My mother taught me to read at the age of two. I had my first library card at the age of three. Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a love affair with books. I remember walking out of the library with a giant stack of Dr. Seuss and a huge grin. I used to spend hours reading out loud by my open bedroom window, trying to share my love of reading with the world.
As I got older, I learned to love writing just as much. English was my favorite subject and while everyone else was bored to tears with sentence diagramming, I was having a ball!! I honed my writing skills and thoroughly enjoyed create writing. I had an endless supply of names, plots and so much more! When I became a graduate student, I learned how to write in a more technical manner. I was a consummate author! But....I was still unpublished.
In 2003, I wrote a children's book. I had had the character in my mind for sometime, but just could not figure out how to get her out. One day, while cleaning frames at the optical lab where I was working, the first line popped into my head. I went to write it down so I would not forget it. And lo and behold, the rest just came out. In less that five minutes, my character had come to life in my hand!!
Then came the challenge: how to make her real to the rest of the world? I started calling publishers such as Scholastic and asking how to submit a manuscript. To my dismay, most publishers will not accept a manuscript direct from the author. So, I began my search for a Literary Agent. I found the Literary Agents of Washington. The seemed legit so I submitted my manuscript. To my delight, they liked the story and wanted to represent it. But, there was a catch. There is always a catch, right? I had to pay for all of the mailing costs up front, to the tune of $250.00. At that time , that was a lot of money to us. Somehow we could never find it in the budget. Additionally, everyone I spoke to stated that I should not have to front any costs and it sounded like a scam. No Bueno.
So, many years pass and the manuscript sat in a manilla envelope. And sat. And sat. After I became Pagan, I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with one of the best known and respected Pagan authors, Timothy Roderick. One day, I decided to ask him about finding a respectable and legitimate agent. He recommended that I cut out the middle man and publish for myself! I had not realized I could do such a thing. I was desperately seeking a way to combine my interest in natural healing and all things "witchy" with my love of writing, research, and literature. Hence, after talking to my husband (who suggested the name) The Purple Broom Apothecary and Publishing was born!
And now, thirteen years after the story was originally penned, "Little Bitty" is a reality!!! And now, I have a flood gate of writing that I am ready to unleash. I am already working on a new story based on the music of Pagan musician and songwriter, Damh the Bard, who so graciously granted me permission to use two of his songs as a basis. I am very excited to share with you my first work, "Little Bitty". It would be an honor to have her in your home! I am also excited about receiving feed back on the book as the original intent was that the character be a feature in a series.
Please check out my direct store and tell me how you like the story. I will send a signed plate to place in the front cover of your book to the first 100 sold. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey!
Get your copy here: https://www.createspace.com/5626594 .
Thank you!
Rev. Natalie Sedgwick, HP