Thankful and Inspired: A Dream Comes True with a Little Help

On Tuesday I arrived home from work to find a big box on my front porch. It was filled with copies of my book, "The Perfect Proposal", mailed from my publisher. What an incredible moment for any author, but this one had special significance for me.

The reason for that is my parents. Some people are lucky enough to have the kind of childhood that others only dream about. I am one of those lucky ones, I would go as far to say very blessed. I had a wonderful relationship with my parents through childhood into adulthood. All along the way, they encouraged me to keep writing and pursue my dream of one day being published.

This continued through years of rejection slips, heartbreak and frustration...all "back in the days" when correspondence was conducted through the snail mail. Oh, the waiting for the mail! Each day without the big yellow envelope (a returned manuscript) was another day closer to acceptance.

Years passed and they both went to their Final Reward without seeing me publish any of my books. But they read them all!

What's so special about "The Perfect Proposal"? Here's what: my publisher offered me a contract for that book on October 20, which was the day of their 55th wedding anniversary! Even though they are both gone, I always feel them near to me. It made my heart so heavy to know they were not here, though. I'd like to thank them in person for all they did and all they sacrificed. This happiness I'm feeling now is all thanks to them, their goodness and God's graces.

Once I have a photo to post of them, I will do so happily. I know it's great to post photos so I'll get to that. For now I do have the book cover.

Thank you for listening. Isn't it incredible how it feels when someone believes in you?

Very First Post - A Total Leap of Faith

I have been keeping this blog all to myself, safe, secure and sheltered, for months now, fooling myself into thinking I would really do it when everything was "just right".
Truth is, I am -or have been -petrified of getting started because I have not wanted to sound anything but perfect. You see, as a writer I have complete control over everything that happens in my books. No unforeseen developments. No typos. No embarrassing loose ends. Just a neat and perfect world of my own creation. But with this, with a blog? It is completely spontaneous and (cringe) unpredictable. Yikes, there's no way I'm going to put my name on something I haven't edited to the point of tears.
Until today! Thank you Lynn Terry and Andy Jenkins for your great web discussion this afternoon, all about getting into the real work of our lives - which is adjusting our mindsets. Why not just put my first posting out there? What good does it do to keep it in, or safe, anyway?
And what irony: I write inspirational romance novels, mainly (although I just had a Historical come out this month) which address the role of faith in our lives. Guess it's time for me to practice what I preach, right?
So here's my big leap of faith! I can't wait to talk with you about what it's like to follow your dreams and do what you really love to do, and share my writing life with you. Hope you will enjoy and I really really look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for coming along. :-)
Bye for now, Regina www.reginaandrews.com