I began writing as Technical Writer. Creating Process and Procedures Manuals from Technical Requirements. The subject matter was often complex and difficult to understand. I tried to create a document that simplified complicated procedures and used real life examples to help the user understand. One day I met a gentleman that wrote novels. I commented to him that "I wish I could do that." His response was "If you can make people understand this complicated stuff, you can write a novel."

I believe that conversation was my first motivation. It wasn't until years later that I began to write a blog. Eventually the blog became a series of short stories. The rest is history.

The first story I wrote was titled. "Chili Beef Soup". It was never published. I am not sure it was worthy. It made sense to me at the time. I don't think it would have been well received.

A lot of writers that I speak to tell me that they write because they love to write. For me writing is a means of communicating with the rest of the world. My greatest joy is that someone else is enjoying reading my work as much as I enjoy writing.

As soon as I figure this out I will let you know.

I like reading some of the classics. Tolstoy could really make you feel the cold. Dostoevsky fear. Orwell hate. I don't know if any of them would be widely read today, but they showed us how to do it.

Smashwords makes books that otherwise would not be noticed available to the world. It allows independent authors to be independent.