Here to start this new series is friend and fellow author: Val Penny. Welcome back to the blog, Val. Where are you taking this theme?
I had always wanted to write a novel, and indeed had written a story for my little sister when we were both small children. I still have that book.
However, as I grew up and started work, I spent my time writing opinions and documents to the extent that any ideas of writing fiction had to be put to one side. Interestingly, though, life does not travel in a straight line and after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I took early retirement.
I was lucky, the disease was diagnosed early, my husband was able to attend every chemotherapy appointment with me and a local charity provided drivers to take me to each of my daily radiotherapy appointments. However, the treatment left me exhausted and unable to undertake any of my interests or hobbies. Also, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but day-time television programmes leave a lot to be desired! I was tired, but not too tired to complain.
My husband bought me lots of novels and I read voraciously. Then I started a blog to allow me to review the books I read: www.bookreviewstoday.com but even that didn’t hold my interest.
Eventually, my husband said to me, “If you know so much about what makes a good book, why don’t you write one?”
I doubted that I had the talent or the energy to complete a novel, but my husband encouraged me. He believed in me. He still does and he made me believe in myself. When I sent off my manuscript to two different publishers and was accepted by both, his belief and mine seemed justified.
Without my husband setting me the challenge and having the belief in me to write a book, I never would have done it. Now I have five published novels and a nonfiction book under my belt. If you enjoy crime fiction, read The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries published by darkstroke.
Ah, where would we be without our other halves!
About Val Penny
Val Penny’s crime novels, Hunter’s Chase, Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force, Hunter’s Blood and Hunter’s Secret form the bestselling series The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries. They are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by darkstroke Her first non-fiction book Let’s Get Published is also available now and she has most recently contributed her short story, Cats and Dogs to a charity anthology, Dark Scotland.
Val is an American author living in SW Scotland with her husband and two cats.
Val’s Links
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Bookbub.
Hunter’s Chase, Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force, Hunter’s Blood, Hunter’s Secret, Let’s Get Published, Dark Scotland.
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Next Friday, look out for an amazing story of belief by Paula R C Readman.
To post in this series, you don’t have to be an author and the post doesn’t have to be about writing. Tell us about belief making things happen, whether true or fictional, personal or not.
If you want to take part, let me know via Contact above, or through social media.
Miriam Drori, Author 
3 replies on “The Power of Belief: Val Penny”
Thank you for having me to visit your blog, Miriam. I am sure this will be a very interesting series of articles.
Thanks for starting it off, Val. 🙂
What an amazing life, Val. What amazing husband you have to encourage you. I’ve enjoyed reading your books. ❤️Hugs❤️