Somewhere my Grandma is smiling . . .

And for a very, very good reason. Last Thursday I received an email from the Senior Editor of Shine Brightly Magazine to let me know they would like to publish one of my short stories.

I know you can't see, but insert a vision on me doing a HAPPY DANCE right now!

The reason for this post's title is when I first decided to start writing 15 years ago, my Grandma was one of my biggest cheerleaders. One of her dreams was to be a writer. She even had a story published when she was a girl. But after she finished school, she got married and raised 7 children. She thought the opportunity for her to be a writer had passed her by.

I was always very close with my Grandma, mostly because we were so much alike.

But actions speak louder than words. She always talked about becoming a writer, but never pursued it.

Every time when I would get frustrated by a rejection, or suffer writer's block, I would think of my Grandma to remind myself that even if I never succeeded, at least I was trying.

Well that trying has given me my first publishing credit come September 2009.

Thanks Grandma! :)