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Happy Anniversary!!! 4 years, and 9 books later, I'm still here!
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students came out on October 1, 2010. I remember the day distinctly. It was a small little educational title that was supposed to sell in a tiny niche. My agent at that time was Krista Goering. She believed in the product, and I believed in her. So I promised myself I would do anything and everything possible to make this book a success. I scheduled a twitter party (Thank you Deborah Mersino) for #GTCHAT, had a blog tour and a signing, not to mention book chats scattered throughout the week, and BAM…..
the book was completely sold out on day 1. Seriously.
For the first time, this dream of being published was a reality. I felt on top of the world, like nothing could possibly get in my way or stop me. It is a feeling I return to anytime I question my sanity for staying in this business.
Since that amazing day, I have published three more nonfiction titles with my amazing editor Lacy Elwood and the team at Prufrock Press, including 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids, the Girl Guide, and most recently Quiet Kids. With their help, another two titles – Raising the Shy Child and I'm Not just Gifted – will be coming in the first six months of 2015. These titles have also led to publishing opportunities with Tiger Beat magazine, Justine Magazine, Parents, Johnson & Johnson and others. I can't say how excited and life fulfilling it has all been.
In addition to the non-fiction fun, Krista was encouraging with my fiction (an area she did not represent but supported as I tried to find my niche in the very crowded YA market.) I started publishing my fiction in 2012, first through Heather McCorkle's HUGE help, and then on my own. Drawing on the love and support of my early CPs and writing buds: Elana Johnson, Ali Cross, Michelle McLean and Julie Butcher, I honed my craft until finally, I published the Requiem series, including Lacrimosa, Libera Me, Dominus and the shorts Dies Irae and Mea Culpa. Countless other writers helped along the way, as well as bloggers and fans.
The Requiem series was followed by my thrillers, Transcend and, most recently, Collide. For those keep count, that's a total of 9 books, 2 shorts and countless articles.
Along the way, paths have changed, goals have shifted, friendships morphed. I've had ups and downs. I've nearly quit at least a million times. And I've lost and found my voice.
Now, as I entered my fifth year as a published author (and my seventh year writing with the intent to publish), I understand that everything cycles back to the stories too loud to stay quietly present in my head, stories and self-help that is meant to inspire and transcend….this is why I am still here. No, I have not reached my goals. Actually, I'm not even close in some respects. But I am very proud of what I've accomplished and what is on the horizon!
I want to thank all of you for sticking with me. I've never been the popular girl, the one on the “in”, the one others looked up to.. but with this tribe of writers, I have at least found my voice, my place, my peeps.
I promise to keep the stories coming, to bring more adventure and more love. I promise to tackle the hard topics and continue to make authenticity the norm we all strive for. And I promise to lead by example and honestly approach the next four years with the same passion I've tried to maintain and inspire since the beginning!
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