Karen D. Bradley
and emailed it to my sister, I’d have to wait patiently
until it was returned. Sometimes, I had to wait so long
that trying to get back into the flow was like starting
an old, unused car in the dead of Chicago winter. We
had a huge hiccup on the road to publishing when we
discovered we couldn’t use the original title. It linked to
a “live girl” website and would have been a promotional
nightmare. The process of coming up with a new title
was frustrating. I favored one. She favored another. We
had to work through it until we could both agree on one
that worked.
When I came up with the idea of writing a novel with
my sister, it was really about seeing if she’d continue
to make time for the thing she loves as well as making
writing fun again. Life happened and at some points in
time she was writing less and less. She made it sound like
writing had become a chore. The title changed to Life
on Fire which was fitting because I wanted her to set my
sister’s life ablaze only in the best of ways and burn down
anything holding her back. I didn’t want Jenetta to settle
into her new norm, but continuously reevaluate and
readjust to get back on track to the targeted outcome.
My sister’s past cannot be altered but I could hand her
a match in hopes she’d relight her flame and attempt to
introduce her to people who I knew could add fuel to her
fire or fan the flames. The responsibility of controlling the
blaze, or the lack thereof, is on her. Same way it comes to
being on me in my own life.
Though as a person who encourages others to do their
level best, we want people’s talents and skills to set the
world on fire and blaze across the sky touching and
changing lives along the way. Yet, we can’t keep throwing
fuel on the fire if the person is mentally not ready. An
uncontrolled blaze is a wildfire that leaves destruction in
its wake.
The experience tested my limits, taught new lessons and
pushed me outside of my comfort zone. It also reminded
me to be patient with myself during the process of moving
out of my own way. The goal is to live life full-out, not to
be consumed and devastated by the attempt. However,
there are times when life will require people to step out
of their comfort zone when they’re not ready then learn
and grow as they go.
Producing Life on Fire with Jenetta was an enlightening
experience from the writing process to hosting panel
discussions in two different cities on the same day. It
allowed me to take opportunities that I would have
declined had I wrote the novel alone. The process also
reminded me of the importance of being surrounded by
people who aid and abet in our goals. My most important
take-away was that life isn’t about having full control but
having the ability to be fluid with our plans as things
continuously change to still accomplish goals.
Karen D. Bradley has penned several contemporary fiction
novels—Shattered Illusions, Love Runs Deep, and Life on Fire.
Recently, she ventured into film making by writing and producing
a short film based on one of her novels. Visit Karen on the web at
www.karendbradley.com
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