Dedications

Being an aspiring author can truly suck at times. Honestly, I remember it well. You're faced with the task of writing without a deadline or promise of publication, surrounded by constant reminders that you could be doing other things and little recognition for the hours you dedicate to your work-in-progress. It's so frustrating; you can't sell a book without writing one yet you have to 'fight' with daily life for the time needed to write a paragraph.

An advantage of your 'apprenticeship', which is how I view my aspiring decades, is the time and opportunity available to learn from other authors and make decisions - which you hope will come to fruition. I vowed I would always celebrate publication days - some authors don't 'it's just another day', they say. I believe each one is a personal celebration which was never guaranteed as mine. Like birthdays, I won't know when the last one has arrived, so I need to enjoy as many as I can!   

Another is book dedications. As a bookworm, I always read the dedication, if there is one. They're not always funny, poignant or reflective, but sometimes heartfelt and insightful. It feels like a cameo appearance to me as if I glimpse the author for a second before I'm lost amidst their words.

I will always have dedications, a vow made many moons ago. Mine are written at the beginning of a project, when the essence of the idea are fresh in my mind and my creative muse is on-fire - some authors leave it until completion as a finishing touch. I've dedicated one to a specific person, but the rest are dedicated to various 'things' in life. Some are witty, others poignant, but all reflect a theme within the book giving my readers a hint of the storyline before reading Chapter one.      

The image above shows the dedication in my latest book: Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel.
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I don't agonise over the wording or meaning, but each one offers a glimpse into my world!

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