Such is the case for New York Times and USA Today best-selling novelist Shelley Shepard Gray, who lives in Loveland with her husband and two daschunds.
“I took up writing like some folks take up knitting, purely as a hobby,” Shelley says with a laugh.
She explains that she and her husband, Tom, had just moved to Loveland in 1999 with their two children. Shelley, a native of Texas, had achieved a Bachelor’s in elementary education and English, a Master’s in education administration, and taught for 11 years. She’d just started working as a supervisor in a school system when her husband’s job brought their family to Ohio.
“I loved to read,” Shelley says. “And I was helping our children, then early adolescents, get settled into their new schools and the area. Writing romance became a diversion for me and I intended to eventually pursue returning to school administration. But my husband pointed out that writing made me happy, so why not pursue that?”
Of course, finding one’s way in a writing career is anything but simple. However, Shelley went to a meeting of the Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America and there met Heather Webber, another young mother also finding her way into a writing career. (Heather, of West Chester, who has been interviewed for this column, has built a highly successful career as a mystery author.) Mutual encouragement paved the way, and in 2000, Shelley’s first published novel, “Finding Love’s Fortune” came out with Avalon, a small press.
“It’s good that as our children grew up my writing career built slowly,” Shelley says. “Now my pace is sometimes dizzying — but a lot of fun.”
Shelley explains that her big break came after her agent pointed out that Shelley’s writing voice would be a good fit for inspirational romance novels.
“It happened that Harper Collins was looking for inspirational romance novels set in the world and faith of the Amish,” Shelley says. “I’m not Amish, and in fact didn’t grow up in church, although after moving here our family found a great spiritual home at a local Lutheran church. But, I decided to put together a synopsis and give three chapters a try.”
Since then, Shelley’s inspirational romance novels have garnered awards, a large, loyal and growing fan base, impressive sales and good reviews. She’s had more than 30 novels and novellas published to date. Her most recent title, released at the beginning of September, is “Joyful,” the third installment in this year’s “Return to Sugarcreek” trilogy. Now, Shelley writes three novels plus a novella each year.
“Actually, next year, I’ll write five novels — four books in another Amish series, as well as a stand-alone historical novel,” Shelley says.
As her writing career has grown, so has her faith. “Writing about the Amish has inspired me to thoughtfully consider my own faith and view of life,” Shelley says. “I’m goal oriented, a planner. As I’ve gotten to know Amish individuals and the Amish community through my research for my writing, I’ve learned to appreciate their view of focusing on now, appreciating this moment, whatever a day brings.”
Learn more about Shelley and her books at www.shelleyshepardgray.com.
Upcoming events
Sunday, Sept. 21, Wright Memorial Public Library (1776 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood), 2 p.m.: Members of the Wright Library Poets host a free, open-to-the-public reading from "Overdue Poems," funded by a grant from the Wright Memorial Public Library Foundation.
Saturday, Sept. 27, Barnes & Noble at The Shoppes of Beavercreek (2720 Towne Drive, Beavercreek), 3 p.m.: Author reading and book launch of mystery novel "Forty & Out" by local author Cyndi Pauwels (pen name C.L. Pauwels).
About the Author