It never gets old! And I hope it never does!

I knew when I started writing seriously with the goal of publication, that I would get all tingly when I actually saw my name and my words in print. But I also wondered if those butterflies would ever stop fluttering.

You know how it is when you're first dating someone. Every kiss, every touch...every look sends those butterflies twittering like crazy. And the longer you're together...it's still awesome and amazing, but the newness has worn off. It's different...the level of connection is deeper and it's just...different. The butterflies just do a few little tumbles instead of flying around like they're on speed.

With my writing, I'm still in that dating phase where every little success is still fresh and exciting.

My newest release is called The Evil Eye and it's featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Matters Edition!



I received my contributor's copies a few days ago..it's not yet available for sale. I signed one and gave it to my dad...since the story in the book is about him. He seemed to really like it..laughed and said it was good but not true. I just looked at him.

"What do you mean it's not true?"

"I don't do that!"

"Oh yes you do! Ask anyone!!"

My dad totally has this "look" that he gives people...he tilts his head down and looks up at you over the top of his glasses. And he'd used it many times on the boys that I brought around as a teen!

Chicken Soup for the Soul books arrived!!

Things were not going too well for me the other day. But I came home to this and it changed everything!!



Even though I only have a tiny part of this book, it still felt amazing to find a box at my door from Simon and Shuster! A big time publisher had sent ME something!!

I had made mention of the story being published in CSFTS here and on Facebook, but for the most part I kept it kinda quiet. I wanted it to be a surprise for my mom, since the book was all about moms and the story I contributed was about her. I knew the book was due to release on March 23, 2010...I figured it could be a fab Mother's Day gift.

Yeah....like I really thought I could actually wait that long after actually having the book in my hands.

I am really excited to have my 10 contributors copies almost a month before release day, so when I went over to my parents' house the other day, I took one of the books with me. I signed it, of course, and wrote a little message to my mom. I gave her the book and told her to turn to page 175. She was quite excited!! She knew the story existed...I'd entered it in an essay contest before and it placed top 10. She has it printed out and in a frame. But she was even more excited now...couldn't wait to take it to work and show her friends!

So...I have all these copies and I need to give some away!!! Anyone want one????? I'm gonna give away three copies- all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You must be a follower! I'll give it till the end of next week, Friday the 12th, and then I'll draw 3 random names! Please feel free to share the giveaway on twitter, your blog, Facebook...wherever!!!

Just got the news!!!!!

My story made it into Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom Edition!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!

Little backstory...the piece that made it in is something I wrote a couple years ago. I don't write many essays or memoir type stuff. I haven't lived an exciting life...so there aren't many topics to write a memoir about! But I guess my mom situation was a bit on the unusual side. I never really thought it was...it was my life...it was what I was used to. My mom basically took off when I was 3, my brother 1-1/2. We did see her in the summer though. But we were real lucky....our dad remarried pretty soon after the divorce and she has been beyond amazing. We have called her mom since the beginning (though she tells us she and our dad never prompted us to). She took care of us and never once in my entire life did I feel like a step child. Even after she and my dad had a baby...my half brother was treated no better (actually, he complains incessantly that I am the favored child!)

So anyway, the piece is about my step mom and how important she's been to me and how in my opinion, being a mother has nothing to do with biology.

I submitted this piece to CSFTS after finding the call for submissions listed somewhere on the internet. I sent it off and forgot about it. Till the email came. I've been back and forth with them over the past couple months...but until today....I was never told "Yes, You're in!"

I'm very excited about this!! I didn't tell my mom (step mom) about the piece. She has read it before but I never told her it was being considered for CSFTS. Publication date is set for the end of March and I think it would be a lovely Mother's Day gift!

I will get $200 and 10 copies of the book! Not bad!!!

And.....you know how every story in CSFTS has a quote from someone famous on the page??? Yeah....when they sent me the final edited version of the story for my approval...the quote on my page: OPRAH!

Kind of excited here!!!

Got an email today from the people at Chicken Soup for the Soul. I'd written a piece a long while back....about my mom and my step mom and how I never knew why my biological mom left. But now as an adult, I don't so much care. My step mom was wonderful and I couldn't have asked for better!

So I came across a submission call for a CSFTS "Thanks Mom" edition. I sent the piece....I figured- "What the heck?"

Well, lo and behold....in my inbox today was an email informing me that the piece made it to the final round...which only 5% of entries make!! AND it said the vast majority of those entries make it into the final book! SWEET!!!!! If it makes it I get $200 and 10 copies of the book. All rights revert to me too!

My career keeps moving step by step in the right direction....some days I just cannot believe this is happening for me!!!!