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Road to Sorority Sisters
There had to be more to life than what I had experienced within the state limits of Kentucky, and I was itching to grow and expand my boundaries. After graduation, I loaded down my old white Volkswagen, Jetta and transplanted with my good friend and soror, Caren, into Atlanta, GA.
After working in trade magazine publishing for a while, I felt unfulfilled and stifled, so I stepped out on faith and began freelance writing and graphic design. Shortly after I began working for myself, I was awaken one night by the personalities of five distinct characters. I knew everything about their lives and wasn't able to go back to sleep until I sketched each of them. From that night forward and for several months I birthed the novel, Sorority Sisters.
I had been writing poetry for several years and decided that I would, instead of shopping my work to major publishing houses, educate myself on how to publish my own. Because I was ready to learn, the universe sent my first teacher, the self-publishing guru, Michael Baisden. With his direction I educated myself on the business. At age 26, I founded Lavelle Publishing in 1997 with the release of The Desires of A Woman: Poems Celebrating Womanhood.
To my delight people were actually enjoying and appreciating my work. With increased confidence from feedback for The Desires of A Woman... I released Sorority Sisters in 1998.
Tid bit: While I lived in Atlanta I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and panic attacks. At my worst point I was afraid to drive on the highway. It is amazing the difference that prayer and building a positive mental attitude can make.