Marion Mathis

Where to begin?

Looking forward to retiring, I needed to establish a routine that would keep me active and alert. I've never been one to sit still doing nothing. In reviewing my life history, I recalled that as a small child, I had a vivid imagination and would tell stories about bloody bones- scary. I was a good storyteller and managed to keep the adults spellbound. It wasn't my ability so much as my audience was older family members who loved me. My creative endeavors continued into school. I played significant roles in plays and wrote fiction pieces for different school projects. My teachers encouraged me to continue writing, believing I had a unique talent. I gave all that up when I entered the business world to make a living and raise a family.

As retirement drew near, I needed to decide what I would do to remain active and relevant. I suggest this to anyone facing retirement, as with me, you can have an enjoyable hobby that continues to enrich your life. Retirement is when you can undertake projects you didn't have time to do before. I am amused at the thought of being a writer, as my only non-A at Southern Methodist University was in English grammar. Sadly, it does show up in my writing, but I am working to improve even though I have professionals edit my work; you know, I still have some problems.

I have noticed the focus on fantasy, magical powers, impossible feats of strength, and unrealistic skills in movies and books. In addition, it seemed that the characters had to have some significant weaknesses or character flaws like drug use, alcohol, or physical abuse. Many teachers advocate that your main character has a significant handicap or flaw to add dimension to the story. I believe in a good guy and realism in integrity, capabilities, and strength. A hero can be an all-around good guy/gal, and a good story can stand alone and still be an intriguing piece of fiction.

I write for my enjoyment and to keep busy. After four books, I have more in the hopper and will continue to seek to improve. Where it will end, nobody knows; I enjoy writing and seeing the finished product in print. It is its reward, and I will continue to write.

If you enjoy some of my stories, I would love to hear from you.

Good luck and great reading, Marion Mathis