Chapter 1: The Dream Begins

In the midst of a fortunate mid-life marriage, my Final Husband suggested, "Why not pursue that MFA you've always dreamed of? I'll handle the household duties." He was affectionately known as The Great Encourager.

For two transformative years, I dedicated myself to studying and writing, while he took charge of all cooking and chores, managed our schedule, and attended cultural events with other women. There were certainly some surprised looks when I reappeared beside him after graduation. However, at 64, nearly 44 years after earning my BA in Art, I realized a lifelong ambition by obtaining an MFA in Short Fiction.

The MFA was not the sole item on my bucket list; writing short fiction was also on my mind. Throughout my career as a newspaper and magazine writer, I would often tell The Great Encourager, "I can't create fiction! Real Writers are those who sit down and conjure stories."

Yet, I found myself doing just that. I began to write stories—and rewrote, and rewrote, reveling in the process with a great deal of assistance.

The University of San Francisco's Class of 2000 was a diverse group, including bright young graduates, Vietnam veterans grappling with painful memories, and individuals from various backgrounds, with me being the elder stateswoman of the class. Those two years were among the most rewarding of my life.

During this time, I produced many stories that deserved to be discarded, but I also crafted several pieces that I was genuinely proud of. Perhaps because we truly "write what we know," many of these narratives were set in a small college town in central Virginia, characterized by a railroad track running through the main street during and after World War II.

"I'll create a collection," I thought as this idea took root. For years, I would say to myself, "If I live long enough, I’ll publish my short story collection." Eventually, I voiced this ambition aloud.

"You must be joking," my agent exclaimed, using language that was both expressive and less than polite. Similar reactions followed. The notion of publishers eagerly offering contracts for short story collections from an unknown writer with a few nonfiction titles that had moderate sales was nothing more than a pipe dream. Coming from a generation that viewed self-publishing as somewhat shameful or indicative of failure, I struggled with the idea.

Ultimately, I decided to embrace the possibility of failure—or perhaps pursue a dream. This choice meant crossing a significant item off my bucket list. After losing The Great Encourager, I felt he would have urged me, "Just go for it."

Self-publishing has evolved from being frowned upon to receiving mixed reviews. Some have achieved lucrative contracts, while others have produced best-sellers. And then there are those of us in between.

In truth, I enjoyed the process. Having written several forgettable books under assignment and a few heartfelt nonfiction works, I discovered that self-publishing offered distinct advantages. There were no constraints on page count, illustrations, cover design, or deadlines—only the ones I imposed on myself. I also didn't have to deal with fact-checkers or proofreaders (though proofreading is valuable; despite my careful editing, I later discovered a couple of embarrassing typos).

While self-publishing has become more accessible and respectable, it remains a significant undertaking. It’s wise to research recommended companies, check references, review their books (even if it means purchasing a few), and consult with authors who have worked with them while also reviewing contracts. Some of this I was aware of beforehand; other aspects I wish I had known.

Then one day, there it was: Marshallville Stories in print. It also became available as an audiobook, thanks to a friend of a friend transitioning from stage to book narration and in need of a demo project.

Aside from books written on assignment, I never had a substantial advance to recoup, which was likely a blessing. The works I take the most pride in would never have covered living expenses (thankfully, other writing did).

Marshallville Stories didn’t have to cover my bills. I simply paid the self-publishing company, relieved that it didn’t deplete my savings. Having finally lived long enough to publish my short story collection, I find joy in simply being here.

With little left on my bucket list, I choose to focus on gratitude.

Chapter 2: The Self-Publishing Experience

In this chapter, I reflect on the process of self-publishing and the lessons learned.

The first video titled "I Turned Dream's SMP Into A #1 Bestselling Book" explores the journey of transforming a beloved gaming experience into a successful literary work. It offers insights into the author's creative process and the challenges faced along the way.

The second video, "I made the DREAM SMP into a novel," delves into the adaptation of a popular gaming narrative into a novel format, discussing the intricacies of storytelling and the author's motivations.