When Hobby Becomes Reality

As I'm typing this, my five-month-old is on the floor beside me, practicing rolling over all on her own. My six-year-old is running in and out of the front door as if there's some sort of medal to be won for letting out the cool air conditioned air. And my dog heard me mention a word beginning with a "w" and is staring at me until I acknowledge his presence. And I am scrounging five minutes to work on my author website and write a blog post so that if anyone actually cares to look or stumbles across this, they won't see the template prompting to add a little information about yourself, and therefore signifying that I am what I feel: an impostor. 

My entire life, I've dreamed of being an author. I've devoured books from the moment I learned to read (and, according to my mother, long before I could read, when I memorized Bears on Wheels and "read" to her nightly at the age of four) and rarely have I read a good book without thinking, "I want to do this. I want my name on a cover on people's shelves."

But like most writers and artists, I have a dizzying balance of confidence and self-doubt. I know I'm a good writer. I doubt that anyone finds my work good enough to publish, let alone buy. For years, I've sat back and wished, unable and (more likely) unwilling to take steps and chances on turning the wish into a risk, which is the only way to take steps toward making it a dream come true.

So after having my second daughter and going on maternity leave from my job as a high school teacher, I vowed to myself that I would concentrate on turning my hobby into reality. And I stayed true to my word, submitting more work to more places, and being greeted with more success than I'd have expected. As part of these efforts, I took a risk I never thought I would: I published my first book, a collection of writing and blackout pieces (which can be found under the "Store" tab). And now, I'm willing to do something I never have: put myself out there to the world as what I've always wanted to be: an author.

I've created this website to not only be taken seriously by any potential agents or publishing companies, but by myself. I wanted to create an image for myself that expressed not just who I want to be, but who I've always been. And I'm finally ready to do that, because I've got two girls and I want to make them proud and also show them how life is meant to pursue passions. I want them to see you can be a mother, have a career, and still work on what you love. Being a woman means not sacrifice but shifting, learning how to manage all the shapes life takes while not losing sight of what you've wanted for yourself all along.

Dearest visitor, I sincerely hope that as I grow, you'll be there by my side, reading along with me. There's nothing more this Reeder would love than to be surrounded by readers. 

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