Beginnings are often an identifiable moment. I remember my first day of high school and my first day at my first job. I remember when I changed my college major to English and set the course of my academic career. I remember the day my husband and I bought our home. I remember my wedding day, and the day my daughter’s life began.
Sometimes, beginnings slip by us without fanfare or any identifiable benchmark. I don’t remember my first day of college or when I first met my husband. Odd, right?
I don’t remember the day I started writing my first story. I don’t remember the day I typed “The end” for the first time.
But I remember the day I decided I was going to actually take a shot at this indie publishing thing. I’d written a book. Well, it was more of a lousy, random mess of something that I’d hoped to one day call a book. But it was sitting around on a flash drive going nowhere fast.
I’d just gotten the news about some moving and shaking in the law office I worked in, and while I loved my job, I knew my boss would be retiring soon. I had this far-fetched dream of one day being a stay-at-home mom, writing books during the day while my daughter was at school.
So when I got the news that my boss was retiring much sooner than I expected, that five year timeline I’d given myself to figure out what I was actually going to do with the rest of my life turned into one year, maybe two.
It was late November, and I went to a paint party hosted by my high school Spanish teacher. I was a little glum because life had thrown a wrench in my plans, but I had fun chatting with the other ladies in the class and catching up with my old teacher.
I’ve always been a “social artist.” I just made that up, but it’s an accurate description of my creativity. I took all the art classes when I was in high school, and my teacher joked that she didn’t know how I finished any of my work because I talked so much. I painted, sketched, and created while chatting and making friends. It’s how my creativity blossomed.
That evening I spent painting and talking to other ladies was something special. I came out of my shell, and I spilled the beans about the secret book I’d been working on.
I don’t know what I expected, but my former teacher, Ginny, and her friend, Tanya, were thrilled and excited about the book I’d written. They hadn’t even read it yet, but they were behind me one hundred percent. They started throwing out ideas left and right, and they wholeheartedly agreed that I should publish this book.
Their excitement fueled my own, and I went home and read over the lousy draft. I made a few changes and sent it to both of them. They read it pretty quickly and called me.
“You have to do this.”
At that moment, I knew I did have to do this. I wanted to do this.
It’s amazing what support and encouragement can do for motivation.
Fast forward three years, and I’m publishing my sixteenth book. Today. When I wrote Claire, the main character in Guarded by the Hero, I was excited to share my love of painting with her. My grandmother started teaching me to paint with oils when I was six years old, and I haven’t looked back.
Claire is a local artist in Freedom, Colorado whose paintings of the Colorado Rockies are loved by locals and tourists alike. She completes six paintings each week that are sold to an art gallery in the Freedom square.
The name of the gallery? Art and Soul. The same as the one owned by my friend who encouraged me to take a chance on my own art.
I don’t know where I’d be without those friends who cheered me on, but I know I wouldn’t have taken that first step on my own. They still help me with every book, polishing and critiquing before the book is ready to be published.
Guarded by the Hero is dedicated to my friends who believed in me before anyone else did. I’m so grateful for their support and kindness. They changed my life for the better! If you ever find a friend like these two, hold them close.
This book released today, and I’m giving away two ebook copies! To enter, tell me in the comments below if you enjoy painting, drawing, or creating some other kind of art. I’ll choose a winner on Friday, October 8th.
Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books, and loves to see her characters' relationships grow closer to God and each other.
I enjoy wine and canvas night with my special group of ladies but I am by no means an artist ar in anyway creative lol
I’ve always enjoyed art. I had an amazing art teacher in high school who was able to get pretty good results from me even though I am not an artist. I’ve always admired people who excel in the arts.
I’ve got creative genes in my dad’s side of the family – my aunt both writes and paints! I dabbled some in watercolors in high school, but just for fun. I’ve done a lot of writing during the years of being a missionary – newsletters, reports for our mission’s magazine, etc. I’ve had a few ideas for creative writing, but never have had time/energy to get more than ideas on scraps of paper. So I content myself with reading other people’s stories.
My favorite medium is yarn, mostly crocheting. The colors weave together, whether an afghan or a cup cozy. Fun and relaxing…and my grandma’s voice in my head reminds me that idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Never bored either, just switch projects if needed.
I’m not really into painting or drawing but I enjoy being creative in other ways. I love making cards for friends and family and I like scrapbooking. I also started doing some embroidery projects about a year ago and am having fun learning that art form.
I like to make my own cards! I started making cards with Mom over 26 years ago. Back then, she did the bulk of the work, I just worked the hair dryer to make the embossing appear! Then, I started making my own cards while still helping Mom with hers. As her macular degeneration worsened, I’d tell her the colors of things, but she would still do what she wanted! I used to crochet, and I still do some embroidery. I’ve also painted a few pieces of pottery!
I love writing and lately I have been learning to paint in acrylic with my mom.
As a child I really liked drawing comic style but with college I had to choose what to spend my time on and what to improve on and I chose to read and write.
I love classes like that too! It’s so fun to chat and paint without worrying about it being “good.”
Art teachers are so special. I’m glad you had a good one. The good thing about art is that everyone doesn’t like the same thing, so there are lots of ways to look at different types of art and enjoy them.
I was an avid reader before I was a writer. I actually liked writing research papers! It never occurred to me to try creative writing or anything close to fiction until the one day when it just clicked that I should try it. I’m glad you enjoy doing it whenever the creative need arises. That’s when it’s fun.
It’s so great that you love working with yarn. That’s one thing I’ve never been able to master. I actually started trying to learn to crochet, and it was such a disaster! I made a square that I called a pot holder, and I gave it to my mom as a joke. She kept that ugly thing for years!
I’ve never done any of those things, but I LOVE them! My mother-in-law makes cards and does embroidery, and it’s so beautiful.
That’s so sweet that you and your mother shared that project. Handmade cards are so beautiful, and they’re a special, unique gift.
I love painting with acrylic. I enjoy oils in a different way, but acrylic is easier in my opinion. Also, no waiting for paint to dry! haha!
I enjoyed my art classes back in HS, but I haven’t painted since then. I do occasionally like to draw, but more consistently play the recorder (I hope to one day be able to pick up the violin too).
Congrats on your new release! So excited for this series! :)
As a kid, probably 10-12 or so, I loved nothing more than to pick up the Sunday comics and draw whatever one hit my fancy. Then I discovered Calvin & Hobbes and I started drawing them. One day I showed my dad some comic character I drew (probably Peanuts) and he asked me if I traced it! I assured him that I had not and thus sparked my love of pencil drawing. Then years later when I was in High school, one of the elective classes I took was…you guessed it…drawing! I loved learning how to shade & make objects come to life on the page….my drawing improved 1,000%.
Fast forward to today….I haven’t drawn in many years and don’t know if I would have the same talent or ability anymore to do it. But I do appreciate artist who paint or draw! Every once in a while, our local library will feature drawings or paintings from our High school students and it’s amazing to see how much talent they have.
I’m not very artistic, I like doing paint by numbers by painting from scratch isn’t my thing. I also do cross stitch which is fun and relaxing to me.
Hi, Mandi!
I grew up with such a legacy of creativity in my family, especially from my dad. He painted in oils and acrylics, wrote music and played the viola (he was a music teacher), wrote poetry and short stories, drew in pen and ink and made Christmas cards by carving wood and linoleum blocks and printing with a homemade offset press. Mom was a French teacher and had amazing teaching skills. She was also very skilled in the kitchen.
Me? I inherited a bunch of those genes and combined them in my own ways. I’ve written poetry (some that I have even shared here at IR), written a novel, written songs and learned French pretty well. My big departure, though, was photography. I have spent a LOT of time behind a camera and, back in the days of film, even a fair amount of time in the darkroom. I have also enjoyed cartooning (pencil drawing) and a little bit of graphic design. I also have a love for acting both on stage and voice work.
I realize that many might balk at the description, but my career in computers was also one of art. Computer programming is very much a craft like woodworking or crochet. You have a task that you want the computer to do. That is like the pattern in crochet. You use the basic patterns of computer commands (like various stitches) to create the final result. The more skilled you are, the more you can use fancy stitches or add extra features.
I feel very much that God has blessed me with all these opportunities and gifts that I can use to bless others and enjoy for myself as well. No need to include me in the drawing. My pre-order showed up in my Kindle library already!
Congratulations on a new book baby!
Love drawing, painting and that led be to Digital Artwork using Photoshop.
Happy book! I enjoy crocheting, cross stitch a bit of quilting as well as sewing sequins and beads on calendars and banners. Thank you for sharing your time and your talent. God bless you.
I don’t like painting or drawing but I like coloring and doing crafts.i like doing beading I do it mostly in the winter but I would.rather build puzzles than do crafts.
I enjoy paper arts and quilting.
I enjoy my Native museum of all different art & diamond art
I enjoy art especially from the war museum
Playing the recorder or violin sounds wonderful. I tried to play the piano when I was younger, and it was very difficult for me to grasp. So I admire people who have that musical ability!
I used to love pencil drawing, but I have the same hesitation as you. I don’t think I would be very good at it anymore! When I was drawing, I could look at something and draw it exactly how I saw it, but I could NOT draw something I couldn’t see! I know what a hamburger looks like, but I can’t draw it if I’m not looking at it in that moment. It’s weird!
I LOVE paint by numbers! And Hobby Lobby has some that are so pretty!
Thank you so much! I agree that computer programming is an art. It’s something I’ve never been able to do, but I admire those who have that ability.
That’s great! I’ve never been able to translate my pencil and paper creativity to a digital format. I have a good friend who designs all my graphics, and we both know I’d be lost without her.
Those are wonderful talents!
I enjoy puzzles and coloring too! When I was pregnant with my daughter, I completed a set of the Thomas Kinkade Disney puzzles. I framed them and put them in her nursery. I love them.
Those are both wonderful arts!
Diamond art! That sounds interesting!
That sounds interesting!
I used to have critique partners, Mandi. But we all got so busy with deadlines, we didn’t have time to crit each other anymore. I miss my critters.
Critters! I love that!
Scrapbooking :)