I’m sitting in my comfy chair, the chair that I sit in every day while I spend time working on my passion – writing. I’m sitting in my comfy chair, drinking a mocha and I can’t stop the grin that covers my face.
Why?
Because, it’s in the quiet moments – when the only sound is the typing on my keyboard – that I realize my dream has come true. And it feels oh so good!
We all have dreams. For writers – its to hold our book in our hands, to know that we’re not alone in loving the story that we created. For mothers – it’s to see their children become independent adults yet still knowing they’ll always need their moms. For some it could be to own their own business, create their own miracles … we all have them.
For three years I have had a dream about finding others who would fall in love with Emma as much as I have. For three years I’ve cried over this story as I wrote, rewrote and rewrote some more. I’ve celebrated with friends as agents requested the full and then emptied kleenex boxes when the rejection emails filled my inbox. I’ve made chocolate cake every time I received a ‘revision’ letter – because it meant they didn’t hate it and were willing to love it … if I would make the changes they wanted.
And then I realized that as long as I loved this story that was all that matters. Realizing that – has changed my life. Changed how I view my writing and my stories. Realizing that believing in myself was the most important thing – that has changed my world.
For three long years I have held onto a dream and this past month it has come true. Not only have I made more money that I had dreamed (far exceeded my goals) but we’ve raised more money than I thought possible in 13 days!!
13 days! I can’t wait to tell you how much is being donated to The Missing Children’s Society of Canada. I can’t wait!!! I’m already amazed at the amount – and it’s only the middle of the month!!
So, as I sit here, in my comfy chair, drinking hot chocolate – there’s something I want to say.
Thank you.
Thank you to those who bought Finding Emma, downloaded, borrowed, believed in this story. Thank you for falling in love with a little girl and her grandpa, for being heartbroken with her mother. Thank you for all the emails you’ve sent me telling me how much you have loved Emma. I cry every. single. time I read those emails. And I answer them – always saying the same thing – thank you for falling in love with Emma. It means the world to me.
And it does.
For every person who has loved Emma – I would gladly share my chocolate with you. In a heartbeat. And that’s sayin’ something!
Okay, for REALZ you made me cry. 🙂
You deserve this girl.
Enjoy. Every. Second!
I am very happy for you, Steena! And good for you to know finding Emma was fantastic just the way it was, for believing in yourself. The charity you have teamed up with is such a great cause as well.
Thanks Kreseda 🙂 I keep doing the happy dance inside!
Congratulations once again. You must be so proud of all the money that is being raised for the Missing Children in Canada….and on top of that….you have written a great story.
Terri – I am so proud! I knew from the very beginning I wanted to support this charity – and while I know what I am doing is a drop in the bucket to their needs – all it takes is one drop added to another to fill that bucket!
Another great post. I love the stories where you share so much of your life with us. You are not only a terrific writer, you are also an awesome woman.
Thank you Bette 🙂
I have just finished reading Emma’s story….who does one love more? Emma, a little girl who lost her parents and sisters, but remember them after 2 long years with such love and vision? A mother who has lost her baby and people are telling her to “get over it…she’s gone for us…until she comes back…or doesn’t”? A ‘grandpa’ who has doted on the ‘daughter’ of his daughter who was lost in her early years? How can you love one without loving the others? I’d love to give Papa a big hug and kiss…and invite him into my home and heart. I would hope another story would be written about how ‘Emmie’ would be able to visit him as long as he were alive! And how her family would incorporate him into their lives.
Can you tell me how someone who loves to read and who has a ‘talent’ to find either typos or any kind of errors in a manuscript before it goes to press can be used to proofread someone’s work? I would love to do that!
Dixie, I think if you were to email the author and let them know – they would be open to it! I know I am 🙂 Finding Emma had 3 industry editors go through it before it was published and readers were kind enough to show me errors. I just had another editor go through and we fixed those error. I uploaded a newer version last week – Amazon should have sent out an email letting everyone know of an updated version.
If you ever find any in my books- always feel free to let me know!
Hurrah!!!
I am so happy for you, and I can’t wait to hear how much has been raised 🙂
Louise, you are a darlin! If I can do it – so can you! I know it!
i’m so happy for your success Steena. Lawna and i have discussed your goals, determination, and success mean for us.