(When I, the author, was working hard on my assignments in elementary school, the teachers used to say, "You're on a ball!", or "You're on a roll!".)
Verona Ortiz, a professional chef from El Salvador, has always had an affinity towards reading. She makes GOOD food, but is sick of cooking & wants a career change. She's just about ready to retire. She can't WAIT for that glorious day!
She got a head start on her new writing career a couple of months before her retirement, doing short story exercises on her off days. She eventually retired on her 67th birthday, & then on that same day, she started working on a novel about 2 friends in a platonic friendship. She was SO SERIOUS that she put up a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on her front door.
Verona recounts times, where she read that if you love reading everyone else's stories, it's YOUR turn to write your own! & boy, did she write a MASTERPIECE! Other than the novel that she wrote & published, she also published the collection of short stories, as 1 book. So, that makes 2 books she published.
On the 1-year anniversary of her retirement on her birthday, she had a book release party, & she celebrated with pupusas, salsa & curtido, as well as cake, ice cream & wine. She didn't ask for too much. That was all she wanted. Everyone loved her books! She was 68 years old, partying like she did when she was 23! & boy, did she have a BALL! Both of her books went on to be a New York Times bestseller. Keep on writing on a ball, Mrs. Ortiz!
THE END