By author: Audrey Hinds
Since I was about 12 years old writing poetry at my kitchen table, I knew without a doubt that I was meant to be author. I knew I was meant to dream beyond the small town where I lived in Dinwiddie, VA. I knew that writing would serve not only as a means of expressing myself, but it would offer a comfort beyond anything I had ever experienced back then. I can still recall writing poem after poem and eagerly stumbling over the words as I shared with my dad. The idea that I could create something out of nothing or that I could bring a journal to life and that I could experience moments as far as my imagination would take me was exhilarating.
Writing allowed me to see the world with a fresh perspective each day and inspired me to appreciate my surroundings. I was especially intrigued by nature and would often find my happy place planted right on my front porch looking into the distance of the heavily wooded county as deer and rabbits hopped along. During those times, I would imagine being an author or writing for a newspaper. I’d send off books of poetry only to have it returned by kind publishers who encouraged me to keep at it. It was disheartening back then, but I decided giving up wasn’t an option because out of all the occupations in the world writing was the only one, I wanted to do. Thankfully, by age fifteen my dreams turned into reality when I was given the opportunity to write for our local community newspaper, The Progress Index, as a Junior Journalist.
It was actually my very first job. I took so much pride in it because in my mind I had cracked the code to living my dreams at age 15. I remember conducting interviews on family and friends for my articles, sitting at an over-sized oval table along with my peers and the “real” journalist who ran the program and tossing around ideas. It felt as if I had finally made it, little did I know I had so much more to learn about life before I could be the author I aspired to be. When I finally aged out of the program, I found myself working a sales job and attending college for Liberal Arts. But without warning life happened. My dad was diagnosed with cancer, so naturally my goals shifted. I wanted to be the same support system to him as he had been to me, which for me meant getting a traditional 9-5 and an apartment big enough for both of us. Unfortunately, for my dad it wasn’t so black and white and his home was still in Dinwiddie. It was roughly a one hour drive from my home, so I decided that writing and school were low priorities during those times. I found myself unfocused, unmotivated and undecided on what I wanted to do for the first time in my life. I allowed myself to believe that becoming an author would never happen and I didn’t even make time to grieve the burial of my dream. I was exhausted and I had given up on myself. I even started to believe that the idea of a young girl from a small town, never had a real shot at becoming an author in the first place.
Fast forward, twelve years as a mom, wife and educator I found myself in an unfilled place although I was blessed beyond measure. I secretly knew that until I served my purpose of being an author that I would never find peace. In that moment, I decided that I would publish a book in the year of 2019 no matter what obstacles I faced. Frankly, I was content with publishing by 12/31, but thankfully God had much greater plans for this chapter in my life. I will say, the journey this time was just as bumpy and came full circle when my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in April and passed away within a matter of weeks. However, this time around, I had some amazing people cheering me on and it made all the difference in the world, but mostly I didn’t have the courage to disappoint my own children. I am a firm believer in living on purpose; therefore, I tell them to follow their dreams and I knew I had to set
the example.
I decided to trust the process and not allow another twelve years to pass me by because I knew my writing was grander than the twenty-eight pages of my book; it was the marathon not a sprint. Nowadays, I am living on purpose and excited for the next phase of my life, which will be offering publishing and book coaching services by the new year. I plan to name the company after my dad and dedicate my second book to my mom. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and many blessings on your next best seller!
My book, Hair with Flair officially released on July 15th and my second book,
My Daddy the Coach will release in the fall of 2019.
Happy reading,
Audrey Hinds
To find "Hair with Flair" and other great books, visit our website at www.magicbeansbookstore.com When you buy a book through MagicBeans we are able to donate new books to underserved children, for some these are the very first books they have ever owned. Please visit our bookstore today!