the change

Not THE change. Been there, done that.  I've been hinting at a change for months now, and I don't want to leave you without a few words.

An enormous sea change has been washing onto my writer's shore all year, ever since Thanksgiving, when I sat down after a lovely family dinner, and made some decisions, wrote them down in my notebook, and have been consistently working toward them all year.

Going to the Philippines in March pushed me further along the tide of change. Surfing through the busiest travel spring I have ever had brought me fully onto shore. 

I've been slowly disconnecting from the buzz of children's publishing and have found a haven in my own purple room, pink chair, house with the chartreuse trim, and all the stories that are waiting to be told. After ten years of constant travel and talk and dreaming, I'm directing my energies inward and becoming a full-time writer as much as I can, which means I've disconnected from most distractions, even the lovely ones.

Thank you, faithful readers. I've appreciated more than you know your presence in this space with me, and your notes of love and encouragement, and the sharing of struggles as well. I'm leaving this space for now, and the blog will go dark. I could spend lots of space and words telling you why, but the long-and-short is: I'm going to spend all my writing energy... writing.

The blog was a wonderful four-year experiment. I started it at Harcourt's urging when The Aurora County All-Stars was about to be published. I've watched it morph and change over the years. As the blog morphed, it became a personal scrapbook more than a book and writing blog, and I allowed that, to see where it was taking me... it became a way to tell stories, which is what I do.

So I am off to tell them, at the desk, or in the pink chair, on the page, in my heart, with that list of stories as long as my arm. That list! It's calling me. And I have been answering: yes. Yes. Yes.

I won't forget your many kindnesses to me. And... I'm here. I'm just one more step removed from the beautiful mayhem of the publishing world, and one step closer to discovering the heart of the stories I want to share. It's such a privilege to be able to do what I do for a living. I have appreciated every single step along the way. And I appreciate, likewise, this new day upon a new shore, as I take my first strong steps into a new life.

Peace to you, friends, and love. Always, love. xo Debbie

7 comments:

  1. Deborah, The universe must've connected us, b/c I don't usually surf my blog list in the middle of a Saturday, that's for sure. While I'm not THERE yet, blogging and teaching and caretaking and a million other distractions exist that keep me away from my stories too. You are so right to listen to your heart and to get your tush back in that wonderful pink chair. I love your magic, and look forward to seeing that great compilation of Deborah Wiles words on the page. (BTW, your stories are magical in the hands of that just-right kid in my class!) Go for it, girl!

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  2. Good luck, Deborah, on your change. I'll miss your li'l pomegranates popping up in my in box--and I've finally learned how to spell pomegranate, too!

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  3. I enjoyed peeking into the window of your writing life, your delicious foods, family and photos. Thank you for sharing so much with all of us. Wishing you peace, joy and love doing what you are called to do.

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  4. Best of luck in your fulltimeness! Does that mean you are disconnecting from children's writing, and moving to an adult audience---or only from the buzz? Whatever it turns out to be, I'll be watching for the results, while always remaining faithful and partial to my fave, Comfort Snowberger.

    Thanks for all the encouragement you've given me over the last few years. It's a slow process. I'm learning much and getting closer. And many thanks for sharing the process through your blog.

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  5. I will miss your blog. You've made the writerly life seem so accessible and real.I guess you're opening yourself up to life "in all its messy glory," just like Uncle Edisto said. Best of luck to you, I'll hold Comfort in my heart forever. She is real to me.
    Best regards,
    Leslie W.

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  6. I love your blog, but I love your books more, and am perfectly happy to connect with your stories in your books. :)

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  7. I will miss your beautiful photos and stories.

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