You're here--whew! That was half the battle. Now that you're here, let's get to know each other.
No matter how you found Southern Holly, you likely have a few questions. Usually, welcome messages makes one's eyes glaze over. They are rarely amusing or enthralling, but let's attempt a bit of levity and real talk.
Why are you writing, and why now?
Life has a habit of getting in the way. We have all had to focus on the here and now and put our passions on the backburner for a time (ok, an extended time). After over a decade working in the non-profit sector as a C-suite executive, life grabbed me by the face, looked me in the eye, and told me in no uncertain terms that it was time to pass the torch and turn towards new beginnings.
My dream career has always been to be a writer--and yet I "fell into" finance, accounting, and HR for twenty years. That's quite a left brain/right brain contrast; what can I say, I am what I am. I excelled in my career, utilizing my talents to make the world a little better and a little brighter. Reflecting one day after resigning from my last position, I came across a statement that hit me like a freight train.
"I am good at what I love, I don't love all that I'm good at."
If I don't love all that I'm good at, then it was time to refocus. Yes, I derived enjoyment from my career, and working with a wonderful cohort of co-workers. But did I love it? What did I truly love, and how should I incorporate that into a new trajectory of my life? Could a new vantage point still allow me to effect change?
Why jump into another similar position, just because I am good at it? Just because we are in a routine, on schedule, and we happen to be good at it, does not mean that we have to continue riding on the same train.
Your passion is your destination; don't be afraid to choose a different track.
Who is your audience?
Hopefully, my audience is you. Emotion plays the lead role in my portfolio and just as in life, it displays a broad, complicated spectrum. Inspiration can hold hands with grief, while laughter comforts the abyss. If you want to immerse yourself in the confluence, be entertained, rejuvenated with reflections afterward--you are my audience.
What genre do you gravitate to?
For my writing, fiction is my go-to. I am pulled to telling stories that have a deeper meaning, to those that can correlate to our lives, or bring an emotional pull. The stories less commonly told or told in a new way are the ones that stick with us, inspire us, and continue to live on.
For my reading, non-fiction is my preference. I find inspiration in the true stories of those who have come before us and the ones still with us. Stories of overcoming insurmountable odds and fighting the good fight provides hope for our generation and the generations to come.
What inspires you?
Resilience in the face of adversity. Not limited solely to humanity, there is incredible resilience in nature. These are the stories that are all around us; take the time to listen.
What are you working on?
Aside from working on content for Southern Holly, my writer's blog, I work on short stories for writing competitions, essays and articles for magazines and literary websites, and am working on my first novel.
How can we support?
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