How I Accidentally Became a Writer
Angie Stanton – Author of Waking in Time
I get this question a lot. “How did you become a writer?” And the answer?
By accident.
I never wanted to be a writer. In fact, I hated writing. I loathed English class and am terrible at punctuation. To my credit, I did love reading, so at least I had that going for me. So how did I get to this place where I write books for a living? Well… I’m a daydreamer.
Ever since I was a kid my mind has been filled with made up stories. I was the youngest of three with two older brothers, living in a renovated one-room country schoolhouse located seven miles from town. The closest friend my age lived a mile away and didn’t move in until the seventh grade. I rode the bus 35 minutes each way to school, usually sitting alone starring out the window as we passed farm houses, cow pastures, and cornfields. I became an expert at entertaining myself and imagining fabulous things happening in my otherwise mundane young life.
Fast forward to adulthood and that daydreaming never stopped. I guess it was a way to cope with the craziness of raising kids and juggling work and sick parents. One day I realized one of my made up stories was becoming rather elaborate and thought I should write it down. I brought out paper and pen and gave it my best effort, but it was as lifeless as my high school book reports. I tossed it all away, confirming my belief that I had no writing skills, but months later when the story in my head continued nagging me, I tried again. For some magical reason, this time what I wrote wasn’t horrible. It was just good enough to give me the courage to continue.
Soon after, I joined a writers group and then a critique group. All with the goal of finishing my story, never imagining that it would lead to anything more. After several stops and starts, that story became my first published novel Love ‘em or Leave ‘em, which has been translated into German and French. My husband and I call that book the little book that could. It keeps chugging alongfinding new readers every day.
Now it’s years later and my eighth novel, Waking in Time, is hitting bookshelves. It’s crazy how a lonely child’s daydreaming led to a life in publishing. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Waking in time will be out tomorrow! And it's absolutely worth a read.
When I heard that this book is like a young adult The Timetravelers Wife I just knew I had to read this. I was very lucky to receive an early copy and to be invited on theis amazing blogtour for this book. This book follows Abbi who has just moved into the dorm at college and soon finds herself travelling through time. Every time Abbi falls asleep she travels further back. Every time waking up in the same room with a different room mate. In all her confusion she finds someone who appears to know all about her and who is helping her to find a solution for the time traveling. But every time she travels he is younger. Will she ever be able to figure it out and return home. But what will she learn through her timehopping? And who is the mysterious boy she seems to find "whenever" she goes?
I seiosuly enjoyed this book. And I can certainly see the similarities to The Time Travelers Wife, but in no way is this just a young adult copy of the book. It has its own twists and turns. Add to this a complicated love and you have yourself a book that is impossible to put down. I adored Abbi and I admire how she just gets on with things, no matter what time she travels too. I love the idea of how friendships are sort of build backwards... but you will have to read this to understand what I mean. And reading this book is what you should do. It's all about family, friends and love, past and present included. What a beautiful book and what an outstanding unique idea. Finishing off with a surprising end this is set to be a big success.
Please don't miss out on the rest of the Waking in Time blog tour...
