Actually, it was herbs that began my writing career. At one time, I was passionate to know everything about them - growing, using, their history, and attributes. You should see the library I accumulated. Anyway, as I became more knowledgeable, other people began to ask me questions. This led to my putting together several booklets for beginners on herbs. When I took a Creative Writing course at Kilgore College, I was surprised to learn I had the imagination to write fiction. Then, I discovered the writer's group, East Texas Writers Association, and then came, as they say, the rest of the story.

I think every author I read inspires me. A big influence when a child, but already an avid reader, was Pearl Buck's 'The Good Earth'. I believe that story was the first to transport me into another world through the words on the page. Another author whose work I admire is Elizabeth Goudge, especially "The Scent of Water". I love the way she incorporates the spiritual so naturally into her writing. Madelaine L'Engle is another author whose work I read over and over.

We moved to Big Sandy, Texas in 1980, fulfilling a dream to move out of the big city and live a simple country life. My husband was born in Dallas, and we lived there the first fifteen years of our marriage after he got out of the service.

Actually, we live five miles out of Big Sandy which has a population of only 1,200, so it's still a small town. My older son was already a college student then, living away from home. My younger son was in elementary school.

I've been a stay-at-home mom most of my married life. Those early years were challenging; clearing land, growing a big garden, taking care of chickens, ducks, turkeys, and even rabbits. We were determined to become as self-sufficient as possible. Later, came the herb garden and a small nursery business to grow and sell plants.

But the years have accumulated, and I take life a lot easier now, especially since my husband retired six years ago. I think what has been the greatest satisfaction from living here is the quiet and peace the place exudes. Visitors never fail to comment on the sense of peace they feel upon arrival.

With each manuscript that becomes ready for publication, I weigh the pros and cons of traditional versus self-publishing. My first two novels, "Til Death Do Us Part" and "Troubled Times" , were published by PublishAmerica, a POD publishinghouse after a long process of shopping the traditional sources.

With "Tracks On The Sand", which is a history of Big Sandy, I knew it had a very limited market, so I self-published that book. A traditional publishing house produced "Living with a Depressed Spouse", which tells about how my husband's long-term depression affected me, and how God carried me through the experience. My newest novel, "Twist of Fate", made the rounds for years, seeking either an agent and/or or a publisher. I was in a financial position to self-publish it last year, and it became available in April 2010.

I would much rather sell a manuscript to a traditional publisher, but that hasn't happened. There is a lot of work the author must assume when self-publishing. Not only what's involved in getting the manuscript ready for publication, there's the cover design and later the publicizing and marketing is all up to the author. You acquire a lot of different 'hats' regarding the success of your book when you self-publish.

My interest in herbs came about as a result of my younger son being diagnosed as hyperactive at the age of two. A recommendation to change our diet led to elimination of salt and sugar, so I sought alternatives to season our diet. Hence, the interest in herbs. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. At the height of my passion, I had collected over 100 herbs. As I mentioned earlier, that's what opened the door to my writing career. I published a bi-monthly newsletter about herbs for five years. I went back to all that research material I'd accumulated in those earlier years when I was commissioned to write the series of twelve articles for the Herb Encyclopedia.

My gardening efforts have diminished over the years. Mostly what remains alive, despite neglect, is what my several beds contain now. In recent years, I've focused more on perennials and bulbs, which demand less attention.

Well, my most recent manuscript that is almost ready for self-publication is a compilation of the articles and essays I've written over my twenty-five years as a writer. My hope is that it will be an encouragement to beginning writers just as so many writers' books have educated and encouraged me in my career.

"Some Write Thoughts" is in the final editing stage, and I'm aiming for a release date of late March. I also have two completed novels awaiting a publisher - A Red Feather, a romantic-suspense and Second Time Around, which could probably be classified as women's fiction. Of course, there are always works in progress.

I've set up a website where interested folks can learn about my books and order directly from me. It's called: Piney Woods Books

I offer an Editorial Service, LINE BY LINE, on that website, also.

If they want to know more about me personally, they can go to My Website. I'm also on Facebook I have a Fan Page on Facebook called Piney Woods Books.

Thank you for asking me here, Patty. I've enjoyed my visit.