It was 1991, and the Gulf War was unfolding in front of me on television as I recuperated from melanoma. Spurred by the drama I was witnessing, I began to think about my own life, the dreams I'd held close to my heart since I was just a little girl–to complete my long-delayed college education, to write and sell a book that would make a difference like "1984" and "The Grapes of Wrath"–and I realized that time was running out on ever seeing those dreams become a reality. The panic syndrome that had kept me a prisoner in my own home for nearly ten years stood like a barrier between me and those dreams, but I decided that if I could overcome cancer, two teenaged children, and the stresses and strains of nearly thirty years of marriage, I could overcome anything. So, I hitched up my courage and stepped out into the world, first as a columnist for the local newspaper, then as a Creative Writing student at FSU, and finally as a successful novelist traveling to book events and speaking engagements throughout the southeast.
When I was selected "Woman of the Year" in 2004 by Tallahassee Community College for "inspiring hope and possibility," I knew for certain that "dreams are just reality waiting to happen" and that it isn't fairy godmothers but courage, determination, and faith in oneself that make dreams come true.
Kathleen Lamarche is the award-winning author of The Plot
