Honestly, the idea for Shay’s Gamble was years in the making. I always knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. As a kid growing up in Maryland, if asked what I wanted to become, I would’ve said the next Agatha Christie! Well, I’m a far cry from my favorite mystery novelist, but I can now say I’m a published author.
For years I waffled back and forth with what I would choose to write if I ever actually took the plunge. After I came out as a lesbian at the age of 41, the idea of Shay’s Gamble began to brew in my mind with a persistence no story had before. Slowly, day by day, the characters of Shay’s Gamble were born, and the storyline came to life in my mind.
So, I started writing. I was lucky enough to connect with a friend from high school who was in the process of getting ready to self-publish. She added me into a Discord group of writers and their input has been invaluable. I progressed from writing things down in a notebook to using Scrivener (which I love).
Next thing you know, I had an actual first draft! A completed story and not just an idea stuck in my brain. I sent the rough draft out to a few friends to beta read for me. The feedback was positive, and they all encouraged me to keep moving forward on the path to publication. The wonderful people in my Discord group set me up with an amazing editor and she got to work. Many painful but needful changes later, Shay’s Gamble was ready to send off for formatting.
I am so very thankful to have so many supportive people who have made the self-published journey before me and are more than willing to share the wisdom they’ve earned along the way. I definitely would’ve been lost in the Amazon setup without their guidance.
Editing efforts, cover design, and formatting magic came together in a beautiful collaboration that became the finished product of Shay’s Gamble. I published May 2, 2022, and now I’m getting ready to publish the second book in the Worlds Apart Romance series, Lexi’s Cup of Tea. I have learned so much along the way but believe me when I say I still have so much to learn!
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