Good News!

Have you heard the saying the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?

Well, in this case it’s true! My boy-o was entered in a poetry contest (he claims he didn’t know) and according to the letter we received his poem was selected by The American Library of Poetry to be published in this year’s book of poetry, Eloquence.

Yup, this proud mama is cheesing hard. Of course, the kid doesn’t even remember the poem (I do, he asked me to read it before he turned it in.) It was for extra credit in history class. Amazing, he’ll be published at fourteen and he’s acting as if he doesn’t care. Maybe he’ll feel different when he actually holds the book in his hands and sees his name in print. It’s an awesome feeling. We’re very proud of our boy.

I also got some good news of my own. My first chapter for Innocent Sacrifice (the latest novel I’m working on) got accepted for the HD California Writers Club Anthology. Plus I’m working with a fellow author on her book launch.

So much stuff in going on…and yet I want more. Does that seem greedy?

I can’t help it. I got a taste of the good stuff and I want to bathe in it, baby!

 

If only worrying burned calories…

Worrywart

Let me start by saying, I’m a big worrywart. My last entry was about freaking out over stuff I probably shouldn’t have. I was worried about my book launch. I stressed about having enough drinks, would people show up, and more importantly, I prayed I wouldn’t say anything inappropriate.

I gave myself a few gray hairs over nothing.

The book launch was amazing! Friends, family, and supporters showed up in droves to the bookstore. The best part is I didn’t even have to send anyone outside to twirl a sign to advertise. (I told my kid if we didn’t have a good crowd I’d give him twenty bucks to do it, he was all about it.)

Currently, I’m in the midst of a book blog tour and a social media blast. The feedback has been positive and I’ve received some great reviews from readers.

My head hasn’t stopped spinning. I keep pinching myself to make sure it’s real. But I’m staying grounded and focused. In addition to marketing Innocent Labor, I’m working on the sequel.

Now that I’ve released my first book, I determined to publish another.

Of course, I’m not saying I don’t log onto Amazon, read the reviews over and over, and start grinning like a mad fool.

I’m not saying that at all…Don’t judge me.

Saying No to Resolutions

It’s officially 2013 and time to reflect on the past year or make resolutions for the new one to come.

Eh, I might take time to reflect later. I have a daily word count goal to meet and editing to do. As for resolutions…well, I don’t believe in lying to myself unless it concerns my weight or age. I refuse to get caught up in the propaganda. It leads to broken promises and guilt. I’m over it.

For years, I swore I’d lose weight, learn a new language, stop cursing, etc. etc. I’m still on the yo-yo scale, speak only 2 languages, and can curse with the best of them. I could lie and say this year will be different.

But it won’t and you know what? I’m okay with it. I’ve got goals and aspirations.

My main goal isn’t only for the New Year. It’s for my life. I’m going to finish and publish my book this year. Yes, I’m saying it and putting it out in the universe.

All of the other stuff will happen in its own time. Losing weight requires a lifestyle change (boo). Learning another language isn’t priority right now, maybe in a few months. And cursing?

Sugar Honey Iced Tea, there’s always next year.

Cheers!

Published, I will be?

It’s a new week and I hope everyone is just as pumped for summer as I am. Things have been moving along pretty steadily. I heard back from the editor of The Inkslinger (newsletter for www.hdcwc.org ) and she accepted my work! I’m pretty jazzed about it. She said she loved (yup, she really said loved and I am going to carry those words around in my heart for years to come) my poetry and will spread my work out over a few months. I can keep submitting my stuff to her and she will review it for approval.

AHHHHH I’m so excited! It’s really happening. This is my first legitimate step towards my dream. During a phone call with my friend Branli (www.branlicaidryn.com) he says “You know what this means right? You can officially add ‘Published Author’ to your resume.” My knees buckled a little bit and my eyes got a bit teary. “No, that’s not…No, I’m not!”

“Yup, Honey it’s available to the public on their website. You’re going to be published. Let that sink in.”

“No…Oh my God!” Branli just laughed at me. Who knows how long I would have gone without realizing what I did? Lol, I’m such a DA sometimes but it’s okay.  I’m not embarrassed or ashamed. I totally embrace it.

In fact, the very next day I saw the editor at the meeting with High Desert Blogging (www.highdesertblogging.com).   I asked her if it was true. Rusty said yes, the newsletter is a regional publication because it is distributed to all of the California Writers Club in the state plus it’s available on the internet.  (Sweet!)

I had no problem looking like a dork and asking Rusty. Well let’s be honest the truth is Branli is my friend and he loves me. I needed confirmation from a stranger who doesn’t care about my feelings or will sugarcoat stuff. So with that confirmation (pat on the back) I ordered some business cards. I was starting to feel kind of silly going to these meetings and being the only one without anything to hand out. Everyone has postcards, bookmarks, business cards, dancing bears, etc. “Do you have a card?” “Oh no, I’m sorry I’m just starting out [LOSER].”

Can you tell I’m feeling kind of giddy and have a goofy grin? Yea, I’m not going to lie I’m flippen terrified of the whole thing and I want to cry when I think too much about it. So I do what I do best, ignore the big elephant in the room and just keep moving forward. Fake it till you make it and pretend I know what the heck I’m doing. Because for what I don’t know there’s always Google.

Links:

www.branlicaidryn.com

www.highdesertblogging.com