The Official Web Page of Bev Freeman

I honestly can't say I was born to write, but I was a born storyteller, always the last to get to sleep whenever cousins or friends slept over. Mom told me repeatedly to quiet down. Dad had only to tell me once. I listened to him, or paid the price of being banished to a room alone. Who wanted to sleep alone when one had the option of a bed full of giggly girls? (I've always been a quick learner.)

The desire to write took shape as a teenager, when I decided I could write as well as any of the famous authors I was reading. No, I wasn't arrogant, merely confident. Several English teachers in junior or senior high were to blame for that misconception. However, it gave me hope and produced many charming and heartfelt poems.

Realities of life became priority and writing was pushed into the background when I reached adulthood. Like all heart's desires, it could not be denied for long. When I moved to East Tennessee, near the inspiring Appalachian Mountains, a place that finally felt like home, my creative energy was renewed and now I write day and night.

My background includes extensive travel (within the USA) with my family and attending 7 different schools by the time I reached 9th grade. Army life and construction jobs kept us on the go. Working careers include 20+ years in the dental office, from hands on assisting to insurance and receptionist. Six years were spent enjoying the world as a cosmetologist in my late 30's. Carpel Tunnel brought that to a halt, so back to the dental office I ran. This past year I've awarded myself the freedom to write non-stop. I've learned a wealth of information through RWA, critique groups and contacts. The RWA conference was the icing on the cake.

When not writing at the computer, I stretch my legs with husband Bill and our lovable dogs, Bud, Pepper and Mic, hiking short portions of the Appalachian Trail or many other wonderful trails our surrounding mountains provide.

At present, I'm working on a mystery set in the coastal mountain region of northern Oregon. The idea came to me in a comical conversation with a friend and co-worker, Sherry Maine. Within hours, Sherry and I had several chapters discussed and ready for writing. Mystery and suspense captured my heart and imagination at a young age. I hope that soon one of my completed manuscripts will hatch and capture your heart as well.

About ten years ago, I sat down at the keyboard to type out my first chapter, the words flowed faster than my fingers. After a few hundred pages, I was convinced, “I'm going to write a book.” And so I did; then another, and deep into the third one, I thought, “Anyone can write a book.” For me, the story was the easy part. Characters came to life on the pages, along with every grammar error, point of view violation and typical “No-no's” humanly possible. Rejections were hard to swallow, at first. After a while I came to realize, the story is only part of the components of a good, sellable book. The trick is correctly wording the story so the reader lives it as they turn the pages.

So, now I'm at the point where I realize, I love to write. I love to tell a story. And finally, thank goodness I'm learning that grammar and rules can be learned. This is the hope that keeps me going. I've never been a quitter, won't go down without a fight; to put it bluntly, I'm stubborn. And I hope I'm stubborn enough to keep at this until I get it right. In March I'm going to a workshop on Grammar. It's a crash course that I plan to devour and digest to the fullest extent.

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Favorites

Authors

• Susan Crandall
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• Shelley Bates - Inspirational Recommended Reads of Shelley Bates:
  • Grounds to Believe
  • Pocketful of Pearls
  • A Sounding Brass
• Ginger Hanson
  • Tennessee Waltz
  • Ransom's Bride
• Author Joe Tennis

Interesting Websites

• Virtual Blue Ridge
• Anchorage Daily News With my brother living in Wasilla, I enjoy reading the news around Anchorage to know what's happening in Greg's world.

Movies

• Last of the Mohicans
• Dances With Wolves
• Pearl Harbor
• Cold Mountain

Foods

• Chocolate anything!
• Fruit