This month's guest post compliments of Sandra L. Young.
Growing up in rural Illinois farmlands, I certainly didn’t envision my life’s fun, creative, consuming path.
The nearest town of 600 residents offered a cramped, one-room library where I devoured as many books as possible. The high school produced one play a year. I never tried out for choir, cowed by my parents’ stating, “You can’t sing.”
But this little farm girl dreamed of being a writer, and I earned a journalism / communications degree from a state university. While working as a reporter for a Gannett newspaper, I finally joined a writers’ group and also got involved in community theater and the church choir.
I wish I had juggled all these passions equally. In actuality, theater dominated my life for three decades. I’ve performed in 75 musicals and plays—sometimes logging five in a year—and gathered a huge vintage clothing collection along the way.
With all those rehearsals and switching into nonprofit “day jobs”, my creative writing languished. I did enjoy singing weekly in church, but without the confidence to solo.
At age 50, the script flipped. Inspired by a dream, I wrote three linked novellas and eventually expanded them into full books. I was fortunate to land traditional small press contracts for the Divine Vintage series, with the first book landing in 2022. The release of Divine Vintage was followed by Divinely Dramatic and The Ghostly Diva, both in 2024. The tales are linked but can stand alone, wrapping romance around historical mystery with a ghostly sizzle.
Meanwhile, my vocal confidence grew after years of singing in a contemporary praise band. About the time I wrote the initial novellas, I also joined a local rock / pop group, providing leads and backup harmonies.
In the years since, these creativities have coalesced to support my “author brand.” If you click into my web page (via button below), you’ll see an eclectic, vintage-inspired focus. With my performing background, I’m very comfortable doing presentations, speaking to book clubs, or selling copies at area events. And yes, I wear vintage for these festivities! I’ve even spoken at libraries and historical societies about my clothing collection.
While I still sing with the same praise team, I shifted out of the rock band into a trio performing classics and oldies. Of course, I bring along a few books in case anyone is interested, as my singing partners kindly give me a shoutout.
This summer, I dipped into another innovative outlet to highlight my books, which are all set in our Northwest Indiana county bordering Lake Michigan. A great friend who develops walking events asked me to partner in putting together a Divine Vintage tour. We collaborated with eight entities to provide a healthy, two-mile trek encompassing locations mentioned in my book. Highlights included a gorgeous Victorian mansion, a vintage shop, a church, and an old lighthouse museum.
If you’re intrigued by that concept, we were also fortunate to offer it as a free online version. The Otocast QR code is below, featuring narration by myself and a male voice actor. If you pull it up, you’ll see photos of the locales, plus the script to read along, if desired.
Admittedly, it was a ton of work to pull off the two guided tours plus the online version. But both I and my partner are detail-focused. So, we plugged along together for months to make it a reality. Tapping into my theater persona, I served as the tour guide, speaking at each location about how it tied into my book. Then a representative from that stop shared an overview of its history.
We were super pleased that the folks who attended, both male and female, loved the tour. Plus, it generated a lot of new buzz about my books. One lady checked all three out of the library when we popped in there on the walk and said she would also order copies for friends.
On the heels of this success, I returned to that lakefront area on Halloween, when our trio performed for a party at a senior center. Of course, I brought along books—and added a vintage flair to my costume. That kind of event really speaks to some of the best aspects in my life these days: singing upbeat songs with lots of friends in the audience who have read my books, and in turn they praise and share them with others.
I feel blessed to pursue so many awesome, creative outlets in my life, wrapping them all together to support my work as an author. As I prepare to seek an agent and query my fourth novel, a biographical historical fiction, I’m energized by this synergy. Which is a good thing, because writing can be a challenging—and lonely—occupation!
ENDNOTE FROM JAN: Thank you, Sandra L. Young, for sharing your creative journey here. Everything about it sounds splendid, especially your Divine Vintage Walking Tour. Keep on keeping on, whether writing, walking, or performing!
by Natalie Putnam
Introduction: A Life in Two Acts
Many days, I press my hands into cool, damp clay and feel its silken smoothness coating my skin—a sensation worlds apart from the crisp paper and polished desks of my former business life. If you had told me decades ago that I'd trade tailored suits and spreadsheets for aprons dusted with stoneware, I would have laughed.
The Early Years: Climbing the Corporate Ladder
My career began in downtown Detroit as a truck dispatcher. Fresh out of college, armed with little but boundless ambition, I dove into the world of business. I spent years building my reputation and resume, moving from entry-level positions to management and eventually executive roles. The satisfaction of closing deals and leading teams was real, and the financial rewards were, too. Success, as defined by society, was mine.
My time in the corporate world was marked by drive and countless hours dedicated to climbing each rung of the ladder. I thrived on goal-setting and competition, always chasing the next promotion or accolade. The environment was fast-paced, rewarding, and often exhilarating, fueling my desire to make a tangible impact through leadership and strategic decision-making.
A Chance Encounter: Discovering Clay
My introduction to pottery was purely accidental and started even before college. Our high school had an art class that included pottery. The pottery wheel, with its spinning rhythm and tactile allure, mesmerized me. I lost myself in the process, shaping clay into forms that felt both ancient and new. In that class, I experienced a rare sense of flow and fulfillment. The sensation was more than just novel—it was memorable. But it was only one semester, and I soon moved on to other things, never returning to it, though I never forgot it either.
The Turning Point: Listening to My Inner Voice
As my career grew, I had frequently turned down invitations to join my friends on their "craft nights". With my demanding job and two kids, it became a luxury I didn't have, and frankly, I was not all that interested. But the feeling of "flow" returned one Christmas when I took a two-week vacation to stay home and decided to repaint my young daughter's old wooden bed. The turned wood was perfect for painting Caribbean colors, and I soon lost myself in painting the head and foot boards, gradually changing from dark brown to vibrant orange, teal, pink, and white. I was again in a state of relaxation, flow, and ease, a memory I keep even 30 years later.
Over the course of my lifetime, I moved locations, took on new titles, was promoted, and enjoyed greater recognition. It was recognition that came from hard work and building something greater than myself. I enjoyed my career, my industry contacts, and my feeling of accomplishment, but eventually the time was right to retire.
Transitioning: From Business Metrics to Artistic Milestones
In the beginning, my business background proved of little value. I finally retired, and at 65 years of age, I could pursue anything I wanted without the need to produce an income. As I assessed my options, I stumbled on a profound truth:
I started to realize that my trucking industry career was all about improving the lives and businesses of my customers, developing my employees, putting things in order, and creating something greater than myself. And art was similar! I realized that art demanded vulnerability, patience, and a willingness to embrace imperfection. I had always professed that successful companies are learning organizations. I was learning again, but this time in my art, and I was back at the beginning. I had almost no experience in art or craft.
After a year or so of working with polymer, I was able to join our community pottery club. I started with beginning hand building, making a few pieces that really got me hooked. The kindness, generosity, and skill of my teachers amazed me. They taught me without hesitation or wanting anything in return. That concept was brought home repeatedly in this community of artists, and frankly, I was arguably one of the worst in the class! All the students had at least a background in some type of art or craft. My first efforts produced some rather sloppy results! Instead of seeing these as failures, I began to appreciate them as steps in my journey. Each mistake taught me something new about the material—and myself.
Lessons Learned: The Intersection of Business and Art
My background in business has continued to shape my journey as a potter in unexpected ways. Organization, discipline, and goal-setting are just as important in the studio as they are in the office. I've learned to blend structure with spontaneity, and strategy with soul.
Pottery has taught me the importance of patience and resilience. Unlike the fast pace of the corporate world, working with clay is a slow and deliberate process. It requires trust—in the material, in the process, and in oneself. I've learned to celebrate small victories and to view setbacks as invitations to grow.
Perhaps most importantly, I've discovered the joy of creating something lasting and beautiful with my own hands. In business, achievements are often intangible or fleeting; in pottery, each piece is both a product and a story, tangible evidence of creativity and care.
Finding Purpose: More Than a Career Change
Today, my days are filled with the joy of making, the challenge of learning, and the satisfaction of sharing with others. I continue to explore new techniques and styles. The studio has become my haven—a place where I am both student and teacher, leader and learner.
Looking back, I am grateful for every step that led me here. The skills and experiences I gained in business have enriched my journey as a potter, giving me the tools to build my creative enterprise with confidence and care.
Conclusion: Embracing Change and Celebrating Creativity
If my story resonates with you, let it serve as encouragement to listen to your inner voice. Change can be daunting, especially when it means redefining your identity and stepping outside your comfort zone.
My path from businesswoman to potter was not linear, nor was it easy. It required persistence and the willingness to embrace uncertainty. But in the clay, I found myself and my purpose. And in sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to seek out their own creative adventures—wherever they may lead.
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A FEW ENDNOTES FROM JAN: (*) Natalie Putnam, thank you, thank you for sharing this delightful peek into your creative journey. (*) Friends who've signed up to be part of my community, thank you, too! (*) Friends who haven't yet joined my community, you can do it now by visiting my website or my profile/linktree tab on Facebook or Instagram. What's in it for you? A blog post celebrating creativity straight to your e-mailbox each month, as well as an e-newsletter chock full of bookish news and reviews and other surprises (e.g., recipes, game and movie recs, a chance to win bookish giveaways, and more)! That's pretty much it.
Until next time, stay literate, my friends!
I crochet. I embroider. I write. Not necessarily in that order. Tapping my creative juices is a bit like breathing to me. If I don’t do it, I don't feel well.
Watching my grandmother crochet or embroider fascinated me. When she offered to teach me, I jumped at the chance. Grandma handed me money and strict instructions not to talk to strangers, then sent me off to Murphy’s 5 & 10 in her small town to pick out an embroidery sampler and floss. I was 8 years old. I loved picking the colors of floss that would make the flat, plain cloth come alive.
Years later, that experience became the essay “French Knots” in my memoir SEVEN THIN DIMES.
My parents were voracious readers. The apple doesn’t fall far from that tree. My nose was always in a book. My mother often pushed me to go outside and play with other kids. In our family, the tally is: readers - a lot; painters & carpenters - a few; writers - none. Just me. By the fourth grade, I was reading on an eleventh grade level, dreaming sentences and rhyming words at night or daydreaming them during the day. My parents were supportive, but Erie, PA, in the 1960’s was void of outlets to explore creative writing. I had no idea why I had such a desire to put words together or that a girl like me could grow up to be a writer one day.
Fourth grade and Mrs. Whitmore changed my life. She was like a light in the dark. She was the first, only, and last teacher who complemented me and made me feel good about my writing. So, I wrote her a poem. Mind you, I’m not even sure I understood back then that what I did was called a poem. Mrs. Whitmore told my parents I had talent. Suddenly, I saw myself in an entirely new light. She allowed me to step out of the class, while the other students were reading books at a level I’d already surpassed, and explore SRA reading assignments, write plays, and put them on, later, for the class. But where to go and what to do in a city with no options?
Ninth grade brought the excitement of a newly offered creative writing class. By mid-term all joy at finally having a chance to learn to write had deflated into misery. The teacher was not a writer, nor did he appear to know much about the craft of writing. Following my submission of an assignment, he accused me of plagiarism. Ordered to sit alone in a room while he observed, I was given a subject and told to write at the same level and in the same style as my homework submission. To add to his draconian behavior, he gave me a time limit to complete it. Imagine doing that to a terrified 15-year-old. I should have told my parents, but I thought I was “in trouble” and kept quiet. He gave me an A+ for the class but never once offered kind words or additional help.
From teachers to high school counselors, no one seemed to be able to tell me how to be a writer and also earn a living. After a couple false starts in college, I chose journalism and stuck with it. Throughout my years working low paying jobs in various fields, I wrote poetry and essays, submitted them and was rejected. I often thought I’d create wallpaper from the rejection letters - now they’d be a screensaver for my laptop! Floundering, lost with no mentor or path to take, often working two jobs, I alternately wrote and gave up on writing. But I never stopped crocheting and embroidering.
I embroidered quilts for each of my nephews when they were born, creating a family tradition I continue for my great-nephews and great-nieces. I crochet “lapghans” and afghans for people who do kind things for me, or as a donation to a craft table at the church fundraiser. Efforts to financially afford to enroll full time in an MFA program, or to pursue the degree part-time around my job, failed. Approval for flexible work hours wasn’t available, nor were online degrees plentiful, like they are today. I wanted, desperately, to learn and grow and, most of all, to validate that I was born to write…that I did have talent.
Well, now that you’ve followed me through this sad tale, you must be wondering why didn’t I quit my job and go to graduate school for a writing degree? Or maybe you’re so slogged down in this story you think if I don’t get to the point where I turned a corner, you’ll give up.
Turning that corner starts like another sad tale, but with a happy ending. Post heart-attack, my father had loads of health issues. I didn’t feel I could leave Erie. Then I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1998 and faced a tough road through strenuous chemo treatments. Yet, after every big storm there's a rainbow somewhere if you look hard enough. The advice from a cancer survivor was “write 3 things you’ll do when, not if, you beat the disease”. Top of my list was to write and publish a novel. A refrigerator magnet held that list in front of my face each morning.
Twenty-six years later, I’m an author and cancer survivor who always has a crochet or embroidery project in progress! My early novels won small local awards, giving me courage to keep going. My recent novel, WHAT LIES WE KEEP, has won five awards. Publishing under my own label, Porch Swing Publishing, LLC, I’m carving a niche brand using cybersecurity in contemporary fiction to create additional suspense - a technothriller that’s not science fiction! And I put out a monthly newsletter - One Writer’s World - to reach out to readers.
Mrs. Whitmore was right all those years ago. I do have talent. I am a writer.
NOTE: Visit Janet’s website to learn more:
