Hi friends,
I’m excited to introduce today’s guest blogger, Traci Abramson. She’s sharing about the friendships we make along our writing journey, and I’m blessed to have met her on my own. I know you’ll enjoy her post today! And, be sure to comment to be entered in the giveaway.
I’m often asked what I consider to be the best part of being an author. The answer has been the same since I started this career almost twenty years ago: the people. Fans, booksellers, fellow writers, editors, publicists, and so many others who interact with us along the way—each fuels our sense of belonging in this unique writing community.
I have to admit that when I first started on my journey to becoming an author, I was a classic closet writer. No one knew that I was drafting my first novel. No one even knew that I aspired to be a novelist, not even my husband.
Now, keep in mind that I am former CIA, so if I want to keep a secret, I have a high probability of success.
My path to publication was a slow one, seven years of writing and rewriting my first novel. I never would have succeeded had I not learned to share my work and accept feedback.
Over the years, I have been blessed to meet so many authors who have since become treasured friends. While some people may see others authors as competition, I have never experienced that sensation. Rather, I have found that other writers cheer the loudest when they witness another author have a success.
In addition to the general support I have received from others, I have also enjoyed working with friends to create a few suspense anthologies, including Sinister Secrets, which comes out on September 1st. Another delightful outcome of these friendships has been co-authoring several projects.
The first co-written novel began with an idea by a good friend, Paige Edwards. We combined our collective talents with two other friends, Sian Ann Bessey and A.L. Sowards, to create Heirs of Falcon Point. The intent was to write a single novel, but Sian and I quickly discovered that our characters’ stories weren’t done yet. In the midst of Covid, we joined forces again to write The Danger with Diamonds (coming Oct. 11, 2022).
At a time when we felt so isolated from the world, we were able to create something magical. Family connections, good-humored banter, and new romance are combined with a healthy dose of suspense in a way that allowed our friendship and respective strengths to shine through.
While the talents the Lord has shared with me often puts my name on the covers of books and in front of others in various ways, each of us has our own gifts and strengths. Whether it’s playing an instrument, creating something beautiful, lending a listening ear, and yes, being a good friend, our inherent talents are within us just waiting to be used and explored.
READER QUESTION: What talents or traits are you most grateful for? And what talents would you most like to develop?
GIVEAWAY: Comment below to be entered to win an advance reader copy of The Danger with Diamonds or a copy of Traci’s latest book, Not Dead Yet.
Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study abroad program. After earning her degree in finance and international business, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children’s teenage years. She loves to travel and recently retired after twenty-six years coaching her local high school swim team. She has written more than thirty-five best-selling novels and has been honored to receive several awards over the years, including 2017 and 2019 Whitney Award Best Novel of the Year. You can find out more about Traci and her books at www.traciabramson.com, on her various social media pages, and in her Facebook group, Traci’s Friends.
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For me, I’d have to say the talent I’m most grateful for is baking/cooking. Although I took no interest in it growing up, as an adult I soon learned that in order to enjoy home cooking, you had to learn to make it. My Mom was very patient in showing me the ropes of all she knew about in the kitchen, which was quite extensive. Being a military man’s wife and living on military bases, she was fortunate enough to learn from woman of many nationalities. So our Italian food was prepared just as the neighbor Italian woman made in Italy and so forth. She also taught me to go with my gut on seasonings and to not to be fearful of altering a recipe for our individual tastes. Now all these years later, there’s no place I’d rather be in the kitchen and I have sweet memories of my Mom when I’m complimented on a meal or a dish.
As for what talent’s I’d like to develop, the one that comes tops in my mind is photography. Although I’ve always enjoy taking photos, my skills have always been with a point and shoot camera. Now though I want to develop my skills with more knowledge of the camera and different ways to shoot a photo to get better pictures. The problem I have is my brain doesn’t work as well with comprehending by reading. I’m more of a show me person. Hubby is extremely patient with me and had taught me lots. I’d love to take some hands on classes and have the opportunity to see how far I can go with my photo taking.
Cooking is something I also love to do. I called my mom so often for recipes, we finally wrote a cookbook together just so she would know I wanted to call her for other things too. 🙂 And photography is a great talent to develop. 🙂
I’m thankful for learning how to sew. The last couple years several friends and I have met to make things (sundresses, pillowcases, quilts, tote bags) for donation purposes. It is rewarding to know one is helping others and it’s been great fun spending time with like-minded friends.
Sewing is a talent I admire so much, and one I haven’t been as good at developing. I love that you are using your skills to help others. Such an incredible gift to use your time that way.
I’m impressed that you could keep the secret of your writing a book from even your husband for years!
It wasn’t easy! I used to put a blank page at the end of my manuscript so that I could quickly hit the end button if I heard anyone coming into the room. My entire family used to wonder why I never had anything interesting on the screen. 🙂
Thirty-five novels! That’s impressive, Traci. Well done. And I agree with you, the friendships I have made during my writing career (with sister-writers, readers, and editors) are among my most treasured.
Thanks! I love how with each author I meet, we all seem to the value the treasure of our friendships with fellow writers.
Writer friends are one of the very best gifts of this journey! Thanks for visiting the blog, Traci!
Thanks, Becky!
I am most grateful for my talent of perseverance. If I want to do something, I can learn to do it. I would really like to have a better talent of patience, however I know my patience is better now than it was when I first had children.
Perseverance is a wonderful gift and is far too often overlooked. And yes, patience is a never-ending struggle for many of us. 🙂
I believe I am a talented writer. I wrote a novel in 2013, which I still have not submitted! I need to just go for it and stop being scared of putting my “baby” out there to possibly be butchered. Ha ha. I have a strong desire to keep writing. I have numerous stories in my head, dying to break out and lie down on paper to be memorialized forever, so I need to stop procrastinating and start submitting and writing more!
It is so terrifying to take that first step, but it is so rewarding when you are able to move forward and connect with editors who can really help make your talent shine. Best of luck to you. You can do it!
I have been blessed with musical talents and I’m always looking for ways to further develop and use them.
I think with all of the talents and traits I have, I can always be searching how to expand and further develop them. They bless my life and many others as well.
I love this! Music can bring so much joy to others.
I am thankful for the “talent” of being a lifelong learner, dedicated reader, and creative thinker. I would like to develop and improve my tidiness and organizational skills!
Oh, this sounds so much like me! Tidiness and organizational skills are both items I’m always convinced I’m going to master…someday.
One talent that I am grateful for is the ability to talk to anyone. Old ladies at church, students in my classroom, the random 3 year old that wanders onto our picnic blanket at the park, I can find something to talk about.
That really is a gift. I’m so glad you recognize it in yourself. 🙂
I absolutely LOVED Heirs of Falcon Point and Not Dead Yet! It is really fun to see these authors collaborate and turn out books we simply cannot live without!!!
Thanks, Gwen! We really have had so many fun adventures creating stories together.
One talent I’d like to get better at is being better at making and being friends. I get so work oriented its hard for me to stop and be with people. I’d like to live in the moment more.
That is something I think most people would love to improve upon. Good luck with all of your endeavors!
I’m grateful to be able to bake because I love sharing good food with others.
We share that love. And you already know about my other author collaboration, The Fiction Kitchen Trio Cookbook. We’re working on our proofs this week!
I’m so excited for it to come out! I’m grateful for the ability to create things. I find a lot of thing I love but can’t afford, so it’s fun trying to find ways to recreate them! “Things” sounds vague but that’s because it is. From my kids Halloween costumes to decorations around the house. It’s fun trying to find ways to create them!
Oh, I admire people like you who have that ability to recreate what they see. It really is a huge talent.
I love Traci’s books!!
Thanks so much!
What talents or traits are you most grateful for? I am most grateful for my ability to talk and interact with people. I also love that I can do crafts and create things with my hands. I would love to learn how to dance and draw, I think that they are such cool skills to have.
I so admire people who are good with crafts. It’s such a fun creative outlet!
I love baking and have some talent in it-but I’ve been learning more about making and decorating cakes and that has been a blast! Also-I have LOVED Traci’s books-from the first ones I read (Undercurrents trilogy).
Thanks so much! And I have to admit, I have been enjoying learning how to decorate cakes. It’s all Sian Bessey and Sarah Eden’s fault that I’m even trying. (Our Fiction Kitchen Trio bake-off challenges forced me to learn some new skills!)
I love Traci’s books! There’s suspense, intrigue, romance, mystery and fun! There are parts that make me laugh out loud! Thank you, Traci for persevering when you were first trying to get published. You are amazing!!
Aw, thanks so much!
I’m grateful for eyes to see and notice beauty but also pick up on errors or accuracy. I’m grateful to have a good memory for details.
So glad that authors of good and clean stories are promoting each other.
Such lovely thoughts. And yes, it has been a wonderful journey to meet so many wonderful authors and to feel their support.
I would so love the opportunity to read the Danger with Diamonds. I have read the Heirs of Falcon Point once, listened to the audio twice, as well as having read Not Dead Yeet once as well as listening to it once. I’m so ready for my next book. Your books are fantastic!
Thank you so much! Sian Bessey and I are so excited about The Danger with Diamonds. We had so much fun writing it.
Traci is one of my all time favorite authors! Her characters are like old friends that I love to visit with often.
I have been told I have an “old soul” 😂 I think the skill I have refined and nurtured has been compassion and being empathetic. I love to listen to other peoples stories, to learn more about them and what makes them tick. Being able to talk through challenges and difficulties, as well as celebrating victories, big or small.
I have a black thumb 😬 I love gardens and flowers but can’t keep them alive to save my own life 🤣 it does help me to appreciate those that have that talent.
Compassion and empathy are such important attributes. And thanks for reading my books! I have to admit, I enjoy visiting those old friends every bit as much as readers do. 🙂
Hi friends,
Thanks for being so welcoming to Traci. I’m thrilled you enjoyed her post so much. Such a good one!
The giveaway winner is:Gwen G Krumperman. Congrats, Gwen!
A talent I have is for making cakes. I love the creative process of it. It is relaxing and helps me feel a sense of accomplishment when I make them. I love your talents too, and your ability to keep a secret astounds me. Haha
Creating cakes is a great way to share your talents. And yes, keeping secrets is definitely a skill that came in handy in my former work life. 🙂