Being an author at the age of sixteen is many things. The word “blessing” certainly comes to mind and a paragraph of different emotions certainly seems to follow. Though this is true, challenging isn’t that far down on my list of vocabulary words either.
After my first novel, A Thousand Miles, was self published, my life began to change. Book signings and readings started to become a part of my every day life. I began to find my purpose in the world, and started to become known for what I was doing. It wasn’t easy and still to this day it, being a teen author is complex. “I have fought many battles,” I would often tell people, “but this is where my heart is.”
A year later, The Visionary, my second novel, was published and again my life changed. Publishing my second book was the hardest thing I have ever done. Though I went through it once before, my expectations were much higher. I made it far with A Thousand Miles, but this time I wanted to push past where I left off.
Before The Visionary launched, I almost lost my book all together. The date was set, my appearance on my local news channel was marked and I was ready. I hit “order” on Lulu. At this moment everything stopped. I was informed that the books I tried to order would not ship. I took a deep breath and tried again. Day one it failed. Day two the same. By the fifth day, I thought I had failed completely.
I thought my journey as an author was over, so that day in tears I sat in front of one my biggest supporters. I looked at her and said, “I don’t know what to do anymore. Writing is a part of me. I can not lose this.” But she believed in me.
I went home that night hoping that Lulu would have responded to the email my supporter wrote. They did not. I went to my supporter the next day and told her, “I am done. Thank you for trying, but I can no longer do this.”
I checked my email again that night. I got a response from my publisher. “Congratulations, your book The Visionary is on its way.” I don’t look at that and say, “Wow, her email made it happen.” I think of it and say, “That happened because someone believed in me when I wasn’t sure.” The Visionary became my life and writing became my world. I am proud of the accomplishment I made and I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given. “Being a writer isn’t what I do, being an author is what I am.” I am on a journey with miles ahead of me and footsteps behind.
Bio:
Alyshia Hull wrote and published her first novel, A Thousand Miles, at the age of fifteen. Then a year later, her second novel The Visionary was published. Hull has reached much success with both novels and has become known for her young career. You can learn more by visiting her author page here: https://www.facebook.com/HelpMeGetOnEllen?ref_type=bookmark
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