Chocolate

I just finished baking the most amazing thing: cheesecake brownies. Yup – best of both worlds. It’s fudgey homemade brownies with a cheesecake topping swirled over it. Chocolate; cheesecake; what’s not to love?

I realized that I did the same sort of thing – combining two things that I love – to find my niche in the writing world. See, I think teenagers are amazing people (and currently have three of my very own). I spent ten years as a volunteer youth worker and was privileged to be part of many teens’ lives. It was awesome. So take a love of teens and add a love of writing, and the natural outcome is writing for young adults. Why it took me so long to figure this out is beyond me. Just one of those things, I guess. (Kind of like those V-8 commercials where you get whacked on the forehead — DUH! I coulda been writing for teenagers!) The writing I did as I dabbled in different areas still helped me practise my craft, and I don’t regret any of it. Well, except maybe that one editorial about telephone solicitors and vomit…. We all have our off-days.

Anyway, It’s pretty amazing to be able to spend my days doing something I love. In fact, a good morning of creating YA fiction is even better than… chocolate.