Fincastle Herald/July 2009
For Destiny Booze, writing was a means of escape, an outlet, a source of fun and entertainment, and yes, a deep seeded passion above all else. But, it was never something to be taken seriously, until now.
After years and years of writing that began as soon as she was capable of holding a pencil, Booze's debut romantic suspense novel, Altered Beginnings was released May 15 from Whimsical Publications.
"It doesn't feel real," Booze said. "I've seen the book, held it, flipped through it, even signed a few copies for people, but the connection still isn't there. I need someone to pinch me." When she saw the final published paperback for the first time, Booze recalled thinking, "That's really my book? What kind of alternate universe did I wake up in this morning?"
The publication sure was a big shock to Booze and her family. "I remember my mom squealing with joy," Booze recalled. "Then, she said, I didn't know you knew how to do it." It was a statement that echoed inside Booze's head. She hadn't known either, but she did it.
Booze grew up at Jellystone Park Campground, a resort that her family managed. It was located a few miles out of Buchanan, in Arcadia. She described her childhood as fun, but a lot of hard work each summer. Along with her two brothers, she was expected to carry her own weight and help with whatever needed to be done for the camping season.
She saw herself as a small-town girl with dreams that didn't venture further than her front porch. "I always thought that I would take over at the campground. My brothers didn't seem interested, and I loved it there." She attended college, working toward a business degree, but the English classes were always her favorite. She loved the writing assignments.
A wrench was thrown into those plans when Jellystone was sold in 1999. The new owner was interested in a more hands-on approach to the business and took over the management duties. Booze's family found themselves searching for a new home, and moved to Roanoke. "My dad started working for UPS, but I felt utterly lost. The campground was all that I knew," Booze said.
She began writing more and more. It was more than a hobby. It was a coping mechanism. "I wrote my first book in high school, and though I can't say that it was good, I had loads of fun writing it. When I lost Jellystone, I tried writing a book about a girl at a campground, but it was too hard. I was too close to the situation. I must have started that story five times or better just to trash it every time," she said.
The next few years Booze described her life as an unconscious exploration to find herself. She job hopped from several different career paths. She tried day care, office work, even a couple positions in healthcare, but nothing settled her into a rhythm. "Nothing felt right," she said. "When I was at Jellystone, I felt confident in myself, and I was searching for that sureness again, but I just couldn't find it."
In between jobs, Booze wrote the book that would lead to her first publication. She began researching the publishing industry, and sending her manuscript to publishers. "I can't begin to tell you how many rejections I went through. All I can say is there were a bunch," she said.
Last year, she took a job as a community journalist with the Fincastle Herald. "Writing felt comfortable, and the restlessness within me instantly settled. I loved writing for the paper and it helped pay the bills, but writing books is where my heart kept leading me.”
Then, it happened. As she opened another letter from a publisher she thought, “probably another rejection.” But this time it was a legitimate offer with a real contract.
This year, for the first time, Booze became a fulltime novelist. "I know it's what I'm meant to do," she said. "It feels right."
Altered Beginnings is the first book in a series by Destiny Booze called the Outer Banks Suspense Series. It is available now through Barnes and Noble. Just ask for it at the counter, or you can order online at www.bn.com, www.amazon.com, www.waldenbooks.com, www.target.com, www.booksamillion.com or www.whimsicalpublications.com. The sequel, Predetermined Endings will be released later this year.
To find out more about the author or to find correspondence information, visit www.destinybooze.com.
Posts
