These are the words of S.M. Walkington author of Balboa Press book “Everlasting Grace”. Shr answered the call to write her book and self-publish with Balboa Press. To learn more about her story visit her website, Facebook and Twitter. Download the Balboa Press free publishing guide to receive more information. 

Work for Your Dreams

Having a dream is one thing, working towards those dreams are another. Many people will sit back and say, ‘I wish I done this’ ‘oh I should have done that’ and reflect on what could have been. I won’t be one of those people. At the age of 29, I decided that dreams don’t come to happen because you want them to. They happen because you need to make them happen. One of my dreams was to have a book published. Have my thoughts put into words on printed paper. A lasting legacy that I could look back on. To achieve this I decided on self-publishing. I decided to use this form of publishing as it was a sure way of getting my work out there and still have control. I wouldn’t have to worry about submitting my manuscript and have the nervous wait hoping that someone likes it enough to give me a chance.

To start with I had an idea, a concept of what I wanted to put out there. Then I just wrote and wrote and wrote. I have no special talents in grammar or the English language, but I didn’t let that stop me. I didn’t even do that great in school, but I had this idea in my head and once I started I found I could not stop. Towards the end of my writing journey, I realized just how far I had come. I started to feel proud of what I achieved and how I made it happen.

Inspire Others

When I started telling people that I was getting a book published, I was surprised to how many replied with “I have started writing one too, but never finished it” or “I have always wanted to write a book”. Once I told them how I got my book published, quite a few of them continued to write. This day and age, almost anything is in reach you just need to make that final stretch. I remember words of advice given to me by a mentor: There are two times in life to do things, now or never. I chose now.

Balboa Press authors who’d like to share a 350-600 word experience related to the self-publishing of their books are invited to do so by the submission form on the Guidelines page. We may not be able to use every story, but we will read and consider them. Balboa Press reserves the right to edit stories for content, grammar, and punctuation accuracy; as well as for space.