Writing Smyles

Why am I wearing a smile on my face?

A publisher has expressed interest in Ripper, My Love. They are a small press and this is outside of their usual publishing style. After reading through 8 pages as a favour to me, the owner emailed the words "would like to consider". I had most certainly not expected that reply. I cannot tell you what it has done to my confidence. I have told her I still want the challenge of chasing an agent and she is happy with that, she realises it is part of my plan. Time and patience-fortunately I have both. I will keep you updated.

I was sent an interesting link today. It is to an article 15 Famous Authors With Surprising College Majors. It got me thinking about my educational background and my writing career.
I have a nursing degree, I am a retired Weight Watchers leader, I owned 2 pharmacies, have certificates for allsorts there and was a leader for playgroup and pre-school toddler groups. I ran my own dance school and many more things over the years. During all of those events in my life I realise the writer in me was there; deep inside. I was the only one who loved to write up the minutes, to make fliers, to create articles with silly poems in them. Others would 'volunteer' me for anything connected with writing, should I not be at a meeting. They knew it wouldn't bother me at all.
My nursing notes were essays, and my essays gained me high marks.
However, I never considered myself a writer until I finished a small writing course, got paid for published articles in a nursing magazine and finished my novel. Yet the writer has always been there, she was hidden from me, but it appears not from others. DH bought me a new laptop (mwah), and while the chap was asking what specification I wanted and what was I going to use it for, DH said "She is a writer and needs writing software and reliabilty". I was astounded, it flowed from his mouth so naturally, he sounded so proud.
 A turning point for me. No degree, certificate or college education for creative writing got me here. Only a love of the art of words on paper (or screen). To be acknowledged as a writer, I do not have to be published, I just have to show the world I love writing.