Why childhood pictures of me?
To show you parts of the real story behind the very first novel I ever wrote; SERENITY.
Serenity (name full of meaning for me) found her way into my heart through a self-help book I was reading due to traumas during my childhood and teenage years. Following the wise advice from this book, I closed my eyes and went back to a certain time in my past and give it an alternate ending. I chose a time that I had regretted. I wondered what could have happened had I let a certain someone into my life. He had kind eyes and seemed to truly want to be a part of my world, but I was afraid. Life had taught me such fears.
Would he have been accepting of my gifts? My odd ways because of what was transpiring at home? Could he have been the rock I needed?
Now I had a way to get my answer and find peace.
That certain someone became 'Dereck' in my imagination, which set a fire to my damaged soul. And, promised I would no longer be alone during all that was to come in my real life back then.
While writing Serenity, I searched for healing, friendships, found families, and a love of a man who would do his best to protect me, forever.
I'm happy to say, I found my real-life Dereck, later in life, but these pictures are from a newspaper article, describing how my father built my home where Serenity now lives...
These pictures show a happy little girl, and no glimpse of what she was enduring within those walls...
