Bucket List

This year has been pretty incredible so far, and yesterday it got even more incredible.

I'm reflecting on the nature of the Internet (which I love more than pretty much anything), connections, coincidental meetings, karma, and a whole bunch of other philosophical whatnot. The Universe does what it does for reasons that largely escape us, and sometimes those things are very, very good.

Yesterday, I signed a publication contract for Make or Break! Yep, Seth and Abby are going to emerge into the world sometime this summer under the banner of Etopia Press, in both e-book and print formats. As if that weren't wonderful enough, my editor will be the brilliant and talented Annetta Ribken! The entire situation is so full of awesome that I need to get a bigger Awesome Bucket.

I'd been prepared to self-publish Make or Break, but I wasn't happy about it. Yes, I know that by signing with a publisher, I give up some control over the project and a portion of the income. But it's worth it to me. As a novice novelist (ha), I appreciate any and all support from those with far more experience in this business. I'll still have tons to do, editing, revising, promoting, marketing... but I'll have some guidance.

And - let's be totally honest here - it's nice to have the validation of a professional publisher evaluating Make or Break and deeming it "good enough" to invest the time and money (not to mention their reputation) to actually publish. I know it's good. It's going to be even better before it comes out in print. But if I'd self-published, I'd never know if it was truly "good enough." Yeah, that's my personal insecurity, but most writers are full of it. Insecurity, that is! We're an odd mix of ego and "I-suck-ism." It's a miracle we aren't all in traction due to whiplash from the mood swings.

Now I have to get a tattoo. Another tattoo. I invented a tattoo for Abby in the book, and I promised myself that I'd get the same one when the book sold. Like I need an excuse to get a tattoo.

It's been a monumental year. And it's only going to get better. My "bucket list" is getting shorter and shorter.

I'll be launching my new and greatly improved author page (maybe today). And after careful consideration, I'll be dedicating Make or Break to my late friend and mentor, Virginia Lanier. I'll never write as well as she did, but I'm always going to try.