Following a Dream Using My Second Voice
by Debra DuPree
Williams
@Ddupreewilliams
I grew up surrounded by music. I began singing in our church with my big sister Bobbie when I was three and she was ten. She taught me the words and melody and she sang harmony. We soon began singing in other churches, nursing homes, and civic organizations. We went just about anywhere we were invited to sing.
Once my sister went away to college, our duo became my solo act. I continued our tradition of singing in church but I also joined my high school choral department where I sang in many groups from the Acapella choir to a Gospel trio.
When I went away to Birmingham-Southern College it felt only natural to become a vocal performance major. I received my Bachelor of Music degree in 1972 and my Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1974. Once I married my husband, we both joined our church choirs where ever we lived, from Birmingham to our churches in Ft. Myers and Tampa, Florida.
It was in this last church where, in the middle of rehearsal one night, the director looked pointedly at me and gave me a thumbs-up, but not in a good way. He told me I was singing flat. That was the first indication of hearing loss. Fast forward a few years, four of which were spent in the uniform room of our youngest son’s marching band where I served as uniform mom. Little did I know that the music created by those talented kids would further damage my hearing. I now wear hearing aids, and I no longer sing as much as I once did.
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| Writing became my second voice. |
My Second Voice
But I’ve never been one to keep silent. I had to find another outlet so I returned to a forgotten love, words. I have written poetry as long as I can remember. I wrote my first novel when I was in seventh grade. But this time, I bought many books on craft to learn how to do this writing thing properly.
One day in 2014 as I was writing, my sister phoned and told me about one of her favorite authors. She asked me to check out the author’s web page. I didn’t even know they had web pages. As I scrolled through the site, at the very bottom was a link to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers ConferenceMount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in Mt. Hermon, California. Wow, that would be helpful and many of my favorite authors would be teaching. But it was that next weekend. There wasn’t any way I could make it happen. Disappointed, I continued to scroll, and there, just below Mt. Hermon was a reference to The BlueRidge Mountains Christian Writers Conference at the Ridgecrest Conference Center just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It was in Asheville.
Asheville . . . maybe I could do that. When I did some research, I discovered that the conference was being held the very week that my husband and I had to be in Asheville to do the only walk-through we would have on the new home we were building there. What were the odds of that? It seemed miraculous to me. God had opened a door where I had no clue one existed.
Long story short, I went to that conference. I sat in two classes on writing children’s books, and I presented my work to both instructors for their opinions. I needed to know if I should pack that dream away or keep writing. Was I a writer? I’m happy to say they both agreed I was—and still am—a writer. I’m not ashamed to tell you I was in tears.
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| Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference |
Since that time I’ve attended the Blue Ridge conference every May, and I’ve attended Autumn in the Mountains Novelist Retreat, also held at Ridgecrest. I’ve switched from writing for children to writing cozy mysteries. My work in progress received several awards at the novel retreat this past October. It’s still a work in progress, but I hope to complete it soon. Who knows what the future holds for me in this writing world?
I can only tell you that God has a plan for each of us. I often quote Jeremiah 29:11 to my children. Sometimes the path we are on takes twists and turns, but if you put your faith in Him, He will not lead you astray. Now, almost four years after that first conference, many of the authors I have met have become friends and/or mentors.
When genetics took away one voice, God gave me a second voice. I’m humbled and privileged to share the Truth with each of you.
How has God given you a new dream or renewed an old one? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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4 Comments
Hi, I’m Debra
Jesus Follower, wife, BoyMom, DD, author, blogger, musician, southern cook, amateur genealogist, amateur artist, living life with an accent on Southern.
The Conversation
Beautiful story!
Great blog, Debbie. I subscribed!
Thank you for sharing your story Debra. This is extremely inspirational! May God continue to open doors for you.
Thank you for sharing your story Debra. This is extremely inspirational! May God continue to open doors for you.