Historical Romance A
Highland Emerald.
Author Contact Information:
Historical Heartbeats
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About the Book:
Title: A HIGHLAND EMERALD
Author: Brenda Taylor
Publisher: Bethabara Press
Pages: 268
Genre: Scottish Historical Romance
Author: Brenda Taylor
Publisher: Bethabara Press
Pages: 268
Genre: Scottish Historical Romance
BOOK BLURB:
Aine MacLean is forced into an arranged marriage with Sir
William, Chief of Clan Munro, yet her heart belongs to a handsome young warrior
in her father’s guard. She must leave Durant
Castle, the home of her birth on
the Isle of Mull, and travel across Scotland
in a perilous journey to her husband’s home on Cromarty Firth. William agrees
to a year and day of handfasting, giving Aine an opportunity to accept him and
his clan. He promises her the protection of Clan Munro, however, Aine
experiences kidnapping, pirates, and almost loses her life in the River
Moriston. She doubts the sincerity of William’s promises and decides to return
to Durant Castle
when the handfasting ends. William determines to win Aine’s heart. Will the
brave knight triumph in his fight for the bonnie lass?
A Highland
Emerald is the third book in the award-winning Highland Treasures series.
The novel tells the story of Aine MacLean and William Munro and is the prequel
to A Highland Pearl.
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