Every person believes their life is ordinary. Perhaps that’s why somebody must remember them. 📖🎉
Coming Soon: “The Collector” by S. M. Ulbrich
1 CommentChronicles Woven in Runes
Tag: #MustRead
If I had to sum up my life philosophy in one sentence, it would be this:
Love deeply, keep learning, trust God through every season, and leave the world a little better than you found it.
Life has taught me that success is not measured by titles, possessions, or accomplishments nearly as much as it is by the lives we touch along the way. The older I get, the more I appreciate simple things: meaningful conversations, family stories, acts of kindness, and the quiet realization that every person is carrying a story we may never fully understand.
I believe growth never really ends. There is always something new to learn, another perspective to consider, another opportunity to extend grace. Some lessons arrive wrapped in joy. Others come disguised as disappointment, loss, or unexpected detours. Yet each experience adds another thread to the tapestry of a life well lived.
Faith has also been a steady compass. Not because every road has been smooth, but because every road has had purpose. Looking back, some of the moments that made the least sense at the time eventually revealed themselves as essential chapters in the story.
Most of all, I believe our greatest legacy is not what we accumulate, but what we leave behind in the hearts of others. A kind word, an encouraging hand, a lesson shared, a memory preserved. These are the things that endure.
If my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren remember anything about me, I hope it is not simply what I accomplished, but how much I loved them, believed in them, and encouraged them to pursue their own unique journeys.
In the end, a meaningful life is built one day at a time, one choice at a time, and one act of love at a time.
—
The Collector Update
I’m excited to share that The Collector is entering its final stages.
Over the past several weeks, the manuscript has undergone extensive polishing, chapter revisions, historical refinements, and careful attention to character development. What began as a story idea inspired by family, history, and the enduring power of connection has grown into a novel that I am truly proud to share.
We have completed major revisions, strengthened key scenes, expanded historical context, refined dialogue, and developed richer emotional arcs throughout the book. The front matter is largely in place, and plans for the back matter and promotional materials are underway.
Barring any unexpected delays, my goal is to have The Collector available for purchase within the next two weeks or less.
It has been a rewarding journey, and I am grateful for every person who has encouraged me along the way. Bringing a book from idea to publication requires patience, persistence, and more than a little faith. Seeing the finish line finally come into view is both exciting and humbling.
As launch day approaches, I’ll be sharing additional updates, cover reveals, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the novel.
Stay tuned. The collection is nearly complete.
And perhaps that brings me back to my life philosophy: love deeply, keep learning, trust the journey, and leave something meaningful behind. In many ways, The Collector is exactly that. ❤️
What would your one-sentence life philosophy be? I’d love to hear it in the comments.
(P. S. What do you think of my book cover? I’ve been learning a lot in Nightcafe and am really enjoying my creations. F.Y.I: I’m only using AI for the book covers. I do not use AI in book writing or editing, as that’s my favorite part! Tell me your thoughts.
2 Comments
Every now and then, it’s fun to look back at the posts that first connected us as writers, readers, dreamers, and storytellers. As our blog continues to grow beyond that exciting milestone of 500 visitors, I found myself revisiting an old favorite: “You Might Be a Writer If…”
When I first wrote that post, I reflected on the habits, quirks, and passions that seem to unite writers everywhere. Looking back, I realize those same qualities have followed me through every project, from Discovering Misty: The Mermaid of the Emerald Coast to George and the Brave Eagle, and now into my newest work, The Collector.
So, let’s take another look.
You See Stories Everywhere
Writers don’t simply observe the world. They imagine what lies beneath the surface.
A quiet beach can become a magical kingdom. An eagle soaring overhead can become a symbol of courage and determination. And sometimes a simple object, forgotten by most people, can become the centerpiece of an entirely new adventure.
That spirit of curiosity helped inspire The Collector. What begins as an ordinary discovery can quickly lead to extraordinary questions, reminding us that stories are often hiding in plain sight.
You Never Stop Asking “What If?”
What if mermaids lived along the Emerald Coast?
What if a brave eagle taught valuable lessons about courage?
And now, what if someone discovered something so unusual that it changed the way they viewed the world around them?
Writers thrive on “what if.” It is the question that opens every doorway to imagination and invites readers to step through alongside us.
You Fall in Love with Characters
One of the greatest joys of writing is creating characters who begin to feel like family.
Misty’s determination, George’s bravery, and the personalities taking shape within The Collector all started as ideas. Over time, they grew into companions who taught me lessons of their own.
Writers know this feeling. Characters stop becoming words on a page and start becoming voices in your heart.
You Daydream Without Apology
If you’ve ever stared out a window and lost yourself in a story, welcome to the club.
Writers spend a lot of time in two worlds at once. There’s the everyday world where dishes need washing and errands need running. Then there’s the story world where adventures unfold, mysteries deepen, and possibilities seem endless.
Many of the ideas behind The Collector arrived during those quiet moments when imagination took the lead.
You Keep Going, Even When It Isn’t Easy
Writing is rewarding, but it’s rarely simple.
There are moments of doubt, rejected drafts, editing headaches, and days when inspiration seems to hide. Yet writers continue because storytelling is more than a hobby. It’s a calling.
Every book I’ve written has required persistence, patience, and faith. The Collector was no different. Each challenge became another opportunity to refine the story and make it stronger.
You Hope Your Words Matter
Perhaps the biggest sign that you’re a writer is this: you want your words to make a difference.
Whether through the friendship and adventure found in Discovering Misty, the courage demonstrated in George and the Brave Eagle, or the themes explored in The Collector, my hope has always been to create stories that encourage, inspire, and spark imagination.
Stories have the power to bring people together. They help us see through someone else’s eyes, discover new perspectives, and find hope when we need it most.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Revisiting You Might Be a Writer If… reminds me how much this journey has grown and how grateful I am for every reader who has come along for the ride.
The signs of being a writer haven’t changed. We still collect ideas, chase inspiration, daydream endlessly, and obsess over the right words. But each new story adds another chapter to the journey.
As we celebrate the past and look toward the future, I’m excited to share The Collector with readers and continue creating stories that spark wonder, curiosity, and hope.
So let me ask you:
Do you see stories everywhere?
Do you daydream about characters and adventures?
Do you carry a notebook just in case inspiration strikes?
If so, you just might be a writer.
And if you’re not a writer, perhaps you’re exactly who writers create stories for.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next adventure, and to the magic waiting to be discovered in The Collector.
I’ve spent the past several months living inside a building that doesn’t exist.
At least not the way I’m writing it.
It’s an apartment building in Cincinnati, populated by bricklayers, widows, schoolteachers, bakers, artists, maintenance workers, immigrants, flood survivors, and countless ordinary people whose names never appeared in history books.
And yet, the more time I spend with them, the more convinced I become that their stories matter.
Perhaps even more than the famous ones.
The novel I’m currently working on is called The Collector.
At its heart, it asks a simple question:
What survives after we’re gone?
A photograph?
A letter?
A favorite recipe?
A journal?
A building that remembers the people who once lived inside it?
As I’ve written, I’ve been surprised by how often the story returns to the same idea:
Most people believe their lives are ordinary.
But ordinary does not mean unimportant.
In fact, the people history forgets may be the very people worth remembering most.
I’m not ready to share many details yet.
The mysteries are still unfolding.
But I can tell you this:
The story begins with a young immigrant bricklayer in the 1850s and stretches across generations of lives connected by a single Cincinnati apartment building.
And somewhere within those walls lives a question that refuses to go away:
Who remembers the people no one else remembers?
More soon.
For now, I’m heading back into the past.
The characters are waiting.
You must be logged in to post a comment.