Hope Hollinsworth Coaxum-Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

I started writing in 2003; my first novel was based on a fictional character called “Juicy”. I found myself writing until all hours of the night and would often write during my lunch hour or whenever possible. I worked for a major beverage firm in Rye Brook as an Administrative Assistant and was later promoted to Coordinator.

Married, with two children – my son Courtney was a soldier in the U.S. Army and my daughter Nicole a High School student. I remember telling my family about the story I created and my hopes of having it published. At first they didn't take me seriously, but once I began sending my manuscript to publishing companies they realized it truly was my dream.

I sent my first novel “A Juicy Story” to several publishing companies and was rejected by each one. The reason for the rejections was that I was an "unknown" author. I became discouraged, but would not let my dream die. My son was killed in ‘2007’ and his death made clear to me just how short life truly is