My personal "blessing in disguise"

People often ask how I started writing novels. In a way, I was pushed into it by devastating loss that ended up being a “blessing in disguise” –  I use that term because I think it applies to my story.

Years ago, I was teaching tap, jazz, acrobatics and theatre classes at a local dance studio to supplement my acting income. During that time, I had a problem with one of my knees that required surgery. I would be out on short-term disability for 2 weeks then back teaching, with one of my teen students as an assistant until my knee completely healed. Two days before I was to return, the studio owner informed me that she was moving to a new location and couldn’t accommodate any of my classes. My classes were popular and some of her largest, so it just didn’t make sense to me. I pressured her until she finally admitted that her insurance company thought I was a liability and they wanted me gone. I tried to reason with her but she said she already assigned my students to other teachers. Did you make that “whaaaat?” face? Well, I sure did.

Yes, I could have taken her to court, but I had just 2 days to find work before my disability ran out, so I let it go and moved on. Unfortunately, I didn’t find another job in time to save our townhome and we lost it to foreclosure. My acting career wasn’t doing very well at this time, either, and I was devastated about all the loss. But I was raised with “the show must go on” attitude so I cried and pushed on like a good little performer. We found an apartment in a much better location than our townhome. I found another teaching job and continued auditioning and performing but I just didn’t enjoy it. In fact, I was downright miserable. Something I had done my entire life and now I wanted out.

I faked enjoying my work for two more years until hubs got his MBA and a raise. He was now making enough money that I didn’t need to work 2 jobs any longer and he encouraged me to go back to school. I loved writing so I chose that major, and I loved being a student again and felt like I had gotten a new chance at life. I was happy again. I have been writing novels for 17 years now and I absolutely love it. As of today, I have published 12 books and am currently editing another for publication. And to think that it all started with a dance director who saw me as a nothing more than a liability for her studio. If I ever see her again, I’ll be sure and thank her.