How I Got Into Writing:
By Sally Gary
I am Sally Gary, a "recovering" school teacher. After leaving education about 20 yrs ago, I was in a book store and saw the book "Bargains in Los Angeles." I HAD to have that book. I wanted to know about what was up in L.A. I had heard about the Garment District, the Jewelry District, etc, and wanted to know. I ended up giving bus tours to the Garment District, before Factory Outlets sprang up everywhere. A few weeks later, I found a book entitled "Bargain Hunting in the Bay Area." A big light bulb went on and I realized that this was what God wanted me to do. He was telling me to run home and write a book about the bargains in San Diego. Well, how do you do that when you really don't know them?
Being fairly enterprising, I called Grossmont College Continuing Education, asked them if they would like a workshop on bargain hunting in San Diego. I assumed people would come and SHARE bargains in their area. I ended up doing workshops at Mira Costa, Palomar, Southwestern and Mesa Colleges. Plus, I am a good research person. So, after giving workshops for a while, I decided to write a book about San Diego Bargains. I called the authors of the two books mentioned above and asked them how they did it.
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They were very supportive and helpful. In addition, I took a class on self-publishing (now I am a consultant on it) and within about 6 months of working 29 hours a day on pure excitement and adrenalin, I came out with the book "$Get More For Your Money In San Diego" which has been revised many times and almost 20 years later, I am now out with the 9th Version, the "$Best Freebies, Bargains, Deals & Steals In San Diego" which is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, UCSD bookstore, Amazon.com and more.
One thing leads to another, and people started calling to have me speak to their organizations. I have given presentations on $Bargains in San Diego to UCSD staff , La Mesa Spring Valley School District and many others, hospital employees, hospital volunteers, military wives, law firms, women's conferences, newcomer's clubs, churches, networking organizations, senior groups, women's groups and numerous other clubs and organizations. I have also given three-hour workshops at many community colleges. People started calling and asking me how to write a book, which ended up that I now give private consultations on how to get published with an agent or self-publish.
Thanks Sally for the story - John wolf
