What is next in the journey?  Over fifteen years is a long time to be working on a passion project.  The moment when your editor tells you that your project is in the final stages of being over and ready for submission, gives you all kinds of feels.  I look back at where I started and where I am now.  So much has obviously changed.  My creativity, my discipline and the fact that I am even talking about submitting my manuscript.  I really never thought that I would make it this far in my journey because I actually gave up a few times.  You have the people in your life who make you think that it is a pipe dream; the trick is to realize deep inside that doing something you love and striving to make it happen, is never a pipe dream.  As long as you hold true to yourself.  

I never really thought that editing your own book could be very daunting and frustrating at time.  As I have said before, it is a full time job.  I feel like I have not only put my characters through a lot, I have also put myself as well.  I have read my book so many times that lines are starting to be blurred and I really just want to step away from it all.  Who knew that writing your first novel would be so much work!  When I started all this, I merely thought, I would find an editor, send them my manuscript, get some feedback on what might be best for the book, make changes where they needed to be, then move on.  Oh no.  Not so simple.  Depending on how much needs to be changed, what you thought would only take a few days, ends up taking months.  Nothing worth having is given easily; this is not a sprint, its a marathon.  Well, unless you're already a famous author.  I keep telling myself however, its worth it.