Chasing the Dreams I Almost Kept Quiet

By Derek D. Butler-Jackson, The Accidental Chef

I’ve always been a dreamer.

The kind of dreamer who lays in bed long after the world has gone to sleep, building a hundred futures in my head before finally drifting off. The kind who gets teary-eyed imagining what could be, not just for me, but for the people I love, for the stories I want to tell, for the table I want to set where everyone feels welcome.

But lately, those dreams have felt heavier. Not gone… just pressing harder on my chest. Urging me. Nudging me. Whispering, “It’s time.”

“I started cooking online not just to share food, but to share a piece of myself.”

That’s why I started sharing my cooking online.

Because for years I’ve played it safe. I’ve been what people needed me to be, helpful, cheerful, supportive. But I left little room for my own expression, my own voice, my own creative fire. Cooking was always more than just feeding people for me, it was how I told stories. How I processed life. How I shared my heart without needing the right words. It wasn’t about the gimmicks for me

So I rolled up my sleeves, turned on the camera, and invited you into my kitchen, not just to teach a recipe, but to show a piece of who I really am. To create something, to laugh, to learn out loud. I didn’t know if anyone would watch. But I knew I had to try.

And then I started writing again. Really writing.

Not just scribbles in a notebook or ideas I told myself I’d come back to. But blog posts. Stories. Words that had been locked inside me for years.

“Writing is my truest passion. It’s where my soul feels most at home.”

I dream of being a published author. Have for as long as I can remember. And I don’t mean just self-publishing a PDF into the void (though let’s be real, even that would make me proud). I mean the kind of author who walks into a bookstore one day and sees their name on the spine. The kind who gets an email from someone saying, “Your story helped me through something I didn’t think I’d survive.”

And here’s the thing: I’ve actually written four novels. Five or six. Entire. Novels.

Some people don’t know that about me, maybe because I’ve been too embarrassed to share it. Because when you tell people your dreams, you open yourself up to disappointment. To judgment. To questions you don’t know how to answer yet.

But I’m done hiding those dreams.

They’ve lived in the quiet corners of my life for too long.

“I’m a big dreamer. Always have been. Always will be.”

My most recent novel, the one I’m revising now, is, without a doubt, the best thing I’ve ever written. And every time I sit down to work on it, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Writing this character makes me feel alive

I’ve been querying literary agents. And yes, I’ve been getting rejection letters. Some kind. Some brutal. Some that sting a little more than I’d like to admit. But even in the no’s, there’s a spark of hope. Because each one means someone read my words. Someone saw my name. Someone gave me a chance.

And one day, someone will say yes.

I believe that with my whole heart.

“The Accidental brand isn’t just a name—it’s a world I’m building, one dream at a time.”

But beyond writing and cooking, I dream even bigger.

I dream of building an entire Accidental brand.

Not just a clever name inspired by my hometown, but a world built on heart, comfort, and connection.

I see it all:

• An Accidental Chef cookbook full of food that feeds more than hunger.

• An Accidental Coffee Company where neighbors gather, sip, and stay awhile.

• An Accidental Spice Line that brings my kitchen into yours.

• And yes… a cozy restaurant someday called The Accidental, serving dishes that taste like home with stories behind every bite.

I want it all.

And some days, that scares me.

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed by time.

Or more accurately, the lack of it.

There are so many ideas in my head, so many passions I want to pursue, that I often feel like I’m running out of hours in the day to do it all.

But I’m learning to breathe. To focus.

To take one dream at a time and give it the space it deserves.

Because I don’t want to live a life where I buried my dreams because I was afraid they were “too much.”

Because I didn’t think I had what it took.

Because someone might roll their eyes or ask, “Who do you think you are?”

I know who I am now.

I’m a dreamer. A writer. A creator. A cook. A feeler. A believer.

And if I’ve learned anything lately, it’s this:

Dreams don’t need to be realistic to be worthy.

They just need to be yours.

“The road is long. But the destination is worth it.”

So thank you for being here.

For reading. For watching.

For coming along as I figure this all out in real-time.

I don’t know exactly where this road will lead.

But I know I’m not turning back.

And if you’re holding onto a dream of your own?

Dust it off. Say it out loud. Chase it with everything you’ve got.

Because if we’re going to build a life, why not build the one we dream about?

With all my heart,

—Derek, The Accidental Chef

💬 Want to Help a Dreamer Dream Big?

If you know anyone in publishing, or just want to encourage someone with big dreams, feel free to reach out or share this post. Every word of support helps keep the fire burning. 🔥

P.S. if you want to read a sample of a novel I’ve written, let me know. I’m not holding back anymore!