One Week Down

I am one week into my first semester of college and I'm already wondering what on earth I was thinking! *grin* As if my life weren't full enough, I just tripled my responsibilities. That being said, I LOVE my classes. I'm already learning so much. A lot of what I've learned so far is that I didn't lose half of what I thought I'd lost over the last 20 years.

The weather here hasn't been as bad in previous years, but, then again, it hasn't been horrible in other areas either. I would just like our temps to stay steady instead of the constant fluctuation. We have gotten hardly any snow which has disappointed the furkids, but I'm pretty happy about that. The lake has finally frozen over. I can't wait to see if we end up with any more icebergs on the lake
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(This is from Spring 2011 and, yes, that is a tree in the frame.)

I just finished a book by one of my favorite authors. I hate that each of his books ends on a pretty sad note. No HEAs (happily ever afters) for this author. However, I'm hopelessly addicted to his books. Every time a new one comes out, I am waiting in line at the bookstore so that I can get my copy. How about you? Do you search for books with ONLY happy endings or do you not need the HEA?

Well, my studies are calling me. I need to write an argumentative paper for my English class. I'm feeling the need to argue for some reason.

If weather is cold and snowy in your corner of the world, remember Spring is just around the corner. (This is from my backyard.)

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Sunday

Talk about a weird and wild week! I got my publishing contract signed and sent back. I sent back the first edits for my book. I've been working on making this website a place where you will all feel welcome. Plus, I went and picked up my books for my first semester of college.

Yes, college. I'm at the age where I should be sending children off to college. However, there are no children to worry about (except for the 5 four-legged furry kids). My darling husband is on his 3rd semester of college, working towards his Engineering degree. With the unexpected things Life has a habit of throwing at us, I decided to take my turn at working on my college degree. I'll be working on my English degree.

I started this whole college process before I knew anything about being published. There are people in my life who believed I could become an author, but I didn't see it happening. Goes to know what I know, right? I tell my husband every day, "You believed in me when I wouldn't believe in myself." I'm not sure how I am going to juggle the various balls that are threatening to fall, but I'm going to try.

I have found inspiration to get my booty back to working on the next 3 books in the series I've been writing. Lucky for me, I an hour between my classes to write while I'm at school.

Wow!

These last few days feel like a dream. I've been walking around with my head in the clouds. I've actually had to step back and take a moment to enjoy the rush of emotions. This whole journey seems a little surreal right now.

Good news is that ideas for other books in this series are flowing like water. I just have to find a way to keep up with it all.

This is the area where my upcoming book is set. In Michigan's gorgeous Upper Peninsula, there are spots that will blow your mind. I was born and raised in lower Michigan. I had never been to the U.P. I've lived in a couple of different states, but this place is breathtaking. In the movie, "Escanaba in da Moonlight," there is a line where Albert Soady gives you an idea of where we reside. "Nort' of the bridge and just south of heaven."
Where else could you imagine living? Me? This is my heaven. Yes, even in the winter. But with the abundance of people, animals and nature, this seemed like the perfect setting for a book. I hope you agree.

Hello World!

Hello, world! That seems like the appropriate title to this first post. I need to introduce myself. I am Gemma K. Murray, the alter-ego of a woman who likes to keep her private life, well, private. I am married and have five furry kids to keep our lives busy. *Takes a deep breath* I am also an author. A dream that I never thought would come true.

I've been writing since I was about 11 or 12. In my senior year of high school, I had an English teacher who planted the seedling in my brain that maybe, just maybe, I could write. Family struggles ensued as they often do and the dream of being a writer got put on the back burner. It was about 10 years ago that I was feeling lost. I didn't know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. My husband looked at me and asked, "What is it that you've always wanted to do?" Without hesitation, I replied, "I want to be an author." His response was, "So? Write!" I bought notebooks, pens and started writing. The words poured out of the pens and across the paper. It was amazing the worlds that came out.

The folders filled with papers began to line the shelves of my cabinet. One day, my husband asked, "What are you going to do with those?" I simply shrugged and said, "I don't know. Publish them someday, I guess." I never dreamed that I would be good enough to be published.

I finally got up the nerve to submit a manuscript to a few publishers, but the lack of/negative remarks can certainly discourage a person from pursuing this dream. A couple of author friends told me to keep at it. Their words encouraged me. I asked a friend to tell me where I went wrong and here I am today...An author.

J.K. Rowling says it best: "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might not have lived at all- in which case you fail by default."