Why I Started Writing

Often I’m asked why I started writing. I was almost fifty after all. Why did all of a sudden I decide to write a book? Because I had an idea for a story about a girl who lived a long time ago and I wanted to know what happened to her. I wanted to know what she did and felt and what her life was like, and the only way I could do that was to make it up and write it down. When I think of my writing like that now, it seems easier and brings me great joy. When I think, “Oh, I have to write a whole book!” or “Will readers, teachers, booksellers, librarians like this book I am writing?” or “This has to be good, better, the best book of all!” the joy goes away. The best reason to write is just to find out what happens.