The Pursuit of Dreams

Hi everyone, Sophia Sasson here, waving hello as this is my first time on the blog. I’m the newest author for Harlequin Heartwarming, a dream come true for me, so I thought I'd write about pursuing your dreams.

You know how you sometimes stand in front of the shower, and pretend to accept an academy award? Or pose for the flash of reporters on the red carpet? Maybe air guitar that awesome rock performance? I pretend to sign books.

"You have to dream before your dreams can come true." 

-- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

I was the kid who needed to be told to put her book away at the dinner table. My parents would often take books away from me because I was reading too much. I started sneaking my mother’s Mills and Boons when I was twelve years old. I’ve always been writing, but just for fun. I did the safe thing in going to college, all the way to getting a doctorate degree in public health, and working hard at a regular job. Become an author? That’s just crazy!

When I returned to work 4 months after giving birth to twins (no maternity leave here in the U.S), my heart wasn't in my job. I saw a speech Steve Jobs gave where he encouraged students to pursue their passion, to do that one thing that made them get up before the alarm went off in the morning.

Could I really become an author? Walt Disney started from nothing and built an empire. All because he had the courage to pursue his dreams. Why shouldn't I at least try?  Before I knew it, I had written a book. I started entering writing contests, and submitting to publishers to see if I was any good.

My first manuscript was rejected (and for good reason). I should’ve been discouraged, but I learned that rejection is a rite of passage for writers. JK Rowling was rejected by several publishers for Harry Potter. So was Dan Brown for the DaVinci Code, JD Salinger for Catcher in the Rye, and L.M Montgomery for Anne of Green Gables. Even Dr Seuss received a harsh turn down. I kept at it, improving my craft, and focusing on writing stories from the heart. Stories I wanted to read.

And before I knew it, Claire Caldwell at Harlequin Heartwarming found my work and decided to get me a contract. My debut novel, First Comes Marriage comes out in February. But before that, Harlequin will be publishing one of my short stories in November as a free online read along with twelve other Heartwarming authors. More to come on that.

So go ahead and dream. If mine can come true, so can yours.

Tell me, what do you dream of doing one day? Or, are you already living a dream?