Wow! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! (Silence… Staring… Fingers perched on the keyboard…) That just about says it all…
Two exciting things happened the week of July 29. Actually, one was not so exciting. I received my first copies of “No Time to Quit” and found out I have shingles. I’m not going to go into all the gory details of shingles in my head and eye, but suffice it to say, navigating through the details of moving forward with the book was much more difficult. I couldn’t even schedule a book launch celebration because of not knowing when the symptoms would be manageable enough for me to function.
The shingles did put a damper on the excitement of receiving the first copies of my first book, but I was terribly excited anyway. Holding a book in my had that has my name on it as the author has been a dream of mine since I was a child. The day I found out the book was available online at WestBow Press I was so excited I couldn’t think the rest of the day. I was supposed to be working on publicity ideas and writing a press release.
Within days, the book also was on the Barnes & Noble website, as well as Amazon. And Mom had been selling so many books I struggled to keep up. The book was taking off and I was landed, and quarantined, with the shingles.
It was nearly the middle of August before I felt comfortable scheduling a book launch party. I am pleased to report we were able to put the celebration together in a couple of weeks. We landed on Aug. 25, since I had the day off of work. A friend agreed to cater the event and my daughter, Joy, said she would introduce me for the reading. We were able to reserve the church that Mom and I are attending, and it felt like everything was set.
Within all of this, Mom had cataract surgery. One eye was done on the 15th and the other on the 29th. The first surgery went very well, so she was good to go at the book launch.
The afternoon before the event, I found out I had not given my friend enough money to cover the shopping list for the food. People were arriving at my home for my son Mat’s freedom party. I began to panic. The list of needed items was long, and the work that still needed to be done seemed insurmountable. I adjusted the menu a bit and was working on the list when my son and his wife arrived. That is when I realized it didn’t matter. Everything would work out and my panic would not make it any better. Spending relaxed time with family and friends, both at the freedom party and the book launch was really what it was all about. Sharing Mat’s freedom of working freelance and my achievement of publishing the book about Mom with those we love is what mattered.
There were four generations, as well as other friends, in our back yard that afternoon and evening. It was wonderful to watch the children play and catch up with people I hadn’t seen in a while. I felt blessed that Mat and his wife, Star, chose to host the party at our house.
Afterward, Ron and I went shopping. It was a late night, but my soul had been fed and I was calm.
The next morning, I giggled at a memory from the previous day as I walked down the stairs. I told Ron I would be smiling and giggling for days from the antics of the children.
Just as I had imagined, everything went well at the book launch. Some friends met us at the church early enough to get things set up and food together. A book signing table was set along the wall, and Alexus was the cashier.
About 40 people showed up, including many we saw the day before. It was a wonderful day, filled with wonderful food, book signing and sales, and friends and family gathering to talk. The biggest surprise was a couple who drove at least 30 miles to meet me and purchase a book because of an article published in the McLeod County Chronicle. It was incredible!
Another highlight was the reading. Those of you who know me well know I sometimes have a hard time getting words from my brain to my mouth and I can stumble over words. I was nervous about the reading, but after the first couple of pages, it was amazing. I love to hear audible stories. I would take the kids to story time when I was a child so I could hear the stories being read. Reading parts of my book and talking about the inspiration Mom’s story can bring… I’m glad I was blessed with the opportunity.
Someone told me “No Time to Quit” fits with the “Chicken Soup For the Soul” books. They are all inspiring, and Mom’s story will affect others lives. I am very excited to be able to share it.