FUQUAY-VARINA, NC -- My favorite type of stories are inspirational human interest features about unique people, events, and places. I just know the the world is full of all this goodness! What's your story?
I'm certain I got my writing talent, wild imagination, and creative genius (such as it is) from my mother. She has all these things, too, although her creative genius far surpasses mine. When I was in the fourth grade, I wowed my teacher with a crazy story about striking oil on a baseball field when a runner slid into home and his cleat struck the well. Like I said, I have a wild imagination. My Granny used to tell me one day I would write "a great American novel." I'm working on it.
In October 2024, I reignited my journalism career after more than three decades out of the biz.
Once upon a time in the late 80s, I was an Army journalist. I was pretty good at it -- high speed, low drag, kick ass and all that. I was an honor graduate from my Basic Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Then I went to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at The Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. We jokingly referred to ourselves as "DINFOS trained killers."
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel attended DINFOS to learn how to be print and broadcast journalists, videographers, photographers, and public affairs specialists. It --was -- awesome!
I arrived at my permanent duty station, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division and spent some time in the Media Relations division of the post Public Affairs Office. Then, I moved to the post newspaper. I wrote award-winning stories. I covered events no one had ever covered before. I escorted Bob Woodward, the Bob Woodward, to the field in the late 1980s to observe training exercises when he was writing about some Army higher ups.
I went through the Sabaulaski Air Assault School and was the only female in my class to pass the intensive three-week course. Yes. I did lean out into a good "L-shaped position" and bounded away off the side of both a 40-foot wall and the skid of a Huey OH-68 helicopter. I rappelled to the earth below in a Swiss seat I tied myself from the piece of rope I was issued. I might have been the last soldier to pass the finish line on our final test, a 12-mile forced road march in 40 pounds of gear, but I did cross the finish line.
That was a looooooong time ago -- literally, decades. Suffice it to say -- for now -- a lot has happened since then. Marriage, motherhood, divorce, work, bills, struggles, triumphs, a good marriage to a wonderful man, and so much more. Hint: Lots of stories since my Army days that I'll share eventually.
The writing bug has never left me. I've exercised it a little over the years -- classroom newsletters for my childrens' schools, church newsletters, press releases and media placements for my employers, brochures, programs, etc.
I've known for a long time I wanted to truly return to writing. I even started a flexible-schedule small business in June 2022 so I could quit my day job to pursue writing (and advocacy/awareness activities for specific issues).
In July 2024 I was able to leave my full-time job and concentrate on my small business. In October 2024 I stumbled across what I thought was a great story through one of my customers. I pitched it to the editors at The Daily Record, the local twice-weekly paper in Dunn, NC. They agreed it would be a good story and gave me the green light. The story was better than good. It made the front page of the next edition.
I've been writing for The Daily Record regularly since then.
Thank you big time, Neal and Brienne Eichhornn! Brienne was my customer who told me about her husband, an inspirational natural bodybuilder who became a winning, professional competitor in less than half the time his coach expected. Neal and his family were a great story, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from them.
For five consecutive editions, all of my stories hit the front page. Of course that streak didn't last, but it sure felt like a warm welcome back -- an affirmation of being the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. The paper and I have come to agreement that I would be a regular freelance correspondent for them. They gave me a press badge, an official email, and business cards, too.
I am legit back in the biz!
Thanks for getting to know a little about me and my return to writing. Stay tuned. ;)
With Love,
D.