The Pigs Are Flying! My Books Are Here!

For years I've dreamed of being a published author and opening that first box filled with books with my name on them. Well, I'm happy to say that day was TODAY!!! My very first copies of Confessions of a Prayer Slacker arrived this morning! And opening that box truly was every bit as exciting as I'd hoped it would be. Similar to holding my babies for the first time after they were born (albeit a totally different realm of course!) Except this birthing process took waaaaaaay longer . . . thankfully, however, I had no stretch marks this time around! Just sheer, unbridled joy at this astounding creation I now hold in my hands - a book God consistently nudged me to write about my journey to finally get serious about my prayer life and my relationship with Him. I'm still pinching myself to believe it's really happening!

I wasn't expecting the books for a couple of weeks yet since they don't officially release until August 2nd. But this morning, Ken noticed the UPS man leaving a package on our front porch, so he snuck out there, grabbed the box, then tip-toed into my office to surprise me. We both squealed like a couple of kids, jumping up and down, laughing, crying, hugging (did I mention there was squealing?) - all while he was still holding this humongous 36 pound box of books!

It's funny the things you think about at times like this. For me, I couldn't help thinking of my mother who's now with the Lord. Mom was an author too, and I know how proud she would have been. Whenever Mom got choked up (as she so often did), her little chin wobbled like crazy. We used to tease her unmercifully about that trembling chin, one of her most lovable trademarks! I can only imagine the wobble-factor is off the charts if she's looking down on me today.

 I also remembered the time my YaYa Sistahs and I had our first weekend getaway at a bed & breakfast in Columbia, Georgia. The staff served us breakfast in our room that morning, setting up a table in front of the fireplace. Over eggs and bacon, croissant rolls, and steaming coffee, we had a precious time of sharing our dreams. Mine was to be a published author. And I distinctly remember that morning as the first time I really believed it was possible for that dream to come true - all because my YaYa's believed in me even more than I believed in myself.

I also thought of all the times Ken has encouraged me to follow this dream. It's been almost 20 years since I started seriously pursuing this author gig, though I've always loved to write. I've lost track of the multitude of rejections I've received through the years, and you don't even want to know how much money I've spent going to writers' conferences and buying books on getting published. But he was always supportive. And then there were the hours upon hours of story brainstorming he'd do with me. We've had a blast working together on plot ideas through the years. He has been the most amazing cheerleader, through all the ups and downs of this journey, and I would never have made it without him. Which is why I dedicated my first book to him. He had never seen my dedication until the books were delivered this morning. It reads "To Ken - Have I told you today how much I love you?" (one of those mushy things we say to each other all the time.) I loved showing that special page to him!

There's a whole boatload of marketing and promotions in the weeks and months ahead - all of them way out of my comfort zone, I assure you! But for now I'm going to bask in the joy of the moment, drool a little over the gorgeous book cover designed by our daughter Hannah . . . and spend some time on my knees, thanking God for making dreams come true.

Friends who know me, know I've been collecting flying pigs for several years. Yesterday, my incredibly sweet friend Sue Manginelli gave me the cutest little glass-blown pig with wings to help celebrate my upcoming book release. (He's the tiny little guy sitting on the book on the right.) I was blown away, because she knows I always figured I'd get published . . . "when pigs fly!" Well, my friends, today the pigs are a-flyin'!!!