Throughout our lives, we come across many things that begin as simple influences and eventually turn into our defining features. Although there have been many such influences in my life, I believe I can narrow them down to the following:

1. My Faith
2. My Family
3. My Joy in Music
4. and My Love of Reading

Whenever I am asked to tell others about myself, these defining features are usually what I share with them.

1. My Faith

Having been an active member of my church for my entire life, I have found peace and comfort during the darkest moments of my life. Through my faith I have learned the joy in serving others and the relief that comes through forgiveness. I have also learned how important my Individual Worth is. As a young child, I was bullied at school and often friendless until middle school. Even then, there were times when I was ignored, taken advantage of by those who claimed friendship, or put down as an insignificant nobody. Yet through all those times, I knew that I was always loved and important, and that is a feeling I never want to lose.

2. My Family

I come from a large family. As the oldest of 6 children, with 18 years between me and the youngest, and the oldest of 26 grandchildren (both sides included and many still yet to come), I have found immeasurable love and support from my family. My poor husband of 2 1/2 years, however, comes from a small family, and I feel sorry for him every time we have a family get together (something I know he will struggle with even more after we are finally blessed with children of our own). We are a very loud, teasing, sarcastic, and extremely loving family who love to chat and play games (endless amounts of games) while his is very quiet in all aspects of the word. I have always found comfort from my family, and especially my parents who have never doubted me. My mom is always there to listen and encourage me while my dad seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to knowing when I need a hug and a kind word. Included in my family are my 2 best friends. Although the three of us are very different, no trio could be closer and I would not be here today without my "sisters" by my side.

3. My Joy in Music

I grew up listening to Beethoven, Mozart, Bach and Vivaldi alongside hymns and primary songs from church. I was 4 years old when I first learned how to conduct music and to this day I cannot listen to instrumental music without conducting along. I was able to learn basic (and I mean BASIC) piano at age 9 from my Grandmother for a few months. When I entered middle school and finally had the option to join band, I was furious at first that I was forced to play Clarinet. I wanted to play the flute, french horn, or cello. However, our school district did not have an orchestra, and with a brand new baby brother, my parents were unable to afford any other instrument. Instead I was given the family Clarinet and told that if after a year I still wanted to play flute, then they would figure out a way to make that work. Needless to say, I never switched to flute. Clarinet became my absolute joy and I still play as often as I can. Over the years I have added many more instruments to my repertoire, including bettering myself at the piano, but Clarinet remains my favorite. I stayed in band, marching and concert, all through high school and the 2 years I was in college. I had hoped to graduate in Music Education so that I could be a band teacher, yet due to health complications I was unable to keep my GPA up and lost all my financial aid. I have recently signed up to begin online courses, and I am determined to make that dream a reality yet. In the meantime, I am quite content working with my HS band director as the Marching Band Uniform Manager and Drill Instructor. Once a Band Geek always a Band Geek, and according to my friends, I was our High Schools biggest one! Much to my husbands chagrin, he'll often come home to discover me listening to movie scores, the classics, The PianoGuys, Enya, or my favorite band, Two Steps From Hell (trust me, not a metal band...LOVE them! although he claims their music is depressing, I don't hear it), tastes he doesn't understand (but his music tastes make no sense to me either). But when in the car, I will gladly listen to whatever is on the radio. Years ago I took a classic phrase and expounded on it: "If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a song must be worth a thousand pictures; for music is at the heart of us all and is the soul's way of expressing itself." That is a statement I firmly hold true to for music speaks to me as nothing else can and through which I have found my lifelong friends.

4. My Love of Reading

I honestly don't remember a time when I couldn't read. I was always reading as a child whether is was picture books to myself and little brother, or during family scripture time. By the age of 6, I was reading at a 3rd grade reading level, and before I finished 1st grade was reading at a 5th grade reading level. In 5th grade, we actually had a school wide reading contest for a month to see who could read the most books. I was devastated when I didn't win, since the winner of the oldest age bracket had read nothing but simple chapter and picture books compared to my "Little Women" and many other such books (although you had to read 5 picture books to count as 1 for that age group). I actually went home in tears that day because I had tried so hard having never won anything before. However, I was surprised to discover that at the end of the year, I had been named the top reader in the school, reading at a college level...talk about humbling for an 11 year old. At the time, I was happy to finally have something to brag about (remember I said I used to be bullied), yet now, I look back and feel blessed. At the age of 5 I was reading books like "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and "Pride and Prejudice" with my mom every night (yes...I am a life long P&P fan. Helps that I was also 5 when the BBC miniseries came out). It was always a thrill when my parents let me stay up late and watch Masterpiece Theater with them and I got to see these books I love come to life. And who remembers the PBS show Wishbone? Loved that show as it introduced me to several of my favorite books! Almost every night growing up (all the way through and past high school) my parents would discover me asleep in bed well past midnight, my light still on, and a book falling out of my hands; a habit I still have today, although now it's usually on the couch so as not to disturb my husband. When I couldn't turn to my music, I relied on my reading. It was an escape into a different world, an experience that can never grow old. As I grew older, this love of reading began to turn into a desire to write; a new way besides music to express what I hide from everyone else. Poetry soon became my favorite part of the year in English class, and creative writing was always a real treat. Although I have many computer files and old notebooks filled with my writings, only recently have I begun to share them others. A few years ago, I was introduced to P&P fanfic by a manager at work. P&P has always been my go to book and movie (NOT the 2005 version) whenever I was super depressed or really happy or nothing else sounded good...so basically, it's my anytime story. Ever since, I have been obsessed with fanfic, much to the exasperation of my "sisters" and only wish I had discovered this site sooner. After years of reading fanfics, I began to come up with my own ideas. It took many months, however, to start sharing with anyone besides my mom. Now, I have found that I love writing as much as I do reading.

I am sure that as time goes on, I will find new defining influences in my life, but I believe I could do with just these four forever. As for my day to day life, I just let it happen as it comes. I am blessed to have a husband who makes enough to support us both, thus allowing me freedom to do what I wish. For now, I am a small business owner as an independent beauty consultant and spend my days working my business, babysitting my "nephew", spending time with my siblings and friends, serving my church, playing music, reading and writing, and just loving life.

So now that you know a little (well a lot really) about me, I hope this helps you understand my writing and my stories. While I am still often hesitant to share with those in my real life about my hobby, I love that we have such an awesome and supportive online community where all of us can come together and share. I love these characters I write about, and wish to stay as true to them as I can to myself. Although I have only just begun sharing my first story with you all, I hope to share many more in the years to come, both fanfics and originals (although those might end up elsewhere). I want to share these stories with everyone, and hope that they are just as influential in your lives as they have been in mine. Whether it influences you to write your own, or to simply embrace the opportunity to escape the real world, it does not matter. I also want you to know, that I write out of pure enjoyment. While I love seeing reviews and opinions regarding my story, I am not writing to seek attention or glory. I am writing because I want to; that, should be the only reason anyone ever writes. I have something I want to share with the world, and after all these years, I finally am and I have never felt freer.

Much love to you all,
-Allahteeah
July 16, 2015