The Story of "Storied Existence"

It started with an idea. A light bulb over my head. I always wanted to be a fiction writer, and thanks to the magic of self-publishing, I was able to create my first book of short stories this year. With a combination of old ideas I was working on years ago and more recent ones, I sat down and began writing. Getting in touch again with characters I created back then was like seeing old friends. I picked up where I left off, and everything just came rushing back. The newer ideas just seemed to flow too.
I've always had ideas for stories, but just couldn't make them work in longer formats. I was too easily distracted. Then there was an MS diagnosis. And bouts of depression. Sometimes it was just me having too many ideas and not being organized. Or just being too busy to write. At the end of last year I wanted to get back on the proverbial horse, and it occurred to me there was a way - short stories. 
I wrote some stories, thought of a title for the book, prepared it for publication, and in August, I finally accomplished the goal of writing and self-publishing my first book of short stories, "Storied Existence." I chose an old photo from my family's collection for the cover. I just always loved the photo, and I figured it has its own storied existence. I don't know who the woman in the photo is, but she made the cover of my book.
So, the short story format and self-publishing allowed me to finally finish and tell the stories I thought of back in the day. And the new ones. And there will be more to come. I have become an author.