| Hello there! I think this is the hardest part of the whole website for me to work on. Let’s see if I can make a go of it. |
I was born and raised in Carrollton , MS and lived there until I was twenty-one. I then moved about 100 miles away to Jackson , still in Mississippi . I now live in Sturgis , MS , which is 70 miles away from where I started out in Carrollton . Carrollton is a small country town. There was no red light, just a four way stop on top of what use to be the community well back in the day. Growing up, we (we being my friends and me) did things like ride our bikes three miles into town, partly on a gravel road, just to spend our weekly allowance of a whopping $1.50. Since we had made the trip that far, we went a little further to ride behind Sanders Grocery to climb the massive magnolia tree in a woman's yard whose name we never knew; however, her voice we knew well. Yelling she would come, and running we would go with our bikes beside us. If we did not ride our bikes to town, we would ride horses. It was rather hard to “park your horse” to go into Mrs. Wilson's store, so we took turns holding the reins until everyone had a chance to spend their wad of cash.
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Next stop would be the creek. Up the creek we rode until we were at “rock bottom”, the only place deep enough to jump in. We would just let the horses roam free, a thousand wonders how we never lost one. When it was time to start back, we would gather the horses and with sopping wet clothes head back home, always being dried out by the time we reached the homestretch.I miss those days. Every child should be able to grow up in the country.
I am the baby of four children. (I know this because my mama still calls me her baby girl.) My sister married at a young age, so life was tough with two older brothers. My family still jokes about me being their moving target for the pump up pellet guns. True? It was. Hurt? It did. There should be no doubt in your mind that I was a tomboy. I had no choice. Frilliness was just not an option.
Many twists and turns from then ‘til now, but all is well. I am blessed to live where I do. It is a beautiful piece of land. We have many animals and a multitude of hobbies. We stay busy, and we like it that way. Even though I have a two-year degree in Child Care and Development, my work has always been in different parts of the medical field. I work full time at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University . In my spare time, I make hand-made pottery. Like writing, the pottery wheel takes me into another world of creativity. I will share several pictures from my life and surroundings on my blog site, or I think I will, if I learn how to download or upload, or whatever you do with them to get them there.
I am a person that believes if you love to do something, don't let anyone stop you. Learn that craft, and be proud of what you accomplish. Of course, you are going to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of learning. Some people just think and never try. I cannot imagine a life like that.
Well, maybe that was not too hard to write. Enjoy looking around my site and my blog. Feel free to email me, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Smiles,
C.J. |
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The Creation of BUT…WHY? (top)
Over two years before “But…Why?” became a completed book, the title of the book, but nothing else, popped into my head. I had never thought to write a book, nor did I have any educational experience in the field of writing. Having no idea what to do with it, I knew that one day the “rest of the story” would come along. And it did! About a year later, I was at my workplace talking to someone about their future. The student explained that one day he was going to be somebody, to own a business, to make a mark in the world, to do something different. I, in turn, told him I was going to write a children's book. He asked what it was going to be about, and I told him I didn't know, I only knew the title. As he kept asking questions, I kept trying to answer them. And that , is how the storyline came to life. It was time to leave for the day, but I was not about to stop what was going on in my head. As I drove home, I turned the dome light on and started to write. Yes, I know, it was not the safest thing to do. I wrote as I drove. It was as if a part of my mind opened up that never had before. Even the dedication of the book came to me. I did not have to think about it. It was just there. I had always been able to make up small poems or rhymes for people with ease, but never a book!
So, back to the story.
This is where most people stop the process, especially people like me. Someone who is not specialized in the writing field. Someone who has trouble reading, writing and concentrating because of dyslexia, and the fact of being blonde. I had such a strong urge within me to complete this and to make “But…Why?” a book that families would enjoy. My determination outweighed my knowledge. I started doing research on how to self publish. I never thought about going through a publishing house. I look back now and think about it, but there is no reason, I just didn't. It was not the path I wanted to take or try at that time. So, I continued to research. Copyrighting, barcodes, ISBN numbers, printing companies, editors, illustrators, and the list goes on. It was extremely overwhelming; however, I saw it through, and here it is.
I hope you enjoy my book. I have several other stories that have entered my dyslexic little brain. I was at work one day, typing away and WHAM! there it was, the whole story and the title this time. One day, it too will be out for you to enjoy with your children. But, for now, spend time with your children with “But…Why?” Take time with them, read to them, and love them. And let them be children as long as they can.
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