At 26, everything is possible

Free-lance writer and columnist Billie Criswell is about to become a published short-story writer. The newest “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book features her story, "Sweet Thereafter."

The book is expected to come out Tuesday, May 29.  "It is about working through problems in a relationship and not being afraid to push the other person – to say, ‘You need to reach your full potential, because we are not doing our best,'” Criswell said.

Criswell started out to be a writer two years ago, traveling a bumpy road as she searched for a career.  She completed a teaching program at Delaware Technical Community College, but as soon as she moved to Wilmington University, she realized teaching was not a good profession for her. “I just dropped out and told everyone I was going to be a writer,” Criswell said.

Quitting school was a hard decision, especially for Criswell's mother, who was very upset about her daughter's plan.  But Criswell said she decided to make herself happy instead of doing what everybody else thought she should do.

“It is really hard to recognize where your strengths are. I thought I would get ahead of the game that way,” Criswell said.

Criswell said she believes in the power of positive thinking – that and the film “The Secret” inspired her to submit her story to “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” The film is about the secret of happiness, health and wealth: you can have, do or be anything you want. That is the great secret of life, she said.

“When I started to write, I thought I would submit the story to “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” and, if I could get in there, then, I would know I was doing a good job as a writer,” Criswell said.

She submitted the story a year-and-a-half ago and completely forgot about it. Then, in November, she was told her story was in the final running for the book.

“Now I know I am on the right path,” Criswell said. “It just kind of happened – kind of like my whole writing career has been.”

Criswell is a full-time freelance writer. She writes for the Cape Gazette, has a column in Beach Paper, does smaller articles for online magazines and runs her own blog, “Bossy Italian Wife.”

“Someday, I hope to write my own book, instead of being in other people’s books,” Criswell said.

Criswell will be in Rehoboth Beach for a book signing at 4 p.m., Saturday, June 2, at Browseabout Books.

The event will provide a chance to meet and speak with the author, buy the popular “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book, listen to Criswell’s reading of her story and have her autograph copies of the book.

Browseabout Books is located at 133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

For more information about the author and her work go to www.bossyitalianwife.com