An Honest to God Day In My Life as an Author

This is the truth about being an author. It’s not always smiles and unicorns. My face may look like it is, but behind that smile is much more. It’s challenging and frustrating some days. Here’s a day in my life as an author.

 

Last week when I returned home from the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop, I just wasn’t able to write. Then I remembered something Cindy Ratzlaff told us in a workshop. “Write in the morning before any interruptions, while your mind is fresh and open.” I wrote long hand in a red notebook, perched on my sofa in the early morning hours. Even the dogs were still asleep. Three stories were finished before my coffee cooled. My writing mojo had returned! This was one of those sunshine and unicorn things.

Yesterday started out as a not so good day. I was overwhelmed trying to figure out how to get Angel Bumps marketed across the country….inexpensively. As just one person, how was I going to accomplish this?

My head swirled with thoughts until I felt dizzy. I started to confuse my options. When I get overwhelmed, tears are never far behind. And so it was yesterday, three times.

Mother’s Day is coming soon and it’s one of the hardest holidays if your mom is gone. I wanted people to get the message of the book that loved ones are still with us and never far away. One reviewer said, “Hold onto your heart. You’re going on an emotional, loving journey. You will never feel alone again.” I wanted to get that message out.

Driving to our family business I chatted with God, as I often do. I usually just tell Him I’m so grateful for all my blessings. I ask if He needs me to help Him with anyone, just send them my way. But then I added a request. “God, I really need help with getting Angel Bumps out in the world. Please help me with this. Since I quit my full-time job to focus to writing, money has been tight and it’s stressful. I need Your help.” I felt tears sting, but I pushed them away. (okay so I really mopped my face)

Within an hour, Jeanie Brosius King called asking if I’d do her radio show B-Now Beautiful Network of Women. The show promotes and inspires women across the country. I said, “Wow, God works fast.”

Within the next hour, I researched two large book distribution companies and spoke to one to discuss some options.

Before lunch, a spiritual store that sells Angel Bumps, suggested I contact one of their distributors who specializes in spiritual items and books. They buy quite a bit for their store from this company. I hadn’t evened ask, they just offered the information.

And then the customers arrived at our pressure washer sales and service business and they kept coming and coming.

I’d planned to attend a mixer with a friend last night and thought about cancelling. I was exhausted. But Kae is a dear friend and we always have fun, so I changed my mind and off we went.

On the drive Kae told me about her vacation in South Dakota with her mom and all of her siblings. Her mom is one of my favorite people. I asked, “How was your mom with everyone together at your old house?” Kae smiled and said, “She was quiet. I think she wished my dad was there with us.” And here came my tears again. Damn sentimental gene!

The mixer was jam packed. It’s easy to get connected and have a long conversation with people, but I was determined to spread my wings and network. The first two women I met were friends of Kae’s. A gentleman wearing a website shirt passed me. I grabbed his arm and said, “I need to chat with you about our family business.” We discussed optimizing search engines for a few minutes and then he asked what I did. I showed him Angel Bumps and explained the meaning. He said, “Have I got a story for you!”

He told me a story that I hope to put in the next Angel Bumps series about veterans. He had goosebumps telling the story and I had tears. He passed me napkins from the food table to mop my face. I plan to contact the woman who owns that story.

Next I said hello to a woman who sells insurance. When she saw Angel bumps, she had a story about her daughter who sees relatives who have passed. She has conversations with them all the time. She’s going to have her daughter call me.

I headed back to Kae and her friends and God had me in His pocket.

One woman produces podcasts. She has clients who are always looking for someone to promote. I’m going to have her record my first official podcast.

Her other friend, has several talents. She runs a Mastermind like course that meets weekly, owns a workout center, and is involved in other ventures. Kae and I decided we’d attend the 3:00 Friday meetings to get us focused, not overwhelmed. That thought almost made me cry.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted from the tears and exhilarated from all of the opportunities presented that day.

Maybe I need to ask for help more often. I asked God if he’d fill out a Marketing Director application for Angel Bumps.

I think He smiled.

I cried with gratitude.