In two months…

In the last two months, my book has slowly found its way into the world. That’s All I Got can be sold online through Henschel Haus Books as a paperback and Amazon.com as a paperback and e-book in Kindle format. I’ve also sold them personally as paperbacks.

I’ve held book signings during a Higher Brain Living meetup, at my friends’ house, twice at my local YMCA, and twice during monthly church dinners. I’ve sold single copies to my neighbors and a few friends. In a way, I’ve partnered with Udana Yoga and Wellness to sell a few copies there (I’ll be having a book signing event here in the near future). I’ve gifted a copy to my cousin at a funeral home. More recently, I sold a copy at the cemetery on my husband’s 45th birthday (this is and isn’t the unlikeliest spot to reacquaint with an old friend & finding out she hadn’t found a way yet to buy the book.

These opportunities mark only the beginning. A couple of places (and soon more): Barnes & Noble Corporate Offices and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) have been sent review copies to review and approve. Once approved, opportunities follow. Barnes & Noble can then carry the paperback in stores (you can already order it online). I’m waiting on AFSP to approve so I can possibly have the book used a resource for various programs related to suicide and bereavement (relative to suicide or tragedy). This way the book can reach more people and help more lives…either to inspire or heal.

Reaching for milestones

Two days this week of book milestones!

Wednesday night, April 30th, at a YMCA book signing, I sold my 50th copy and 9 more. On Thursday, May 1st, I sold the 60th copy to my godfather who lives in Minnesota plus one more that he purchased for me to donate to the library of my choice.

On Thursday, May 1st, the mail revealed an envelope from my publisher. It only took me a minute to realize what it contained; my first royalty check. Whoo Hoo! My first royalty check! I took a look and grinned ear to ear. I made a copy of the check before I took it to the bank today.

Last week, I gifted a book to my cousin after another cousin referenced in my book passed away in Heaven so technically that book made #50. While my cousin isn’t physically here, she’s here with me while I write and in the memories I hold in my heart.

Excitement in the Air

If you’ve ever waited for something big to occur, then you know the feelings that go along with it. While excitement builds, other feelings play into it. To say I’m giddy and hyped up would definitely be an understatement. Each time I share details of my book progress, my grin appears bigger and my eyes wider. I receive ideas from things I read and from speaking with people.

The other night at an event, someone asked me what comes to mind when I hear the word passion. My immediate response: writing. When asked more about it and why, I had a mouthful to share. I want my thoughts conveyed through writing to inspire others. I want to shed light to people at the end of a very dark tunnel after suicide or any tragedy; it’s the purpose of my book. I want to help others at a personal level.

It’s exciting to feel momentum build knowing I can help many.