I’m so glad to welcome Lonnie Cruse (who happens to have *the* most perfect name for at least one of the mystery series she writes) to the blog. Lonnie is a genuinely lovely person, for one thing. For another, her Moment encapsulates a dimension of hope, and a reason for writing–something I myself often forget. Read on to see how we all “make it” simply by setting down words on paper.

First, I want to thank Jenny for letting me share my “Made It Moment.” There are few of these moments in nearly everyone’s life, which makes them so special. Wedding day. Birth of child day. Birth of a grandchild day. Getting your book into print day.

Like most mystery readers/lovers, for years, probably even decades, I dreamed about writing a mystery AND getting it into print so others could read it. So, why didn’t I try sooner? Somehow I thought “real” authors had formal training, college, journalism job, etc, and the novel police would hunt me down and arrest me just for typing that first chapter.

Then I read a couple of mystery novels written by very well-known authors that had HUGE plot holes in them, and the author and/or editors didn’t catch them. In the first, a character hands over to the sheriff a very important note/clue, and a chapter or so later, she still has it in her purse. In the other book, someone knocks on a door and the main character answers, invites the visitor in, and then ignores her for the entire chapter. I thought it was rude until a couple of chapters later when the lead character begins to chat with the visitor. Solution: the scene had been moved up a couple of chapters but not the “door knock.” And no one noticed. Hey, I could do that poorly if I wrote a book! Maybe I could even do better? Why not give it a shot? I gave it a shot.

It took me one long year to write/re-write the manuscript, and four more long years of working with a good critique group, entering writing contests (entered seven, placed in the top ten in four of them, which let me know I was on the right track) and multiple submissions to publishers with multiple resulting rejections. I cried over the first rejection and one of my lovely daughters-in-law sent me flowers. I cried over the second and she told me to get over it, no more flowers would be forthcoming. She was right. I got over it. At long last, a small but upcoming publisher gave me a three book contract. I started the book when I was fifty-five years old, and I held the first hardback copy in my trembling hands one month shy of my sixtieth birthday. Ahhhh. Right on par with marrying my sweetheart and giving birth to my sons/holding my infant grandsons. My first “Made It Moment” as a writer.

My next “Made It Moment” came when I read a positive review of my first mystery novel, written by someone who didn’t know me but loved my writing anyhow. The reader didn’t even know me but loved my work? It doesn’t get much better than that!

And my third “Made It Moment” came when one of my grandsons mentioned to me how he’d told all of his elementary school buddies about his grandmother, the “famous author.” Sigh. Does it get any better than that? His older brother isn’t much of a reader, but he’s read Grandma’s books. I do have to sit on him to keep him from revealing the endings to anyone/everyone else at my signings. Sigh.

We all want to leave something of ourselves behind, a “footprint” if you will. Beyond leaving descendants, which, I suppose is the ultimate footprint, leaving our words in print, for others to read and hopefully enjoy, is a dream come true. Whenever I speak to a group about writing, I strongly encourage the participants to give writing a try. I particularly encourage attendees in the area of journaling family history. Once older family members are gone, the family stories go with them, unless someone writes them down. My father-in-law was full of family stories, and now that he’s no longer with us my eldest son enjoys reading the journal of stories I jotted down. I’m hoping my grandsons will enjoy the journals I keep for them of the adventures we’ve taken whenever they’ve come to visit (just as long as their mother never sees them!)

You don’t have to be a trained writer to write. You just have to have a story to tell. We all have stories inside us. Don’t let them be lost in time.

Lonnie Cruse is the author of the Metropolis Mystery Series(featuring Sheriff Joe Dalton and his deputies) and the Kitty Bloodworth/’57 Chevy Mystery Series (featuring Kitty and Jack Bloodworth and their trophy winning ’57 Chevy.) Lonnie resides in Metropolis, Illinois, home of the famous Superman statue. Check out her website at: http://www.lonniecruse.com