Realizing a Dream, Debra Shiveley Welch
Realizing a Dream As a child, my favorite authors were Taylor Caldwell, Belva Plain, Nora Lofts, John Savage, and at 17, I feel in love with James Michener. I loved the way they used words to paint a tapestry of sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. I also admired the way they kept me turning the page, devoting hours to each reading session. But, the author that stands out most in my memory is Taylor Caldwell. You can see her influence in my writing, and although she never knew it, she was my teacher. Mrs. Caldwell instilled in me a love for the novel, and because of that love, I wanted to be an author someday. It took a while, but I finally made it with my first traditionally published children’s book, A Very Special Child , published in 2005; I was 53. Published in 2006, Jesus Gandhi Oma Mae Adams, a murder mystery, written with my cousin, soon followed. In 2007, Son of My Soul – The Adoption of Christopher debuted in October, two weeks before National Ad...