A Blog for Writers: Women and Adversity, Lynn Darby

Health issues were the impetus to motivate children’s book author Lynn Darby to pursue her dream of getting books published. After quadruple bypass surgery 2010, she knew she had to move ahead. Obstacles before then? Of course.

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Children’s book author Lynn Darby

Question: What was the biggest obstacle she faced when she decided to write, she said: Lynn: I found I could write letters to the editors of newspapers, etc. and solve many conflicts simply by putting my pen to paper and mailing off lettersthat got results. After leading a one-woman drive to save a shopping center, an editor asked me to write a weekly column, “Neighborhood News.” The obstacle I faced was that I never owned a typewriter!  I found an ink ribbon typewriter, but then I had another obstacle. The editor wanted me to put my telephone number in the column, but my husband was an overnight baker and needed his rest during the day. I told the editor I would do the phone calls to organizations, scout leaders, libraries, churches and civic leaders on my own, and collect news that way.  He gave me a trial.  It worked for 5 years, and my youngest was still not in school. I was in my element!  Question: What obstacle did she face when she decided to write children’s books? Lynn: I took computer classes and a graphic arts course and created web pages of my own with lots of creative stories just to share with friends. They nagged me about getting published.  “Sure, some day,” I would say.  My obstacle? How does one get “discovered?” After I woke from the quadruple bypass surgery, I looked heavenward, gratefully telling my creator, “I guess you still want me around.  I promise I will use the talent you gave me with my stories and get them out into the world.” During recovery, I almost gave up, thinking, “Who am I am kidding?” How would I do this?  I did mean what I promised, though.  I looked for a solution. I finished “The Story of the Knock-On Wood Shamrocks” in 2012. My newest book is “It’s Bright Eyes, the Too Tall Cupcake,” celebrating that being different can be dazzling, is available at www.amazon.com. Another obstacle:  How do I get this book printed? I admired the grit Ben Franklin had for his ability to create his own printing company. I read “How to” books and used the best printer and quality pigmented inks and paper weight from beginning to end. “Hand published with Love” is on the back of all my books.  Question: What is the biggest obstacle/s she faces now as a writer? Lynn: Finding time to get these stories out and finding an agent. Another obstacle is “feeling the fear, but doing it anyway.” I used to think that writers were only successful by having a “NY Times Best Selling Author” after their name. On a small level, however, I get to see the faces of children (while doing local library readings) light up with experiencing my stories and seeing images created from my mind… now into their minds. Advice:  Write because you love to write. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.  Embrace the writing gift that was given you from your creator. What better way to say “thank you” for your gift, than to use it and share it?  Reach out to many groups online to see how they are at the beginning stages of their writing, and soon you will be able to give pointers to them.  Look at YouTube tutorials, too.  A favorite Facebook location to get questions asked and answered by other self publishers is “How to Make, Market and Sell Ebooks – All for Free” at this site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/110604178950149/?ref=br_tf  Lynn can be reached at Artsy931@aol.com, www.LynnDarbyCreations.com and https://www.facebook.com/LynnDarbyChildensAuthor?ref=br_tf

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"It's Bright-Eyes, The Too Tall Cupcake" by Lynn Darby, children's author

“It’s Bright-Eyes, The Too Tall Cupcake” by Lynn Darby, children’s book author

Article By: Jo Ann Mathews

I published three ebooks in 2020: Women and Adversity, Honoring 23 Black Women; Women and Adversity, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers; and Women and Adversity, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. These books are meant to be study guides for all students from grade school through college to help in choosing topics for assignments and to learn more about these noteworthy women. Go to amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and goodreads.com to learn more.

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