A Real Life Hero

As everyone knows, Aunty is an auto racing aficianado. Open wheel, street stock, super-modified, I've been to all of them, including both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500.

Well, as of yesterday, Aunty has a new FAVORITE Nascar driver, and his name is Carl Edwards. I happened to be watching the TV when Carl won the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway yesterday afternoon, and no, it was not his signature back-flip off the side of his race car that impressed me.

When the announcer stuck the microphone in his face and asked him about winning the race, Carl said he had spent part of the previous day visiting children in a local hospital. A little boy with cancer gave him his "courage necklace" and told Carl it would bring him good luck. Then, he pulled the necklace out and stuck it up to the camera where everyone could plainly read the beads, and said, "Thank you, Dalton."

That gesture touched my heart and made me a die-hard Carl Edwards fan!

Not many sports figures or celebrities will take their moment in the limelight to make an ill child feel special. But a class-act, real life hero like Carl Edwards did!

The Wild Sight FINALLY Sighted!

Yesterday, after 2 1/2 endless, frustrating weeks, I FINALLY SAW THE WILD SIGHT on a bookstore shelf!

This time I got smart and called ahead instead of walking in and being disappointed. So there it was in the "New Romance" section of Barnes & Noble, TEN BEAUTIFUL COPIES, FACE OUT on the middle (thank goodness for an "M" name!) shelf!

My BFF Shirl was with me and after we squee-ed a few times and she took my piccie, I hurried over to the customer service desk and asked if I could sign "my stock." Just saying those words was a thrill and the B&N clerk was equally excited for me when she told me, "Sure!"

I rushed back and signed all ten copies while Shirl stuck "Author Autographed" stickers on every cover. What a WONDERFUL FEELING! This long journey into print that started over a year ago has finally achieved its Happily Ever After!

The Real Becomes Surreal

Two days ago, I met my friend Terri S. for lunch. As usual, I was running five minutes behind schedule and she was already seated when I arrived at the restaurant. I hurried over to the table and saw that she had two copies of The Wild Sight lying there next to her elbow on top of her plastic Barnes & Noble bag.

That's when it hit me: That was MY book! It really is out there in bookstores. Complete strangers are reading it. I REALLY AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

After all these years of trying and hoping and dreaming, it was a very surreal moment.

So as promised, here are a few piccies of the big in-person pizza and cake launch party that happened one week ago. Wish you could have all been there!

AC and long time friend and former officemate Donee Sue.



And another long time friend and officemate Linda E. who designed the flyer/invitation for the party.


Signing my very first copy of The Wild Sight for friend and chaptermate Maureen R.


Cutting a piece of the cake for my very good friend Debbie J.

This party will always have a special place in my heart, but I'm looking forward to having more launches in the future!

Gimme 5... Things About My Book Launch Party

Yesterday was my in-person launch party held at a local pizza parlor. Having thrown too many parties in the past that nobody attended, I was worried this might happen again.

It didn't! But maybe the idea of free pizza and cake was the deciding factor? Well, at least for the hubbies and male signif. others in attendance. So here are five things I really enjoyed about my launch party:

1. The BEAUTIFUL cake with a picture of my cover frosted onto the top, and it tasted great too. BIG MWAH to my CP Cathy D. for getting it for me!
2. Feeling the LURVE! I got to celebrate with so many friends and former co-workers, some I'd known for over twenty years. Many I had not seen in years.
3. The fact that TWO MEN actually showed up of their own volition (not there because of a spouse of girl friend), my hairdresser, and a former co-worker and long time friend, James.
4. Having two complete strangers (Okay, they were friends of a friend but we'd never met) ask me to autograph a copy of my book.
5. Finally, after all those years of writing and being rejected, and after almost 13 months of waiting after The Call, feeling like a real live PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

P.S. More pictures to follow!