When I was in the fifth grade, I wrote a ten-page story for a school assignment that made my dad laugh, great big belly laughs that rolled out of him, the sweetest sound in the world. My writing career was born in that moment.
I graduated magna cum laude from Whitworth University with a BA in English. It took me ten years to complete my novel, The Protest, which was inspired by the real-life religious hijacking of my two daughters. I was fortunate to have my book accepted by Barnes & Noble at the corporate level, which gave me access for readings at B&N bookstores all over the country. I am currently working on another novel and several short stories.
The Protest is endorsed by the late Dr. Richard Gardner, Clinical Professor of Child Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, author of Parental Alienation Syndrome.
The novel is also endorsed by cult and brainwashing expert, Steven Hassan, author of Combating Cult Mind Control and Releasing the Bonds.
The Communicator says: “Characters are so alive you can smell their perfume when they walk into a room…This work is a diamond with many facets, each sparkle a reflection of the craft of the writer. The Protest gets an A+ and goes to the top of your reading list.”
Midwest Book Review chose the novel for “Reviewer’s Choice,” and says “The Protest is an intensely involving, deftly written saga.”
Ron Chapman of KUNM-FM radio says: “The Protest is a compelling novel that has an important and timely message.”
Literal Lessons of Life 
I was hijacked at 14 into a moderately cult-like church, I’d have to say. Though my mother was all in favor of it. I left it on 9/11 when I had to disagree with fundamentalism of all varieties, even the secular cults that deny anything that can’t be studied in a lab – including free will. But I’m rambling. Congratulations on being a published author! That’s what I want to become before all my neurons follow the white light. I’ll probably go the indie route, though. Unless Amazon starts sending out rejection letters. 😉
Talmage
http://www.storiform.com
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear you’ve gone through a similar experience, but happy to hear you broke free. I found out after my book tour that what I thought was a unique phenomenon was more common than I would’ve ever thought. But then, that’s one of the reasons I wrote the book: to help others who’ve been “firebombed by the blood of the lamb” to know there’s a way out.
I’ve read some of your blog posts – you have a gift for the written word. Keep at it — I’ll be interested to see your book when it comes out.
Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂