Authors Note & Acknowledgments - Love On Time

Writing found me at a time in my life when I needed something to fuel my soul.

Mental health has always been a constant battle in my life.

I fell in love with reading again during the peak of the pandemic. I think we were all in search of an escape at that time. For me, reading became that escape.

But writing has always been a slow simmer in my life, just patiently waiting for me to tap into.

My sixth-grade English teacher submitted my short story to Young Writers of America, where I became a published author at the age of twelve. After that, I joined journalism in high school, but life eventually took me in a different direction.

Fast forward 17 years, and I’m now a hairstylist, a wife, and a mom of two. Living a very ordinary but rewarding life.

In early 2026, while in a challenging headspace, I came across a writing prompt. It asked me to write a paragraph about a pie baking in the oven using my 5 senses. I opened my notes app and just started describing this scene.

And then, I just started writing… and, well, never stopped.

A whole world, plot, and characters came to me out of nowhere. No outline, no pre-planning. I wrote what came to me at that moment.

I can’t put into words the feeling and joy writing brought back to my life. It gave me a piece of myself that belongs only to me, something I didn’t have to share with anyone else.

If you’ve been thinking about trying something new but are embarrassed, think you’re not good enough, or believe you’re too old, just do it. Even if it’s for yourself. You never know if your dreams are waiting for you just around the corner.

To my children, I hope when you see me writing these stories that it encourages you to chase your own dreams. That you’ll never give up the chance to pursue something you love.

To my friends and family, thank you for letting me blab on and on about these characters and their story, and constantly cheering me on along the way.

To my readers, thank you for giving Love on Time a chance. I hope when you read this story that it feels like a big warm hug and a little place you can escape to. There is no greater gift than knowing your words have found their way into the hearts of the readers.

To my betas: Kendra, Courtney, Paige, and Terri⁠—

And my editor Katie, thank you for all the hard work you poured into helping me make this story come to life. I’m forever thankful for you.

And to the little girl who grew up on Junie B Jones, filled up pages in her diary, and became an author at the age of twelve. I hope you’re proud!

Look what we did!

Love always,

Treasure