69Author, Professional Writer
I started my professional career in 1976 as a computer operator, but my passion has always been writing. I have had this deep, abiding passion for writing since age 16 when I wrote a 4-act play about my high school friends and my English teacher told me that I should be a writer when I grow up. However, writing plays did not put food on the table.
As I made my way up the career ladder from a computer operator to operations supervisor to eventually, in 1981, a computer teacher, writing was an intricate part of what I did. My first big public acknowledgement for my writing came when I wrote the course curriculum for the first ever computer programming and word processing vocational training courses in the Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program (LACoROP). I designed and implemented the training, which was approved by the California Dept. of Education, and it became the foundation for all future vocational computer training in the state.
After my computer career, I worked professionally as a business writer for well over ten years producing a varied of business reports, ads and website content, and primarily translating systems into technical instructions. My professional resume also includes experience in sales administration management and new product development.
Creatively, I have written well over a quarter million words and my work has been published in international, national, and regional publications and online.
From 1986 to 1995, I wrote several short stories that gained me notoriety in several national publications, and in 1990, I self-published a poetry book in hardcover titled, “When Darkness Covers the Light” and sold 1,500 copies. Some of the poems published in the book can now be read online along with other poetry (“Poetry In Motion: A Collectionn”) that I have written and was previously published.
From 1987-88, I went into the studio and produced a demo of five songs that I wrote the lyrics to and created the melody…”You’re The One For Me”, “Save The Children”, “Promises”, “He Is So Real”, and “Wake Up Everybody.” I recently transferred songs to CD and I have compiled them under the title “Unfinished Business.” It is my goal to re-record them using various aspiring singers.
In 1991, I resigned my computer instructor position for a more financially rewarding career in sales and marketing as administration manager for a major corporation. I continued to write constantly and voluminously as I moved up the corporate ladder.
In 1995 after experiencing “The Celestine Prophecy,” a profound best-selling book by James Redfield, I gave up a substantial salary as a manager and stepped out on my faith, and founded “Reflections Of You® Journal” (ISSN 1087-4062), an international journal of insight and perspective. “Reflections…” started as a 4-page newsletter and evolved into as one reporter wrote, “a 38-paged myriad of thoughts.” It was a forum for open-minded and freethinking writers, poets, and artists. The thought provoking and uplifting writings like “Do We Have Innate Wisdom?” and “Love Is Many Things” inspired readers and contributors across the U.S., and in Canada, India and parts of Europe. To help get “Reflections…” started, I inspired friends, relatives and others to support my efforts; and they did it as a labor of love. They contributed their talent, time, and even their money.
From 2001 to 2004, I wrote two highly charged novels under the genre Women’s Dramatic and Literary Fiction: "Josephine Famous (Soul of A Woman)" about 101,000 words and "Love Tells No Lies, Modern Women Stories" about 87,000 words. Both novels were created from original short stories under different titles. A literary agency is currently shopping them.
In 2005, I authored a book of personal experience essays titled “Standing In The Light of My Truth(Valuable Insights and Practical Exercises for Self-Investigation and Self-Discovery)" (ISBN 0-9621144-2-1, published 2005, Enlightenment Independent Publishing). This book of personal experience essays exalts and demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit. The essays and exercises are practical as opposed to idealistic, and integrate philosophy with methods and practices that promote self-awareness and self-discovery. Chapter 17 deals with my own life story about mental and physical abuse at the hands of my stepmother and how it showed up in my exterior life and my journey to forgiveness. Excerpts of three of the four most popular essays can be read online: “To Forgive Is To Accept”, “God Is Not A Religion”, and “Fear Not, Love Inside Out.”
In 2006, I started a line of greeting cards under the name Treasure Trove Greetings, and a novelty business of handmade decorative pillows with inspirational messages marketed under the name Thoughtful Art.
From 2008 until present, I have many media and political commentaries published online and revisited and remarketed some of my earlier published most popular articles, essays, and poetry, and they can be read at along with new ones and a collection of blogs and commentaries posted on popular sites.
I write to release my creative energy, to express my innermost feelings and thoughts on a variety of subjects, and to share my life's stories and lessons learned. My inspiration is a core belief that sharing our life experiences is a way to find the answer to life's questions. I feel privileged to have this talent, which is as natural to me as breathing is.
I have three adult children: Kristie, 38, Frank, 35, Terrie, 32, and 4 beautiful and adorable grandchildren (as of this writing) who makes my heart smile.
My philosophy about life
* Be respectful of differences and embrace diversity.
* Love is a verb...it's not what you say but what you do because actions speak louder.
* Words can heal or they can hurt; therefore, choose your words wisely.
* Be open to others' opinions and perspectives.
* Remain true to your principles and do not sacrifice you morals and values.
Visit my websites:
All Writings
http://www.smmahaffey.com
Articles
http://smaxxmahaffey.newsvine.com
http://smaxxmahaffey.hubpages.com
