On October 13th and 14th, 2023, I have the honor of participating in a literary event YA By the Bay founded by Sorboni Banerjee and Dominique Richardson, authors of the Everbeach Series. They designed the event to inspire teen readers to become leaders.

This weekend, I got to thinking about what led me to YA By the Bay. What has been my journey from teen reader to leader? What message do I hope I can translate to young readers to inspire them, as Sorboni and Dominique say, “to be the authors of their own lives.” And I wanted to share that journey with you—how I became the author of my own life.

Pre YA By the Bay

I spent the latter part of my teen years pregnant and living in a run-down trailer park with an abusive older man. During that time, I did a lot of reading. Sometimes I’d read horror to remind myself things could be worse. Thanks Steven King. Sometimes I’d read romance to remind myself things could be better. Thanks Danielle Steele. Sometimes I’d read adventure to remind myself of the importance of resiliency. Thanks Scott O’Dell.

Books gave me hope, inspiration, and courage. Eventually, fueled by the triumph of fictional characters and the continuous encouragement of educators, I clawed my way out of there. I conquered the bureaucratic red tape of college admissions and enrolled at a local community campus.

I juggled navigating single-parenting as a college student. Fortunately, my father let my daughter and I move in with him. To afford her daycare, when not in class, I worked on campus in my favorite place—the library. While I didn’t get to read as much for pleasure as I’d had back in that trailer, being surrounded by books inspired me.

By the time I’d earned my AA, I’d decided to go for an elementary education degree. I wanted to have the same schedule as my daughter.

She and I headed Stetson University in DeLand and lived in a small apartment complex for non-traditional students. By this time, my daughter was in Kindergarten. Having to fund myself meant turning to welfare programs. The first Saturday of every month, we stood for hours in a food stamp line. Since I couldn’t afford after-school care, I had to make sure all of my classes ended by the time school was out. Again, I signed up for campus employment in—you guessed it—the library.

Two years later, I graduated from Stetson University Magna Cum Laude with an education degree and an eight-year-old daughter. She and I then headed back to Lake County, Florida where I taught second grade with her as my dedicated afternoon assistant.

A few years later, the media specialist at the elementary school where I worked retired. All the years I’d spent working in college libraries made me want to apply for the position. I did and my principal offered me the job. I went back to school at night and earned my K-12 Media Literary Certification.

While I was a media specialist, my daughter’s love of books grew. She created Harry Potter displays in my library and and helped me select, purchase, and shelve books. Like me, she loved helping connect readers with books. She eventually earned her Bachelor of Arts in British Literature and then went on the law school.

I worked as a media specialist for almost twenty years. I left when my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. During the last few years, I started writing. I wrote a lot about autism on my blog Big Abilities and published two books, Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder and It Takes a Village: How to Build a Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family.

Then I pushed through and finished my May of 2024 YA debut WORTH IT which is a fictionalized version of my time living in that trailer. I’m not gonna lie—it’s a tough read, but if you’ve stayed with me this far, you already know it has a happy ending.

Today, I’m now an associate literary agent at The Purcell Agency helping other authors share their stories with the world and developmental editor at Wild Ink Publishing. And most recently, I’m lead anthologist for Uncensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired Anthology. My daughter is partner at her law firm. She also runs a book club that I’m overjoyed to be a part of.

Present YA By the Bay

That brings me to YA By the Bay. Months ago, I heard Sorboni and Dominique on the DIY MFA podcast talking about YA By the Bay. It piqued my interest because I was moving to the Tampa Bay area to be near my daughter and that was where the conference was being held.

But during the busy move, I forgot all about it until I saw their book show up on our book club list. I reached out to Dominique and told her I was in the area and asked if I could I be a part of YA By the Bay. She said yes!

She even came to our book club at my community pool so we could talk to her about Red as Blood!

When I think back to my humble beginnings in that trailer park, at times I felt hopeless. But when I’d turn to a story, even at my lowest point, that hope would resurface.

If I could tell teen reader me anything it would be this, you are not defined by this moment, you can be the author of your own life, and you can write yourself a happily ever after!

You are the author of your own life…Don’t let others define it for you. Real power comes from doing what you are meant to do, and doing it well.

Oprah Winfrey