The 60-Year Wait At eight years old, Anne-Marie Mawhiney knew she wanted to be a writer. She had the old-fashioned typewriter and the dark poetry to prove it. However, a lack of local representation—the feeling that “nothing I read comes from where we’re living”—almost snuffed out that dream early on. It took a “serendipitous” conversation with her father, who revealed that a family member had actually written for the Hardy Boys series, to convince her that a writing life was possible.

Despite this early spark, life took over. Anne-Marie pursued a career in social work and academia, and her creative side “dried up” for nearly six decades. It wasn’t until the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic that she finally reclaimed her voice.

The COVID Catalyst Like many “COVID writers,” Anne-Marie found herself battling cabin fever during the first lockdown. Seeking an escape from the news, she pulled out a dusty laptop and began to journal. The very first sentence she wrote—“When she awoke, it was with such joy in her heart”—became the opening line of her debut novel.

What began as an experiment soon evolved into a science fiction and fantasy world set 50 years in the future. Interestingly, while the world she built was a “sheer escape,” it was deeply rooted in the history of her own community. Anne-Marie lives in a mining town that was once devastated by pollution but became a global “ray of hope” through a massive re-greening effort. Unconsciously, this story of environmental restoration became the bedrock of her futuristic fiction.

Navigating the Self-Publishing Learning Curve When it came time to publish, Anne-Marie was a self-described “naive” retiree who simply wanted to get her book out and return to retirement. After attending a workshop at Humber College, she realized that traditional publishing might take 10 to 15 years—a timeline she wasn’t willing to accept.

She eventually partnered with FriesenPress, a Canadian self-publishing house that provided the “handholding” and education she needed. The process was a crash course in the business of authorship, from social media promotion to brutal 90-page edits. Anne-Marie found the process empowering, noting that she preferred to “control my own creativity” rather than fitting into a traditional publisher’s mold.

The Vulnerability of Being “Out There” Even with her background in academia, Anne-Marie was not immune to the “vulnerability hangover” that follows publication. The day she received her “congratulations” email, her confidence was replaced by fear: “What have I done? Have I made a fool of myself?”. It was only through the encouragement of other authors and heartwarming reviews that she found the fuel to keep going—eventually turning her “one and done” experiment into a three-book series.

The “Meeting with ME” Strategy Anne-Marie’s best advice for busy women is as practical as it is profound. She acknowledges that women are often “multitasking all over the place,” leaving no room for their own dreams. Her solution? Schedule your writing time as a “Meeting with ME” and treat it with the same non-negotiable respect you would give a doctor’s appointment. By carving out these blocks of time and “not worrying about being perfect,” anyone can start their journey.