At the end of The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd, there is an author Q&A. I asked permission to share the writing question and answer in this post. I hope it encourages you to follow your dreams.

The Question

If you had one piece of advice to give to an aspiring writer, what would it be?

The Answer

I’d echo author Jane Kirkpatrick, whose work I admire:

My best advice is to silence the harpies, those negative voices that say, “who told you that you could write?” or “what makes you think your book will get published?” Just write the story of your heart and put duct tape on those harpies.

Sometimes the harpies are inside your head, sometimes they’re other people. Find people who will nurture both you and your story, who help you protect your talent all the while insisting that you grow in your craft. And trust yourself. ~ Sandra Byrd, author and writing coach