a reason to celebrate!

so there i was the other day, sitting by the picturesque river, when lo and behold i burst into tears. seriously. not excactly audible, sobbing kind of tears, but there they were just flowing down my cheeks and i couldn't stop. you might call them happy tears. (luckily, i was wearing sunglasses)!


let’s just say, on my book’s one year birthday, i got the best, most meaningful review~

click or read BIGGER here

those are the words that took me by surprise and caused the happy tears.  so thank you, natalie, i don’t know you, but i truly, truly appreciate what you said.  thank you thank you thank you.   

you see, i was told by my editor early on, well, i’ll quote her- 

"DON”T read the amazon reviews, you will drive yourself crazy!”  

she was right.  but guess what? i have been reading them here and there. the good and bad and all. but the other day i had an email from someone letting me know that she had left a review.  jumpy on coffee, i just clicked over in a moment of procrastination, and without thinking there i was.  reading reviews. uh oh.  i braced myself for what i was about to read as i had no idea if it’d be good or bad.  

i had a knot in my stomach for good reason-  i've probably started six different blog posts on the subject of how i felt when the book came out, and then how it felt to have a crappy review early on, but i never finished them or hit publish.  i just didn’t have the words and i was taking it all too personally. (side note: my mom taught me that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.  i’ll teach ada this too, even though i know that the real world doesn’t always play be these rules... sometimes it’d be nice if it did. just sayin’... ) 

but, after reading that ever-so-sweet review, something shifted and i finally felt good about it ALL. all the book “stuff”- the good the bad, the stuggles and the doubt. the sweat and tears. yes, it’s all been there in the past year or so, but now i know it all was worth it. becasue i i know now that there are those of you out there like natalie, who really get it. who, in fact, really need my book and use it to help you along your own creative paths. and really, 20,000 words and many months later, i still don't really don't know how to say thank you for that. for getting it. for needing it and for using it in your own lives.


AND for letting me know. i thank you from the bottom of my coffee loving, sleep-deprived little heart.

i really do.  

with that being said, a celebration is in order!  i’d like to finally do a little book giveaway as a way to say thank you to you all...  

  

would you like a personalized and signed copy of my book?  how about i throw in an inspiration kit too?  i’m giving away this great package to say thank you to all of you AND to say a little happy birthday to my book.  


so here’s the deal! just leave a comment on this post by friday, may 11 (by noon est) telling me why you’d like to win!  perhaps you have the book, but would love to give it as a gift to another creative soul in your life AND you’d keep the inspiration kit for yourself. :) OR you’ve had it on your wish list and hope to dive into it over the summer... i’d love to hear from you!  tell me a little something and i’ll choose a name a week from today!  wahoo!  xo *s


HELLO & THANKS SO MUCH!  THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, I WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER ON MONDAY 5.14!  HAPPY WEEKEND AND THANKS FOR ENTERING!