"It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one
than to have an opportunity and not be prepared."
Whitney M. Young, Jr.
That quote sums up my life perfectly.
I've always been a writer and I always will. But until a brush with a near-fatal illness forced me to dust off a dream I had yet to accomplish, my desires went unfulfilled. My dream was to become a published author. But I continued to write as I journeyed through life.
Real estate became another one of my passions in 1989. During this period, I have worked through a multitude of markets, which has added to the knowledge I use for my clients. I have helped a lot of wonderful people with this knowledge and the experiences I have lived have been unforgettable.
Prior to entering real estate, I've done everything from digging horse trails to cleaning toilets to military service to serving in the "black world" of aerospace.
Through an accident of fate, I've finally been able to follow my lifelong passion for writing. My stories range from real estate and finance to family issues to stories that inspire and depict the human spirit. Proudly, I am also a Contributing Author to the New York Times Best Selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. With over 85 millions copies sold to date, consisting of 65 titles and written in 37 languages, this is the most successful book series in the history of publishing...and I'm now part of it! I'm extremely proud to be associated with this prestigious series.
On December 6, 2007, I was the featured author at the Borders Books & Music Holiday Open House book signing event in Chino, California. Although my newest release A Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas was the featured book, I also signed copies of my others.
In January 2008, my story "Learning to Share" was released in Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating People Who Make a Difference: The Headlines You'll Never Read. It is the story of the lessons I learned from my grandparents, L and Ve Esther Hawthorne–affectionately known as L and Moma–who were born in the small towns of Lillie, Louisiana and Smackover, Arkansas, respectively. The small town values they possessed of helping those less fortunate was an inspiration to all of us.
The national exposure my writing has brought me and the wonderful people I've met has been a wonderful part of my life. This passion for writing has created more exciting opportunities. I can truly say every day is a wonderful gift.
I thank God every day that I was allowed to see my dream come true. I am currently working on my first novel.
Click here to get autographed copies of my books .