This month, the Debutante Ball is excited to turn over our Substack to the fabulous Debutant, Kristin Owens who shares her first of many writing inspirations. Her debut, Elizabeth Sails docks October, 2024.
Sailing Onward
I didn’t start writing until my mid-forties after my mans and I moved from Europe back to the USA on the Queen Mary 2. Instead of flying, a cruise sounded ideal for several reasons: It was a historical opportunity to cross the pond, it de-stressed the multiple time zone fracas, but most importantly, it was cheaper.
But we were out of our element. Astronomically. The black-tie events scheduled in the ship’s programme (yes, with an ‘e’), were actually black tie. And evening gowns required supportive undergarments. And the buffet was sinful, even for an atheist. After eight days of eating, sleeping, and reading, we found our groove the day before we disembarked.
What an experience. But how could I remember it all? I wasn’t a writer. I was a traveler, an awe-inspired traveler, hoping cryptic emails sent to family and friends over sketchy internet would prompt future memories.
Please, don’t let me forget the live music in the ballroom, the afternoon teas, and the velvet-entombed theater that screamed elegance, not tacky like a seventies Jesus painting. The dinner menus that read like erotic French poetry. Our cabin steward who called me madame and meant it.
Three years later, I started freelance writing. Small articles on travel, wine and beer, subjects I was passionate about. Then I found paying customers. However, I kept thinking about that first transatlantic voyage, which precipitated a dedicated travel fund. Each subsequent year, we saw more of the world: the Med, Canary Islands, the Baltics, Scandinavia … which prompted lots to say and share in my writing.
Bam! Book Idea Hits
And then it happened. Sitting on Queen Victoria’s sun deck in the Norwegian Fjords, I came up with an idea. Instead of writing small pieces, why not a book? I’d never written a novel. How hard could it be? (oh, the naiveté) I quickly sketched out a kooky plot and some characters. The location? A ship of course. My mans listened to me without rolling his eyes, which must have been excruciatingly painful. “Do it,” he said. With his encouragement, I was überly enthusiastic to start.
It can be challenging to whip up an ounce of creative motivation these days. But here’s my secret: get thee on a plane, a train, or a ship. If this doesn’t work for your schedule, (or budget), sit in a truck stop, order a piece of homemade pie, and people-watch. Just get out. Have an experience.
As a writer, I can churn out a boatload of words when I travel. Always. Whatever the itinerary, I not only learn about cultural enlightenments, but of my own prejudices and biases. This is excellent fodder for essays and articles. I arrive home with a notebook filled with possibilities and renewed enthusiasm.
In a year, I had a full-length manuscript. A year after that, I had an edited novel. Two years later, I signed with a literary agent. I figured, if the book ever got published, I’d need a platform and a following—basically, eager customers to buy my book. And who better than travelers who enjoyed cruise ships? Because, if they didn’t want to read it, who would?
I focused my energies, dusted off my teaching and tap-dancing experience (who knew these mutually exclusive skill sets could come in handy), and applied to speaker agencies. I now have two talent agents placing me as an enrichment speaker on cruise ships where I can yap about beer, wine, and writing. I am entertaining and memorable. Or at least my hair is.
Last year, my agent sold my book. When I met my publisher, she thought I worked full-time on a cruise ship. This, to me, is hilarious. Apparently, glamourous social media postings can elevate your side-hustle as an unpaid employee into an enviable lifestyle. All I know is I smile a lot. And question what has social media done to us as a society, but that feels like a preachy essay.
But it is awesome. In the last year, I’ve presented on Princess, Celebrity, and Viking. When my mans gets tired of seeing the Panama Canal, I go alone and write. My steward checks in when I haven’t left my cabin after fifteen hours. I think it’s a safety requirement, but it makes me feel cared for. Special. And every few days, I lecture on stage and entertain people. It’s really the best of all worlds.
October 8, 2024, Elizabeth Sails (Rising Action), will launch into the world. Just so you don’t have to go back and do the math (you’re welcome), it’s been seven years.
In the meantime, I’ve sailed on eleven cruises as a passenger and eleven as a lecturer. I’ve also written three more books. I keep traveling and writing. I’m not bored yet. Only I weigh ten pounds more than I used to.
To wrap this ramble up, my message is this: Your experiences must come first. They inform your writing … your work. So do what you love and write about it. And if you aren’t doing that, find a way. There’s always a way. And whether it’s a piece of truck stop pie or an endless buffet, it will feed your creative soul. Just dig in.
Connect with Kristin online
Facebook:kristinowenswriter
Instagram:kristinowenswriter
The Deb Ball on Instagram: thedebball