My Book Cover is Done!

It's happening!  I am sitting here tonight looking at the brand new cover design for my BOOK!!!  I can not even begin to tell you guys how excited I am.  Isn't it perfect?  I had so many awesome submissions it was hard to choose.  In the end I chose this one, because every time I look at those carolers' heads on the floor, it makes me laugh.

Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat

This is a looooonnnnnng time coming and I can't believe it's here.  The book should be ready for purchase in just a week or two!  Can you believe that?!  The book will be available on Amazon and Nook.  Some of you (OK, really just my dad) have asked for a signed copy.  If you so desire, you will be able to order a personalized signed book from yours truly directly from my website.  I'll seal it with a kiss and ship it to your door.

I don't think I've been clear just how big this is for me.  Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed about writing a book.  That's all I ever wanted to do.  Instead of playing with dolls and ponies, I used to write stories when I was a kid.  I was a dreamer who always had my head in the clouds or my nose in a book.  I've been a story teller my whole life and now I'm writing those stories down to share with people who actually want to read them.  That blows my mind.

It's taken me so long to get to this point, because I've had a ton of obstacles to overcome first.

When I was in high school I moved to Kansas from New Jersey and I had a rough time transitioning.  I didn't fit in at my new high school.  I found it impossible to make friends.  (I still find it tough sometimes.)  I wasn't bullied, instead I was just invisible.  I was ignored completely.  It was as if I didn't exist and didn't matter.  All I had to keep me company were my books and the stories I wrote.  

The only person who noticed me and took the time to get to know me was my English teacher, Mr. Goodson.  He was such an amazing teacher who really encouraged me to be creative and to push my boundaries with my writing.  He allowed me to discover my voice and he really helped me to cultivate it.  He showed us that everyone has their own style and that's OK because we've all got our own story to tell.

With his guidance and his support I wrote a short story that won me a scholarship to college.  I left for college finally believing in myself and thinking that I could actually make a living at writing.  When I got to college everything changed.

I majored in Creative Writing and I was assigned to an advisor from absolute fucking hell.  I knew instantly that he did not like me and he did not like my writing.  I knew this, because he told me - clearly and succinctly (with big words worthy of a pompous asshole English professor).  He was sure to tell me every chance he got just how much I sucked.  When I reminded him I won a writing scholarship, he told me that the submission pool that year had been especially weak.  He berated me and basically made me feel like shit in class and every time we met in private.  I'm not sure why he hated me so much or what I ever did to piss him off, but there was something about me that really grated on his nerves.  He went out of his way to make sure I knew how little he thought of me.

During our years together, this man wore me down like no one else.  At one point during an advisory meeting he told me I needed a back up plan, because no one would ever buy anything I wrote.  He actually suggested I marry rich.  After that, I quit meeting with him.  What was the point?  I wrote whatever was necessary to finish college and get my degree and get away from him.  I did find jobs that paid me to write, but I never wrote anything creative again.  He'd ruined it for me.  I no longer loved writing.

Finally, a few years ago I started up again.  I wrote a couple of short stories for Gomer and then, with the Hubs' encouragement, a year and a half ago I started this blog.  This blog has saved me.  I found my love again.  This blog has empowered me and it has made so many of my dreams come true (like the book).

Most importantly, this blog led me to YOU - to my readers.  You are my people.  You get me and you understand me.  You support me and you encourage me.  You laugh at me and you laugh with me.  You keep me going when I'm down and you make me so happy.  I am so grateful for all of you!

Want to order the book?  It's ready.  Click here.