Meet our featured beauty with brains Lyn Abernathy, a published author based in Georgia, USA.
“I am a writer. I am a poet, a freelance writer, and a novelist. My debut novel, ‘After the Dash’ was just published this month! It is available now on Amazon and through all major booksellers. I have been an entrepreneur, a virtual assistant, an HR consultant, a bookkeeper, and more in order to pay the bills.
I also have a blog on my website, http://www.LyndaAbernathy.com. The main thing, though, is how I have pushed and persevered to make my dream of being a novelist come true. I have been mocked, rejected, ostracised and even fired for having too much passion, but I don’t see the point in a life without it. I have held second and even third jobs in writing while working full-time. I have been dedicated to this dream, and it is finally a reality!
I am a Georgia girl, born and bred, though I have lived in the midwest for a few years. I am addicted to coffee and taking pictures of my dogs. I love to travel. I take a lot of pictures.” – Lyn
Here is an interview with her.
- Can you tell us more about your book – your experience in writing it, how much research went into it etc
After the Dash is the culmination of years of work and life. I started writing it in 2015, after a particularly rough period in my life. The year before had held grief, heartbreak, health issues, financial problems, loss of friendships, and a whirlwind of other negatives. It tore me completely down. However, it was that flat view of devastation that ultimately brought me back to myself. Only after everything else, all the distractions and noise, had been taken away could I clearly see who I was, who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do with my life. I spent three years writing the book, as I was working full-time and would step away from it for weeks at a time. Then, because the novel is cross-genre and not easily defined (much like me, and I would wager much like you), it took several months to find my publisher. The release of After the Dash in April of this year was a lifelong dream come true for me.
- Did you always want to be an author from childhood? Any specific reason or inspiration?
I always was an author, though I didn’t always know that’s what I wanted to do. What I mean by that is I was writing as soon as I learned to read. I would write happy little poems about dogs or sunshine and illustrate them with my crayons when I had only just learned to write. I’ve written poetry my entire life. It’s a way of journaling, a release, for me. I actually have a book of poetry on Amazon. I always wrote short stories. Once, when I was a teen, my brother made fun of me and called me a nerd because I had taped together 6 pages of notebook paper, filled with an entire family tree. I was going to write a series about them, and I had fleshed out each character, their relation in the family, his or her backstory, etc. But I didn’t refer to myself as a “writer,” and if you asked me what I wanted to do for a career, I would answer with “archaeologist” or “Olympic swimmer.” It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize my talents, my passions, and my purpose were as clear as day if I just paid attention.
- What is your advice to women who want to become published authors but find it hard to gain foothold in the industry?
Be authentic and be tenacious. You absolutely must believe in yourself first and be your own advocate. The market is flooded with writers, and it is incredibly difficult to get attention in the industry. Keep trying, anyway. I read somewhere that J.K. Rowling was rejected over 200 times for publication. The industry doesn’t always know what real readers want. Just keep letting your light shine until just that right person or publisher or agent recognizes what you know you’re worth. And now, you can publish your own self if you so desire! Go straight to your audience without any hassle. Whatever way you choose to go, believe in yourself, have a thick skin, and never, ever give up.
- Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Well, I’m a dreamer. I want to say I will be writing from my messy desk, a cup of coffee in hand, some cool techy gadget that has replaced laptops documenting my words, as I look out of my broad windows to a rocky shoreline, surrounded by my various published works. My RV will be parked outside, ready to roll off on another adventure, to see somewhere new. Realistically, I will likely be doing something similar to what I am now: hustling with a day job (or two), writing, traveling when time and income permit, and living my life as authentically as I can.
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