In this photo, I'm editing pages for Darkside of the Rainbow,
a book of short stories B.J. Myrick and I wrote together.

My name is Hazel Hart. I teach English composition for Butler Community College, and one of the things I tell my students is that when they write essays, they must establish their credibility as knowledgeable on their topics. I look at this bio as a way of establishing my credibility, both as a seasoned aspirer and as a writer.

I have been an aspiring writer since I was a teenager. Check out my picture above, and you'll see that was a few decades ago. I'd probably be famous by now (at least, I like to think so), but instead of writing, I did other things.

When I was fourteen, I quit junior high school to get married. By the time I was twenty, I had two children and a GED diploma. With a strong desire to be a writer, I enrolled in junior college with the idea of majoring in journalism. I was talked out of that career path by a counselor who pointed out that with a family to support, I needed a stable income. He said there was a teacher shortage and suggested I major in English. I followed his advice instead of my passion. Although I enjoy teaching, I have always wondered "what if?"

Over the years, writing daily has been a repeating entry as a New Year's resolution, but usually fell off my daily to do list by February. Still, I have revised two novels several times each and completed a couple dozen short stories and poems. A few have been published; some have even placed in contests.

My short story, "Amanda Marie," was published in the 2000-2004 Kansas Voices anthology. In 2006, another short story, "Time Out," placed second in the Kansas Writers Association short story contest and was published in KWA's Out of the Flatlands anthology. In April, 2007, my poem, "Out of Sight," placed second in a contest about fences in connection with a traveling Smithsonian exhibit. In October, 2007, the first five pages of my novel, Family History, placed second in the Kansas Authors Club contest.

Publishing my writing, traveling and making presentations to promote it, and helping others achieve their goals have all been part of my lifelong aspirations. Everyone has a dream. I hope all you seasoned aspirers reading this will join me in moving beyond aspirations so we all can live our dreams.