First of all, I thought this day would never come.
Writing a post about a book deal seemed like a
distant dream…like oh say, having dinner with David Gandy. (You didn’t actually
think I could write a post without mentioning him, did you?) But now that the
day has finally arrived, I’ve determined that writing an announcement post is
HARD. Like writing the first chapter of a book hard! Because no one out there
wants to read about how long it took me to get published (years!) or how many
tears were shed in the process (I should own stock in Kleenex!). What they
really want is for me to tell them when their day will come and no matter how
much I’d like to, I can’t. But what I can
do is offer up a list of people who helped me survive the last few years with my
sanity intact. Well, some of it at least.
So while I’ll include the announcement at the bottom
for anyone who missed the dozen or so times I mentioned it on twitter, what I’d
really like to do is introduce everyone to a few of the people who make up my
twitter “neighborhood”. And yes, I now have that Sesame Street song stuck in my
head…Who are the People in Your
Neighborhood…
There are people like @andrewtshaffer & @danielkenney who no matter what find a way to make me laugh every damn day.
There’s @juliebstroop ,
and @KayleeSim13 who never
once stopped believing in me and whose DMs of encouragement got me back in
front of the computer more times than I can count! And there’s @DeniseJTompkins, who sends the absolute BEST emails
letting me know in no uncertain terms that failure is not an option.
There’s best selling author’s like @jcharbonneau who,
despite being on tour, calls to see how queries are going. Or @lolashoes & @seeCwrite, who not only never met a stranger, but
are the type of gals to spend a five hour lunch chatting about the rollercoaster
of publishing with a writer who feels like giving up. Or @alice_clayton who
won’t just recommend a book over dinner, she’ll buy it for you.
There’s @Partlyhazy & @MelissaWrites2 who
are the best lunchtime support group a girl could ask for.
There’s @ddmarxbooks, who can meet a person
while walking into a conference and by lunch time is saving her a seat, @DinaSilver whose
marketing expertise never ceases to inspire me and @officeladyprobz who after years of
tweeting became my new BFF on a sprint through the streets of Chicago!
There’s sites like @50ShadesSource & @50Latersbaby whose support has been
both amazing and unwavering!
There’s Aussie @Juliet_Madison and
Brits @JosieGiggs & @JaneWriting1
(we’ll say they live waaaay at the end of the block) who not only want you to
come visit but send sightseeing tips!
There’s uber re-tweeters like @AntShellie
& @PinkiePixieJo who never let me down
when I fear there will be nothing but crickets on the TL. Or @nicsigni ,
@HeatherMarieYA, @Fizzygrrl, @snarkychicklet ,
and @lizlincolnwritr who
are quick with replies that always make me smile.
There’s @AndreaBerthot, @SarahLBlair @writeforapples ,
@JackieHennesse1, @KarenCarro & @jillcahr, my sisters in arms. I have no doubt their day with come
and when it does I’ll be shouting it from the rooftops.
And there’s @br_myers , @_RScottWhitley_, @LynnMontagano, @MeganWhitmer, @ViviBarnes, @MrsTomSauter , and @cecyrobson.
This group has been a near constant in my life since I opened a twitter
account. I would have never made it through the past two years without them and
I hope someday we’re all at a conference together. First round is on me!
Of course none of this would have happened without my
writing partner and best friend in the whole wide world *arms stretched out
like a toddler* @Amy_KRogers! I would
have never started another book if it weren’t for Amy. Her creativity astounds
me and I can’t wait to take this journey with her by my side!
So without further ado…my
first sale:
