W’burg author releases first book

We’ve all had that moment when we are trying to get someone to do something only to have to reply back, “Why don’t you do it?”

Williamsburg resident Deloris Pace recently released her first book, ‘Forged Hearts.”

Williamsburg resident Deloris Pace had that happen about a decade ago. Now she has written her first book “Forged Hearts” thanks to that retort.

The idea to write the book came about indirectly for Pace, who home schooled her two children.

“My daughter was first and you have them write essays and things. She was good at writing. I really enjoyed her writing. She was funny. For years after that, I kidded with her and tried to get her to write because we always like to read Christian romance novels,” Pace noted.

“Finally one day I asked her why I couldn’t get her to try and write one. She said, ‘Why don’t you just do it?’ Honestly, I kind of did it just to show her it could be done, and I found that I loved it. I love writing.”

“Forged Hearts” is a historical romance set in 1888. The locale for the book is primarily Williamsburg although portions of it take place at Cumberland Falls.

The girl in the story becomes a schoolteacher, and the man is a blacksmith with a wounded heart, who was jilted by his girlfriend.

“They go to Cumberland Falls together, and they go through a big snow storm that actually took place. A lot of it is historically correct. It has a lot of information about the falls and plants and different things,” Pace said. “It is just a romance. They get through the snow and life.”

Pace, who is 57 years old, admits that it is a little late in life to start on a new adventure, like becoming an author, but that it has been very rewarding.

It is something she encourages others to try.

She thinks writing is something that could give older people, who have retired and whose kids have moved away, more of a sense of purpose in life.

“I would encourage them to write. It is easier now than it ever has been. You used to have to pluck it out on a typewriter,” Pace said.

She encourages people to try other things too, such as painting, singing or taking up an instrument.

“It is things that can be a blessing to people. They need to try. I feel like now I have a little bit of talent for this, but I never knew it until I tried. I have really enjoyed it. It has been a blessing.”

As a Christian, Pace noted that the book is also a form of witnessing.

“It has just been a blessing,” she added.

Pace, who has a full-time job as a special needs assistant at Whitley North Elementary School, said it took her about 10 years to write her first book.

At first, she didn’t really know how to type, but that improved tremendously thanks to some software that her brother-in-law loaned her.

A teacher at school helped her learn how to set up the paragraphs correctly in her story.

Then it was a matter of finding time to write in between the realities of real life.

“The second one is going a lot quicker. It will be the brother to this one,” she added. “Hopefully it won’t take me that long.”

Getting the book published took less time.

Pace was discouraged after the first publisher she approached, Love Inspire, didn’t want the book.

The second publisher she approached was Christian Faith Publishing, which wanted the book but wanted her to pay them to publish it.

Pace then went to Electio Publishing, which agreed to publish the book.

People can purchase the book online at www.electiopublishing.com.

It is also available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com. and at iTunes.

The actual book is selling for $14.99, but the e-book version is available on Amazon.com for $4.99.

While she loves writing, the promotional aspect of being an author is another story.

“It is against my nature a little bit,” she said.

Pace will be having a book signing at the Whitley County Public Library on Monday, July 30 from noon – 3 p.m. She will be selling the book there for $14.