Dog Days of Summer

I finished my super difficult special education law class on Monday and I’m glad to be half-way done with my other summer school class. The second class is an integrated Science/Social studies class. I am really enjoying parts of the class. However, we meet from 9 – 4:30 twice a week and the quick turn around of a whole semester in a month makes it a little intense. Summer school will be over in two weeks, then I’ll a week at most to rest before my internship starts again.

I’ve been connecting to The Lost on a new level lately, especially in the past week. I’ve written a different amount everyday, but I’ve written something every day. That hasn’t happened in a while.  After three days my protagonist came out to play. I was worried that she was gone because her voice had been hard to grasp for months and months. Ken, had a very distinctive view of the world and I thought I had lost her. I hadn’t met her at the page for months. I hadn’t held up my end of the bargain. I had abandoned her, like so many others. Yet…she came back to me and I won’t let her go again until her story is told.

Even though it’s only been a couple of days, I feel much more grounded. Julia Cameron said that she could do everything else in her life better, if she had put in her daily dose. I finally understand what she means.

I’ve also been getting my ducks in line for the 2nd season of TCC. The clouds are clearing that have obscured my view recently… big things have suddenly opened up  and I’m excited to get my hands dirty in the trenches again.

I went to the midnight showing of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice with my dad yesterday and I’m definitely turning into a pumpkin…time for bed boys and girls. Sweet dreams.

The Best Christmas Presents Ever

As I look at 2010 coming right at me, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all the love that has come my way these last months from the amazing people who have read my book The Christmas Child.

Hearing stories of reluctant readers putting aside their video games to read or people who have found hope on the pages and now feel Christmas in their hearts. With each story, I am blown away and deeply humbled.

In all honesty, I had a hard time finding the Christmas spirit myself this year. I have been struggling financially and spiritually. I have been putting myself through the paces for things that are outside of my control. I have been more like The Ice than myself!

But hearing these stories and receiving hugs from readers have made all the difference. Even if I never sold another book, I would still feel like a successful author! I also understand more than ever the power of story. I am grateful for everything that has happened this year in relation to The Christmas Child.

I’ve heard it said that we write what we, ourselves, need to hear. That could not be more true with this book. The Christmas Child is ultimately about the power of belief, especially the belief in yourself. I struggle with this often and I have learned so much from Becca’s journey and transformation.

So as 2009 comes to an end, I would like to say thank you to the wonderful people who came to book signings and my launch at the Mercury Cafe. To the classes I visited, the kids and kid’s at heart who left their world behind to travel to the North Pole with me…you have made my heart light and joyous. I am so grateful and thank you doesn’t seem big enough to describe what I feel.

Here’s to a happy and prosperous New Year for everyone. Cheers!

The Eve of Christmas Eve

Oh blog, how I’ve missed you. I kept saying to myself, “I really should blog…” and somehow it just never happened. I have had so much that I wanted to post about too! But teaching, coaching and candy making has been taking up all my time. I am starting graduate school in January and my life is going to get even busier. I have to find time to write and blog on top of everything else and I’m a bit concerned. I am famous for taking care of others and running myself ragged, but I’m not so great at caring for myself. I’m going to work really hard to change that in 2010.

I smell resolution in the air! My resolution for 2010 can be expressed in one word – balance. I will be striving for balance in 2010. I have never been good at balance. I’m generally juggling way to many things and I usually wind up burning the candle at both ends. I’m crazy excited about getting my master’s degree and I’m loving the teaching,  but I have accomplished so much with my book in 2009 that I don’t want to lose any of my momentum in the coming year.

I also need more rest, more excercise and less processed food! So, yes kids, the word of the day is BALANCE!

Blogging will also be a part of my daily dose of writing. I need this as a daily check in. Even if no one is reading this, it is still important for me to write it and get it out into the world.

I’ll have some time off in the next week and I will post some pictures and talk about the book events in late November and December. I am so happy with all the wonderful things that TCC brought me this year. I’m also very grateful for all the obstacles I faced. They showed me how committed I was to making this work and taught me to be more flexible. I have a more realistic perspective for next year and I have eight to nine months to work at getting my baby farther out into the world.

A friend of mine is home for a visit after his first semester of college. He was congratulating me on the book and we were discussing some of the marketing strategies that I’m putting together for next year. He told me that The Sorcerer’s Stone took a year and a half to catch on. He also told me that when J.K. Rowling came to The Tattered Cover for a book signing, that no one came. It’s hard to imagine that, but humbling to remember that even J.K. Rowling had to start somewhere.

2010 will be a big year. I will be striving for balance in all of my endeavors, I will be starting a new career as a teacher, working hard to sell more books, writing daily and building my body of work and last but not least, I will be turning thirty.

I am looking forward to many things in the coming year. I’m also looking forward to some quiet moments in the coming days where I can take a deep breath and look back on the year. I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday, and can have some comfort from family or friends. I watched a special this evening on adoption and my heart rips for all those kids who don’t have someone to love them this Christmas. It kills me that they don’t have someone to love them any day of the year. If I could take them all home, I would in a second! In the meantime, I can send them all my love and hope that it finds them and brings them some warmth this Christmas.

Happy Holidays! Make sure to leave out carrots for the reindeer!

Attitude of Gratitude

We’re coming into Thanksgiving week and I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m grateful for this year. It’s hard for me to believe that it’s almost the end of November. This year has flown by…

I’m am extremely grateful for my friends and family. For technology like Sykpe, that allows me to hear the voices of the people I love who live so far away.

I’m grateful for being able to teach every day and feel like I’m one step closer to my true purpose here on earth.

And last, but not least, I am grateful for all the wonderful writing accomplishments this year. There have been so many first’s and I can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for me and my art.

Tomorrow I have my first school visit as an author. I’m a little nervous, but I know that I will feel it and have a wonderful time tomorrow morning!

Definition of Success

What is the definition of success for a writer? I’ve thought about this a lot over the years.  Is it a combination of books sold, starred reviews and millions in the bank? Is it getting an agent and a publishing contract?

As I wrote TCC, I daydreamed about success all the time. What my first launch would look and feel like. How it would feel to sell the movie rights. As I received rejections and passes on the manuscript, I would dream and think of success even more. Maybe to compensate for the blow to my ego and the rip in my heart.

I have felt many successful moments on my publishing journey with TCC and each success felt awesome, but nothing as wonderful as this –

An eight year-old boy can’t put my book down. He hasn’t played video games in days, he takes my book to the table with him and reads it before school. I can hardly believe it, even as I write this sentence.

This is my new definition of success. I can’t put into words how incredible it felt to hear this news. I hope that TCC goes on to connect with more readers, but anything else will be icing on the cake.

TCC – One Week Later

It’s one week since the book launch and I’ve had lots of time to think about it because I’ve been crazy sick with asthma all week. No fun! But I digress..

THE LAUNCH!!!

It was so wonderful. I had an amazing day and a great turn-out. I read the first chapter and we all ate delicious cake. I signed books and felt like it was officially official!

Here are some pics that my spectacular designer, Sharon took:

TCC Launch

TCC Launch - cake!

TCC reading

TCC Signing with my fancy silver pen!

Now, the next big chunk of work begins as I try to get this little Christmas story out into the world! I have lots of independent book stores to approach and it will be available as an e-book this coming week.

My mom read the book all week and it was surreal and awesome to see her hold it at night as she sat on the couch. She had read the story before, but not since all the revisions this last year. It was nice to have her enjoy it so much.

Book Launch

I haven’t written in forever…substitute teaching and early morning hours have wrecked havoc on my blogging. I think after two weeks of extreme exhaustion, I’m finally getting accustomed to my new life as a traveling teacher!

I am, however, sorry that I have abandoned this blog!

My book launch is only a couple of weeks away and I still have a zillion things to accomplish. The binding press is finished. I’ll post pictures and a video of how it works soon! All the materials have been purchased and this week I have to get them off to the printer. Then I have to bind as many books as possible for the launch. I’m going to be one busy girl!!

I love the cover and the illustrations. The layout looks good. I can’t believe it’s almost here…

Books Stuff

Yesterday, I had the day off.  It didn’t really feel like a day off because I was running just about every minute. That said, I got a ton done for the book, which feels really good.

I now have a business bank account, merchant paypal account and I signed off on the brilliant cover that Sharon designed for me. I also paid a bunch of bills and bought the materials for the binding press. I’m having a hard time finding Plexiglass that is thick enough. I thought some local art stores might have some, but no luck.

Late last night, I saw Julie and Julia with my mom and dad. Is there anything that Meryl Streep cannot do? I mean seriously. And Stanley Tucci was divine. I laughed and cried with them. What a wonderful love they shared. It would be interesting to read the letters that Julie mentions in the film – I will have to find them and do that.

I have really been slacking on The Lost. I’m not stuck, but I’m in that spot just over half way through the first draft where I am being courted by another manuscript. The middle is a hard spot. And The Christmas Child is so close to release and I have so much to do…it’s just been too easy to ignore The Lost.

I have to commit to it again, even if I’m only writing 500 words a day. I just have to buckle down and do it. I can’t use my wonderfully chaotic life as an excuse. Note to self – writers must sit down to write…remember?

It’s strange and bittersweet to think about leaving the book store. I know I’ll be in and out, working part-time, but it won’t be the same as being here and having my hands in it everyday. I feel that it’s the right time to move on, but it’s always hard to leave.

I’m finally reading The Celestine Prophecy. I really like it so far. I believe that books pick us when it is the exact right time for us to read them. I’m excited to learn why this book picked me…more on that later!

Binding Press

I am making a binding press with my dad this weekend. He is an engineer and loves these kind of projects. I’m excited to get it together and try it out next week. Every day this week has been filled with self publishing adventures.

I’m holding off on a web site for the time being. Since I’m footing the bill for everything, I would rather spend the money on books. This handy blog can do most of the web site tricks any way.

I feel this urgency running through my veins. I know it’s because of multiple factors, but it’s cool to have so much to do!

I will be starting a new thread of posts this week entitled, “Self Pub Adventures”. These post’s will feature the handy knowledge I have acquired through this process. I want to be as helpful as I can to other DIY folks out there.

Once the binding press is ready to go, I’ll vlog about it and post it here as well.

Jazz Hands and Miracles

Last night Monkey Beth Media purchased it’s first ISBN number and Bar code!!!!!!

I am now performing the self-publishing ISBN dance complete with jazz hands. Someday I will have to vlog this so you can see how silly I really am. I also designed my logo and will be posting it this weekend.

Every day, it feels like the Universe sets another miracle in my lap with this book. I have been open to guidance and I certainly can see where angels have swooped down and taken care of me and my new publishing venture. Whether it be guidance, research, design, copy-editing – you name it. I am so grateful for all of the help I have received. It makes this process feel so satisfying!

October will be here before I know it and everyday my excitement grows!

I received my first piece of mail at my snazzy PO Box today. It was a note from myself, but what does that matter 🙂

In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting images and excerpts from the story. Also, I will be posting articles on my adventures in self publishing at my other blog http://www.monkeybethmonkeybusiness.blogspot.com.