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Richelle Mead

by Rebel from Mission Viejo

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."- Neil Gaiman, (Coraline)
Bestselling Author Richelle Mead (www.penguin.com ())
Bestselling Author Richelle Mead (www.penguin.com ())

All an author has to work with are 26 letters to manipulate and combine, to create something extraordinary. They weave beautiful sentences that hold meaning and symbolism that leave people with wisdom and guidance never witnessed before. A book is a magical device that outlives the life of the writer who created it in the first place. I have always had a love to read, but there are times in a reader's life where they have read all the new popular books in their favorite genre, and they are left with nothing. One rainy day, with no book to read, my mother introduced me to, Vampire Academy. This was the first book I had picked up from the author, Richelle Mead, but I decided it was worth the chance, and I gave the book a shot. That six book series was the start of my love for horror and paranormal novels. Richelle Mead, my personal career hero, was the push I needed to broaden my interest in fantasy. I am a freshman at Capistrano Valley High School, in Mission Viejo, California, and I find teachers and parents are constantly pushing us to find our passion in life, in hopes that we will find a successful career to pursue. I have always had a passion for reading, so it was no surprise when I found my love for English in school. Following the pathway Richelle Mead chose, I hope to one day become a writer as well.

According to the Truity website, writers and authors create pieces of written work for many different forms of advertisements, including: books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, and online publications. They are the brilliant minds behind the silver screen, creating the lines your favorite characters act out. Writers are the true heroes and masterminds behind most of the entertainment industry. Typically, for a writer to be taken seriously or be considered for publishing purposes, they need a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or communications. Other careers that can use these skills include reporters, or any job that involves exploring or researching authentic details. Writers become better known the more they write and put themselves out there. J.K. Rowling is more likely to be published than a new writer because of her success with the Harry Potter series for example. In order for new writers to be considered, they have to start paying their dues early on. You can get started in high school by taking part in the school newspaper, or magazine. To keep up with recent developments, you could use the online world to your advantage to raise publicity. Bookstores are starting to run out of business from the new development of having access to books on social devices. Kindles, iPads, and even iPhones allow people today to read a book without actually having to buy it in paperback. This use of technology is helpful for authors since readers have the ability to get the book anytime they want, but it is running bookstores out of business. According to the Occupational Outlook website, "the 2014 annual wage for authors is $59,290." This amount varies based on the amount of books written from a freelance author. Many people are attracted to the writing profession, because of the freedom to write what they want, leaving strong competition for authors. The writers who thrive will be the ones with not just advanced writing skills, but the ones who are persuasive, determined, and socially perceptive. After all, writers get their money from the people who want to read their work.

Richelle Mead Book Signing
Richelle Mead Book Signing

Richelle Mead wasn't always convinced she wanted to pursue writing. She went to college at the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, and the University of Washington, where she received her Bachelor of General Studies degree, a Master of Comparative Religion degree and a Master of Teaching degree. The milestone moment in her career however, was the day she discontinued her studies and instead, decided to pursue her love to writing at age 31. She has published over thirty novels since then. Publishers Weekly states in an interview with Richelle that, she has, "always been a fan of epic fantasy. That's what [she] grew up reading, and what [she'd] always thought [she'd] end up writing." I feel inspired when I hear this quote from my personal career hero, because it gives me hope that a young girl like me could one day become something amazing. She used her education and her inquisitive personality to write about the fantastic worlds only known in children stories. She used basic ideas like the supernatural, and combined her research, to create worlds of her own. Readers appreciated her knowledge and creativity of a society she created, and eventually, Richelle became her own writer with her first published book in 2007. Richelle is currently living in Michigan with her husband and two sons, continuing to write series that appeal to readers everywhere.

Richelle Mead is someone who will be remembered even when she is gone from this world, because of all the work she has left behind. Books have the ability to give hope to any who choose to read them. Even when she is no longer with us, her books will continue to encourage people to do what they love in life and to reach for the stars. An author gives people the chance to escape the realities of life, and a chance to be someone we are not. A girl can be a knight in shining armor who fights the dragons or a scientist who saves the world with her invention. I chose Richelle Mead as my hero because even after years of education, she still had the courage to pursue what she truly loves in life. She inspires young people like me to persevere and give our passions in life a chance. She started with her education, but ended up taking the leap to follow her dream. Her education helped her to become successful, but it was her willingness to explore new possibilities that made her famous. According to Brainy Quotes, "people often ask where [Richelle Mead] got [her] inspiration from, and [she] always says [she] has no good answer because, well, inspiration comes from everywhere: people, places, memories." There will be moments in our life where we are going to have to make a choice, without knowing what the full outcome will be, but it's OK to make a mistake; that is the only way we can learn.

Most students believe they have to wait until they attend college before they have to start worrying about their career path. I firmly believe in the idea that it is better to start early and plan ahead before they can begin down their career path in earnest. In high school, I want to put myself out there in clubs and extracurricular activities that will extend my knowledge of literature and writing. I'm interested in joining a book club at the school to explore new novels that are becoming popular. I also find the idea of joining the school newspaper and getting to write my own pieces exciting. I don't know where I will end up going to college, but I know I love the idea of being able to explore and discover new things. I plan on majoring in English and Communications, so I can better prepare myself with attributes all good authors need to succeed in life. Whenever I feel confused or I start to doubt myself, I will remember Richelle Mead and the chances she took in life to get where she is today. I dream that one day, my own books and series will be printed and sold all over the world. After all, according to Robert Cormier, "The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon." Who knows? Maybe one day, someone will look up to me, the way I look up to my personal hero.

Page created on 5/19/2016 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 5/19/2016 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

World of Richelle Mead - Website promoting Richelle Mead's work and online accounts
Feed Your Fiction Addiction - Updates Richelle Mead and books she has coming out
Truity - Provides Information on Writers and Authors
Publishers Weekly - Provides Information on Richelle's Life Story
Occupational Outlook Handbook - Provides Information on Writers and Authors