Sometimes you aren’t aware of what waits for you. If you told me 10 years ago I’d move from Texas to Arizona, give up practicing law and embrace a writing career, I’d tap you on the shoulder, interrupt and firmly say you were talking about someone else. Youth lulls us into thinking we have control; experience veers us into unexpected routes. I’ve learned these surprises and detours scattered on our pathway create a life of uncertainty, substance and wonder.

Today I am proud to announce another unexpected, but awesome surprise –  I am the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press. For the last 6 – 8 months, I’ve collaborated with my friend and colleague Beth Burrell to shape the mission of our site and what we intend to offer the literary community. My gratitude to Beth and her family for their support in the process. Special thanks to Kayleen of Booyah Creative for helping us with the design, logo and capturing the vision we intended to create on The Sunlight Press.

This  literary journal wouldn’t come to fruition if my family didn’t support my creative pursuits. I’ve learned it takes a special person and partner to support an artist. My husband has never once urged me to return to the legal world  –  he always encourages me to pursue my manuscript, work on my craft and now, launch this literary magazine. He gets why I am a creative, when so many others cannot fathom a life in the arts. When I am saddled with doubt about a piece or the work I am doing, he pushes me to keep going, even when I don’t believe in myself. Similarly, my daughter has offered her patience and encouragement during this time – she has said, “I know you are working hard, Momma,” and offered to make breakfast for herself, understood when dinner was less than subpar and given me the time to dedicate my best to this endeavor. I am grateful them in ways I cannot adequately express.

Beth and I are excited to launch The Sunlight Press today and we hope you will visit, read, submit, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

And as always, my gratitude to all who have supported my writing, online and offline, in small and big ways.