Trilogy completed by local author

“I did not want to, nor did I write any one person’s autobiography persay. On the contrary the full story is truths from many lives that are well blended together.”

— Author Marsha Olivia Meadows

A local author has released the third book of a series.

Jessica’s Attainment, by Marsha Olivia Meadows (a pseudonym) continues a storyline which began with her debut novel released in 2013.

“The first to be released, Jessica’s Perception was published Sept. 6, 2013 telling the trials of my heroine during her younger years of approximately ages five to twenty, in which she may have perceived some happenings in a fashion other than the way they were meant to be received,” said Meadows who uses the fictitious name because while all novels are listed as fiction the story line is derived from truths derived from many individuals she has known.

“The second novel, titled Jessica Awakens was released June 27, 2014 taking Jessica through her early adult years, during which she clings to childish hopes and dreams of a ‘Knight in Shining Armour’ who will sweep her from a life of troubled toils and hardships while she awakens to the real world where happenings are most different than the romantic innocence of a child.

“Now I have the third novel containing the final chapters in Jessica’s Attainment. My heroine now grows through motherhood, married life and struggles with her chosen career all the while trying to defend and protect her true inner self rather than succumbing to the demands and bullying of others around her.”

Meadows said she always saw the idea evolving into a series, or at least more than one book.

“The storyline for the trilogy became a vision whilst working with the public in my previous career,” she offered. “Most often a customer or client would confide their struggles to me and seek comfort in just voicing their given situations.

“Often I knew of avenues for them to acquire assistance thus helping the only way I could and yet maintain confidentiality as well.

“The ‘told to me’ situations remained pulling at my heart strings as we all know of many a soul that is tormented and its owner will be left feeling lost and  alone. I chose to create this trilogy in hopes that someone, somewhere will be able to identify with them and realize they are not the only person to grow through such dramatics.”

Knowing she had a story she wanted to tell, Meadows said it was still daunting to sit down at a keyboard to start writing an actual novel. The process has only gotten slightly easier with successive volumes.

“Being the first novels I have written, I was unsure just where or how to start thus I chose a setting, time and character similar to my own roots yet implementing the truths of others setting them into a fictional family and era enabling me to produce my desired outcome,” she explained.

“I did not want to, nor did I write any one person’s autobiography persay.

“On the contrary the full story is truths from many lives that are well blended together.”

Meadows added she began writing very much as an untrained novice, learning the craft at the keyboard.

“The only education or experience I have had has been a short ‘Creative Writing’ course in my much younger years,” she said.

But she always was a reader, and that helped.

“As a child to an elder teen my nose was forever in a book; not necessarily a school book, but I would read anything printed from Westerns to romance novels,” said Meadows. “The infatuation for written words has even left me owning the full works of Shakespeare in three leather bound volumes.

“A few years back I met Calvin Daniels and have read some of his works as well. He even allowed me to edit for him which led to a discussion regarding my desire to write, of course he smiled and suggested; “Everyone wants him to read their work.” After much coaxing on my part he did relent and became very helpful with advice on the how to and where to go in order to have publications completed.”

So Meadows pursued something that was a true desire to achieve.

“The dream or desire to be published has always been with me but life, a career, raising a family, determine ones daily path with more important issues thus the  time was never allowed to full fill a childish dream,” she said.

“Having completed my shift in what society deems should come first, I gathered my notes and thoughts and memories, gifted to me by acquaintances, threaded their adventures with mine and created the fictional tales of Jessica.”

And once Meadows began to write the story flowed along quite nicely.

“The first two novels came easily and swiftly. Being published within a year of each other kept the story line fresh and flowing easily for me,” she said. “The notes and thoughts for each one continued moving forward with the aging of Jessica hence the adventures did not become repetitive or overlapping.

“With the first two I would often lose track of time. The muse was strong and demanding, or should I say I lost myself in the works of the story often forgetting to eat a meal and even skipping a night’s sleep in lieu of completing  ‘one more chapter’.”

But the latest book was less cooperative in terms of wrangling it onto the page.

“The challenges began with the third novel,” said Meadows. “Not due to my desire to complete the final chapters but rather due to uncontrollable ‘real life’ circumstances that I chose to give my undivided attentions to.

“During the past two years I never stopped working on Jessica’s Attainment, it just took a bit more time to achieve the ending chapters.”

But Meadows said the story had to come out eventually.

“It was during this period I also learned just how important it was that the works needed closure,” she said. “Many of my readers would portray their patience and encouragement whilst they awaited the end of Jessica’s adventures. A fair number of the aforementioned readers also thanked me for writing the series, speaking words that caused me to realize my dream had already become a reality.

“In writing Jessica’s story my goal, first and foremost, was that I may help even one troubled soul through their struggles, be it bullying or just life experiences in general. I have been emailed, texted and on occasion verbally told how this series has helped someone already. I quote a reader,” When I read that part I was going through the same thing and you helped me so much to realize I am not alone.” Another quote, “ Oh my, you could have been writing my story.””

The support for her works is appreciated, and at least a bit surprising, admitted Meadows.

“I have to admit I never once dreamt the series would be so well received nor so widely sold so with much pride I can honestly say my dream has been fulfilled,” she said.

Meadows has more stories to tell, although she will shift gears with her next work.

“I am working on a fourth fictional novel which is very far removed from the life of Jessica,” she said. “It contains a story line my son has given me. He and I discussed it much after which I called in the aid of another published individual to grace me with his knowledge of war planes and prisoner of war camps in our rural area. I chose to drink in his knowledge of such things as my desire is to write this novel with viable beliefs.

“Though only approximately four chapters in, I foresee a long ,cold, snowy winter which will allow for a hermit author, such as myself, to complete the works and hopefully have the fourth novel ready for late spring to early summer launch of 2017.”

Meadows will be holding a book signing at Coles in the Parkland Mall Oct. 1, and all three of her novels can be found there, as well as on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.

For further information she may be contacted by email at [email protected]