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"So, take it from me, an average person from Massachusetts who never thought she'd see her name of the cover of her own book- IT HAPPENS. TO YOU, TO ME, TO ANYONE WHO BELIEVES ENOUGH IN THEIR DREAM TO GIVE IT WHAT IT NEEDS TO LIVE. " Ellen M. DuBois, 2005

From a Dream to Published

I think I'm perfect example of your average person, with what seemed an impossible dream. As a writer and poet, I've never felt 'good enough' or 'lucky enough' to be published. However, something never let me stop trying. When you feel you're supposed to be doing something, right into the depths of your soul, whether it's writing, sewing, caring for children, or being a rocket scientist, it's hard to shake the need to just 'do it'. Actually, it's nearly impossible. If you're not doing what you love, it's quite difficult to feel complete and happy. It's as if something's missing from your life.

From the time I was a young girl, I used writing as a way to express myself. Childlike poems, letters to my parents as a teen, writing for the town paper in high school, and then for a group of local papers in college. As I grew, so did my writing.

Time, being the teacher it is, showed me that lessons learned in this life, even the painful ones, are learned for a reason. They give us strength, character, and the ability to draw from and share what we've learned in the hope of helping others. I do that through writing. Although there are many things I'd not want to relive, I know those experiences have given me the ability to know other's pain. On the flip side, the joys in my life have given me a deep sense of appreciation for all things, big and small.

Much of my inspirational poetry has been published on the Internet in the form of egreetings. The rewards are not monetary- they reach far beyond that. A note from a stranger who was moved by a poem, or comforted, is one of the greatest rewards of the heart. It fills my spirit, and I know I'm doing part of what God wants me to do. I can't give up on that dream.

And so, I decided to try my hand at delving further into writing. This time, a novel was my goal. I knew there was a story to tell inside of me, but questions and doubts about my ability lurked in the night, creating fear and damaging my confidence. However, no matter how many times I seriously considered whether I could, or should even bother trying to take a novel from start to finish, I couldn't give up. I wouldn't give up.

After many rewrites, query letters, etc., Jackie's Heart, my first novel, was accepted by a publisher. At first, I was so overwhelmed I didn't know how to react. Excited? Yes. Nervous? Very much so. This was it. I had to get it right!

Actually, having Jackie's Heart out there causes more anxiety than singing in front of three hundred people- and I used to do that! When you sing, there's an immediate reaction from the crowd. They either like you or they don't. Fortunately, I was blessed and did pretty well. Music is part of my soul and will be forever. It's another form of expression. But, a book is quite a different matter. There's no one in front of you to say, "Hey, this was great! I loved it!" No, it's a very isolating experience, compared to the instant gratification of a live performance. You see, there could be someone across the country reading my book and loving it- yet I'd never know. Ah, and the worse fear- the one who reads my book and hates it- and I never know. You'd think singing would make me feel more vulnerable. Quite the opposite, indeed. Writing is exposing your heart and talent on paper, and it sticks around. There's no end to the song- it's a tangible object that lives on, for better or for worse.

Those fears would not get the better of me, and still do not as I stand on the rooftop and shout to the world, "I am Ellen DuBois and I have a book published! I know I'm an unknown author, but I did it and will remain unknown unless you read my book!" Yes, that takes courage. But, you know what? The courage is present because the dream is still alive. I made it this far, and for as much as I may feel un-accomplished because I'm not a best selling author, I must take that thought and throw it out forever. The dream of becoming published has come true, on more than one occasion, because I would not falter. Well, I will not let go of the dream now, it has to continue to grow. That would be like climbing three-quarters up a mountainside, only to give up and go back down. I need to make it to the top of that mountain, and only I can make it happen.

You see, that's the power of a dream when it's real. It won't let you quit, even when you're tired and worn. It keeps you going even when you wonder where, or why you're going anywhere. A dream takes your doubts and puts them into perspective. A dream that's true doesn't allow you to throw it in the trash, because a dream takes on a life of its own. It's up to you to nurture it and watch it grow.

That's part of the reason I'm writing this now. I saw a "Dreams Come True" calling for article submissions, and my own dream burst to the surface and said, "Tell the world about your book, your dreams, and your ability to stick with it even when you felt like giving up."

So, take it from me, an average person from Massachusetts who never thought she'd see her name of the cover of her own book- IT HAPPENS. TO YOU, TO ME, TO ANYONE WHO BELIEVES ENOUGH IN THEIR DREAM TO GIVE IT WHAT IT NEEDS TO LIVE.

Jackie's Heart has done okay. It was my first book, and I learned from the experience- including the importance of selecting the right publisher. I'm still proud to say it's my first published book. I didn't give up, followed through, actually finished something in my life, and it's amazing to see your name on the cover of a book.

My biggest pride and joy, I Never Held You: Miscarriage, Grief, Healing and Recovery (Volume 1), was originally released in March, 2006, relaunched in 2010 with Volume 1, and has been on the Amazon.com best seller list under Grief and Bereavement almost consistantly. I have my own Author Connect Blog on Amazon.com, and I am so proud and excited about it! The companion support site to the book, MiscarriageHelp.com, has helped women express their feelings after miscarriage and gain the support they need. The generous spirit I have witnessed from the women who have posted on MiscarriageHelp.com has touched my heart. Even in their own pain, they reach out to others living the same.

I've been blessed, for certain. But, it came with persistance...Blue Mountain Arts has published one of my pieces in their gift book, Sisters, and they've published a greeting card twice using my poem, I Whispered A Prayer or Two. Boy, did I wait a LONG time for that!

I decided to create a gift book, A-Z Affirmations- Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. It's an offshoot of I Never Held You. People responded so favorably to the affirmations in the book, (I Never Held You), I decided to rewrite the foreword & the small, gift-book was published.

The key to success, whether it's writing or rocket science, is in never giving up on your dreams. When you do that, you give up on something far more precious than a dream- you give up on yourself.

Blessings and inspiration surround us every moment. It's seeing them that does something- it creates the motivation to dream more, and to go for it.

I still submit work whenever and wherever possible, and know that one of these days, another piece, poem, book submission- will be published. Even on those days when I feel like life's beating up on me, the dream keeps the spark burning within my heart, giving me hope for a brighter, more successful tomorrow.

Take if from me, one who never thought she'd be able to go on Amazon.com, or walk into her local bookstore and see her book on the shelf. It can and does happen- to you, to me, to anyone who believes in and works hard enough to make their dream more than that- a reality.

And this is just the beginning.

The very best to each and every one of you. May all your dreams come true.

Ellen

© Ellen M. DuBois

Author Bio:

Background Information: Ellen M. DuBois is from New England and began her writing career in high school, freelancing for a small town paper. She continued her passion for poetry, and wrote theatre reviews while attending college. Ms. DuBois is a singer/songwriter and was emcee/lead singer in a wedding band for three years.

About the Author: Ellen DuBois is the author of I Never Held You, a book about miscarriage, healing and recovery. She resides in Massachusetts, is a multi-published author in the fiction, nonfiction, Christian and poetry genres. She has been published in several books in 2006-2010, and is working on her next projects. She began her writing career in high school, freelancing for a small town paper and continued her passion for poetry, and wrote theatre reviews while attending college. Ms. DuBois is also a singer/songwriter and was emcee/lead singer in a wedding band for three years.

Ms. DuBois' Writing Portfolio:

Published: I Never Held You-DLSIJ Press, an ebook about Ms. DuBois experiences with miscarriage, grief and recovery. 2000.

Published: I Never Held You, revised edition, paperback, 2006, New companion support site and blog to I Never Held You, http://miscarriagehelp.com

Published: More God Allows U-Turns, Barbour Publishing/Promise Press, The Angel In The Dumpster, 2001

Published: Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorders, Success Stories, Strategies and other Good News, Hunterhouse Publishing, With commentaries by Paul Foxman, PH.D., Winning My Battle With Anxiety 2002

Published: Jackie's Heart-PublishAmerica, "One woman's experiences in love, adversity and second chances...combining enough criminal activity to build and hold the reader's interest." 2003

Published: Romancing the Soul Zumaya Publications, Dorothy Thompson, Editor, 2004

Published: Sisters, SPS Studios, Inc., the publisher of Blue Mountain Arts, a gift book of poetry honoring sisters 2004

Published: Soul Matters for Teens, Mark Gilroy Productions

Published: I Never Held You, Volume 1, paperback, 2010, CreateSpace.com, Revised companion support site and blog to I Never Held You, http://miscarriagehelp.com

Published egreetings by Ms. DuBois by Angelrays- Love, Friendship, Mother, Father, Sister, Holiday, Christmas, Angels and more.

Published: "I Whispered A Prayer Or Two For You" Blue Mountain Arts Greeting Card, SPS Studios, Inc., 2007 (Twice)

Upcoming Works: "Things My Mother Taught Me," published by The Rees-Bowens/Tillicum Books, (Half of the proceeds go to women's shelters. "Celebrations: Letters to God," edited by Paul Andrew Dawkins of The Dawkins Project, and over two dozen poems in market review with SPS Studios Inc., the publishers of Blue Mountain Arts greeting cards. Many of her egreetings can be found at http://angelrays.com

"Both my miscarriage book (http://miscarriagehelp.com) new companion support site) and my contribution to Jenna Glatzer’s Conquering Anxiety book, are very close to my heart. Having miscarried 15 years ago, (never dreaming I'd write a book about it), I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to write I Never Held You, which began as a small, popular ebook (DLSIJPress.com), to a full length self-help paperback, (same publisher), with invaluable contributions by Dr. Linda Backman, Anna Pizzoferrato, Marnie Pehrson and MaryBeth Foster. From the beginning, I Never Held You wasn't something I planned- the idea hit and hit hard. I knew that God wanted me to share my personal journey through pain and loss with others-turning life’s adversity into something positive. Years later the idea, along with the book, blossomed into what it is today- a viable, warm and REAL source of help for the woman who has miscarried. My passion to reach others applies to both my miscarriage and my nearly twenty-year bout with anxiety attacks. Through those adversities, I am able to reach others dealing with the same. Had I not lived it- I couldn’t write about it."

"Poetry and lyrics are like air to me. If I feel something, I write it. People ask me how I do it so 'quickly'. I just say: If you have something to say, you say it and I write it! I believe we ALL have gifts to share with each other - finding them, exploring them and daring to put yourself out there for the world to see is what life's about- to me."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contributor to/on the following sites/ezines: Inspirational Messages (http://skywriting.net), She Loves God(http://shelovesgod.com), Spirithunter.org,(http://spirithunter.org), Coffee Shop(http://www.coffeebeanshop.com), Pondering Moments admirable poets section, (http://ponderingmoments.com), The Poets Porch (http://thepoetsporch.com), Angel Rays Greeting Cards, (http://oneangel.net), Christian Poets Corner, (http://www.comnet.ca/~ch-poets/page116.h tml), Anthologies On Line (http://www.anthologiesonline.com/article1) 057.html); Spiritual Sisters (http://www.spiritualsisters.com/)

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Music To Enjoy! "It's About Piano, It's About Time"- Originals and Standards to Inspire Romance and Peace. By Al and Marlane DuBois. Available on CD, Download, and per track.

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Send one of Ellen DuBois' Online Greeting Cards: Click Here.

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