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About Joy Collins
I knew I wanted to be a writer as soon as I learned what a book was. Getting a library card, for me, was as exciting as going to Disneyland – maybe better. Reading was fun but then I discovered writing! Ah, that was where the magic happened. Creating my own world and having total control over it – it was the stuff any shy awkward little kid dreamed of. In grammar school, I wrote stories about kittens and puppies. In high school, I wrote about unrequited love. With a fellow classmate, I rewrote Pride and Prejudice as a stage play and even talked one of the nuns into letting us perform it for our class.Just before graduation from high school, I wrote an episode for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, a television show popular at that time. Even though I was only seventeen, I managed to obtain an agent from Samuel French, Inc. (he had no clue I wasn't old enough to sign a contract if he sold the script!). My script made it all the way to 20th Century Fox Studios and that rejection letter is still one of my most prized possessions.
I wanted to be a journalism major in college, but my guidance counselor talked me out of it. Back then, nursing or teaching were the only professions women were encouraged to pursue. So, my dream of becoming a writer was put on hold for the next few – make that many – years as life took precedence. Now that life has settled down, I have found that the urge to write won't let me be and I have once again put my pencil to paper.My first journey into publication took the shape of a health newsletter for Baby Boomers that I started in 1997 with a friend but it wasn't a success. I think we were ahead of our time. Boomers just weren't ready to look at their health back then.
But that didn't stop me. My next venture was online and I was fortunate to publish several medical and health-related articles, even having my own monthly health column at one point. I eventually branched out into print magazines.But making up stories has always been my first love. I knew I wanted to write fiction. I started playing a game of 'what-if' one day with an idea that had been rolling around my mind and the seeds for Second Chance started to sprout. I drew on my own emotional experience as a second wife and stepmother while giving Sara, the protagonist, her voice.
Writing novels is what I want to do and I'm already halfway through my next book as well as collaborating with a co-author on another two.My husband and I love our Arizona home and wonder sometimes why we didn't move here sooner. In my "spare" time, I read every chance I get. I love to cook and often invent my own recipes. Trouble is, I never write them down so chances are we never get to eat it quite the same way every time. My husband spends his spare time tinkering with antique Mercedes cars. And we both love playing with our fur family. We have two dogs – Jessie and Toby- and three cats – Casey, Charlotte and new kitten Riley. Check out Riley's blog to see what he has gotten into recently.
Interview
my interview at Fiction ScribeAffiliations
Wizards of Words,
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