| Here is the hardest part of being a writer who wants to be
an author. Self-promotion. I’m not saying I never talk about myself. But in the publishing world, an author
needs to be willing to talk about themselves and their work. Gone are the days
when the eccentric writer locks themselves away and their agent and editor does
all the work of promotion. Are all writers eccentric by the way? Here’s my pithy bio: Debra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides, the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. Debra likes to write, weed and wander and is blessed to have the best family and friends in the world. She’s thankful each day that God is in control, that He chooses to bless us despite ourselves and that He has a sense of humor. Have you ever written anything about yourself like that? As if you’re talking about another person? Try it sometime. Yes, I began writing and making books before I started kindergarten. I’d create little booklets and send to my grandparents when they were away visiting. (They lived with me while I was growing up. Only Child. Four Adults. And no, I wasn’t spoiled, but I was well-loved.) Later on I was the narrator for all my own made up adventures. I had a wide margin, there was no one to say, “No, I don’ wanna do that”. Make-believe has a tendency to go away and the next thing you know you’re a wife or mother and you have trouble finding your way through real life, much less an imaginary one, but believe me, the little voice doesn’t get stifled. There comes that time when the writer surfaces again and the
imagination isn’t just telling stories but imagining writing them, selling them
. . . being an author. If you want to write, don’t wait for the perfect time.
If you want to do anything in this life, the perfect time will never come,
right? On and off through major life changes and here I am, seriously pursuing
a writing career. Now, the really awful ‘about me’ part: mother of three adult children, a mother-in-law (I hope not too annoying), a grandmother. I’m a friend, an introvert, a hermit, a leader, a follower. I have a degree in horticulture and I work for a wonderful program at a major land grant college where we try to find ways to reduce pesticide use. I love to do anything creative and work with my hands but my brain is always spinning with possibilities. I love quiet, an empty beach, traveling, eating, cooking, napping and reading. I don’t think I’ll ever grasp the full love of God towards me until I’m there and overwhelmed by His presence. I’m going because of a thing called Grace. I hope to get a job in the gardens of Heaven someday and I hope peanuts grow there. |  |
