It’s May and my turn in the spotlight. So, here’s my story. My name is Valerie Burns and I was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, which is in the Northwestern corner of the state and close to the Michigan border. My family lived three blocks from a branch library and my best friend and I spent a lot of time at that library. Although I loved to read, I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a writer. However, I did have a secret. If I read a book that I liked and wanted to know what came next, I would imagine it (complete with dialogue). If I read a book that didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I’d imagine a new ending. It was years later before I realized everyone didn’t imagine new twists, endings, or sequels. That’s when I learned to keep my “imaginings” secret.
I attended Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) as
an undergraduate. Northwestern is well-known for the Arts. Several famous
actors have attended, and while I majored in Political Science and Urban
Studies, one of my close friends was a talented aspiring screenwriter named
Kelly. After graduation, I spent a year at Georgia Tech where I worked on a master’s
in City Planning until I ran out of money and returned home. My first “real”
job was working as Planner for the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph, Michigan
in Southwestern Michigan. I planned services for seniors in Berrien, Cass, and
Van Buren Counties and reviewed the agencies funded to ensure compliance with
federal, state, and local regulations. During the five years I worked for the
Area Agency I met some vibrant, amazing seniors. These people became my
inspiration for Nana Jo and her friends from Shady Acres Retirement Village, featured
in my Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. My secretary, Rebecca (85) was on a “no
aging diet” and walked to work every day. My data clerk, Kathleen (55), taught
me to knit. Our office manager, Dorothy (60s) was close to six feet tall and liked
to wear fancy dresses, fishnet pantyhose, and high heels every day. Dorothy used
to go to the liquor store behind our building and buy lottery tickets. She
taught me to “play the numbers.” Our receptionist, Gertie (70s), was barely
five feet tall and less than one hundred pounds. She was a heavy smoker with a
raspy voice who used to wear four-inch hooker heels and became the inspiration
for Irma.
I left the Area Agency to work as a computer training
specialist at the University of Notre Dame and moved back to South Bend. I transferred
my credits from Georgia Tech to Notre Dame and started back working on my master’s
degree. After two years, I left Notre Dame to work as a training specialist for
a CPA firm, Crowe Chizek. My job at Crowe Chizek involved traveling to various
locations and training the auditors on various software applications. While traveling,
I reconnected with my college friend who was now married with a son. Kelly dusted
off her writing aspirations. After hearing me say one time too many, “You
should write a screenplay about…” (my imagining never stopped), Kelly politely
suggested that I should be the one to write (whatever). She shared a book on
writing screenplays, and that’s when my desire to write was born.
While working for the CPA firm, traveling, and working on my master’s, I wrote
3 screenplays and started writing my first mystery, Travellin’ Shoes.
After 12 years, I left Crowe Chizek to work as a Training Developer for
Whirlpool Corporation and moved back to Southwestern Michigan.
Not long after starting my job at Whirlpool in 2006, my boss
was relocated to Canada. While cleaning out her office, she found a voucher for
a plane ticket. She wasn’t going to use the voucher and offered it to me. For
years, I’d been attending writing workshops, conferences, seminars, and pitch
sessions, in an attempt to “break into” Hollywood. Thanks to that voucher, I
was able to attend the Maui Writers Conference. Unlike most of the screenwriting
conferences I’d attended in L.A., the Maui Writers Conference also included book
authors and publishers. On a whim, I pitched my mystery to an editor from
Berkley Crime and she LIKED IT! That inspired me to finish writing it and to
switch from screenwriting to books. Sadly, when the manuscript was finally finished,
the editor passed. However, now I was hooked. I kept writing and sending out
queries. I got a lot of rejections, but I kept writing.
What a great story Valerie! You are the poster girl for determination!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Determination is key!
DeleteAn inspiring story for aspiring writers! Thank you, Valerie, for sharing the origins of your creativity and some of the inspirations for your terrific mysteries. ~ Cleo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cleo.
DeleteThe secret is to keep "failing" until you succeed!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
Libby, you are right. Never give up! Thanks.
DeleteLove this and love your pups! So happy to have you in the Kitchen!
ReplyDeleteAww. Thanks, Leslie. I'm happy to be here.
DeleteI loved hearing your life story. So interesting and quite an inspiration
ReplyDeleteVicki, Thank you so much. I hope others can find inspiration from my many fails. :-)
DeleteI loved reading about your journey and the inspiration for your mysteries. Thank you for sharing it, Valerie.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful path to publication(s), Valerie! So many congratulations, and thank you for sharing the details.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your journey!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! I loved learning about about your publishing journey. You inspire me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating story, Valerie! It's inspirational in so many ways. I loved how involved you were in the books you read as a child. I'll be smiling for days about that. Hugs, MJ
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling us a bit about yourself.
ReplyDeleteGreat story and congrats on book #16
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and inspiring story, Valerie! And congrats on number 16--wow!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! you go lady. Amazing life. Diane
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring and interesting life story, Valerie! I lived in Michigan for 60+ years and went to college in Indiana so can relate to all the places you mentioned. Looking forward to reading your books.
ReplyDeleteJust the kind of inspirational story I needed to hear. Asante! Looking forward to reading your novels.
ReplyDelete