The Journey to Professional Writing – One Author’s Perspective
I am but one of many on the journey to become a professional writer. Each has their own path to walk and anything along the way can make the walk different from someone else’s experience. When does one become an expert in the field? There is not an official degree, award or plaque that is given. I guess you must have to know in your heart that you are “there” – I am not. I will continue to walk my road and learn along the way, picking up interesting ideas as I go, always trying to be better than I was the day before. I compete with me and with no one else. I am not Rowling, Riordan, Collins, or Roth. I am making my own way, with my own words, in my own time.

This may have been a rejected cover shot, but I still love it.

I just tried making a new video!  Check it out!!!  I’d love to hear what you think of the new Secret Watchers video!

Cheryllynn Dyess has written an exciting new young adult novel.

A Witch’s Dream World (pub date is 1/30/15)

Synopsis:

Elizabeth has gone through so much lately with her mother’s passing. Now she lives with her aunts and she has begun to have nightmares. Only her nightmares are not nightmares at all, but spirit walks. Elizabeth never knew she belonged to a family of witches that dates back centuries. It is believed that she is the strongest one of all. She never knew her father was alive or that she had a twin brother. Now she must learn about a world she never knew existed. She has to learn to embrace her heritage and figure out how to defeat the Council. They are conspiring to destroy the structure of coexisting in this new society that her ancient people hold dear. Night after night her dreams reveal so much more….but are they only dreams?

I was just asked a great question about the Lexile score for Visions.  Fortunately I had already done a little research into the Lexile of my books for a teacher friend.    Thanks for your question, Chris on The Secret Watchers website.  I will run the Lexile checker on the rest of the series for you.

Visions, book one was intended for ages 12 and up. The average Lexile score from 3 – 1,000 word samples from the book was – 660.
Below is a chart from: https://lexile.com/about-lexile/grade-equivalent/grade-equivalent-chart/
Typical Reader Measures, by Grade
Grade Reader Measures, Mid-Year
25th percentile to 75th percentile (IQR)

Grade – Lexile

1st – Up to 300L
2nd – 140L to 500L
3rd – 330L to 700L
4th –  445L to 810L
5th – 565L to 910L
6th – 665L to 1000L
7th – 735L to 1065L
8th – 805L to 1100L
9th – 855L to 1165L
10th – 905L to 1195L
11th & 12th – 940L to 1210L