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Have you ever had one of those moments when everything comes together in just the right way? It’s in those rare moments of life you find yourself doing the right thing, at the right place, and at the right time. Such moments don’t come along often, but when they do it’s such a high.

September 5th was the release date of my first novel “The Harvest Club”. The days that proceeded its release were filled with bouts of self-doubt and nervousness. I doubted my sanity for having tried something as crazy as writing a book, for taking such a stupid risk, and opening myself up to criticism from others.  Of course I loved writing the book and even dared to dream about it doing well, but the thought of people reading it took sleep away from me to the remote places of the earth.

The release date came. Seeing “The Harvest Club” on Amazon was almost an out of body experience for me. Wow! My little book in among those great authors that I have read over the years. Then an amazing thing happened, people began to buy the book and comment on it. I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. With that moment of brief pain came the realization I was fully awake and all of it was real.  My first reviews found their way up on various sites and I was stunned and still am. Not just nice reviews but some really great ones with things said by people that I had only dreamed could be seen in my simple work of fiction; words that have both humbled me and encouraged me to keep writing.

You see I still have a need to let all these lovely characters that fill my thoughts come alive on paper. I’m happy that some readers like “The Harvest Club”, but what’s even more important I find is that I like it. I’m doing what I should be doing right now in my life. This is one of those rare moments. I think I’ll go with it.

The countdown is done, September 5th has arrived bringing with it the fulfillment of a dream. I don’t have to wait another minute. ‘The Harvest Club’ is done, and released. The first review has been written, the first books have been purchased, and life in this moment is sweet. What do I do next with all these emotions filling my mind and heart? Why, I must write, of course and continue to feed the passion that came when I started writing ‘The Harvest Club’ story so many months ago.

I have new ideas and stories ready to be put to paper. The writing must continue. It’s the stories that push me onward and the people who want them told. My friends, those lovely characters are alive chattering away in my mind. They have things to say about subjects that are important to them. Who knew when I gravitated to fiction over non-fiction that important things could be said in the wrappings of make believe. Stephen King said. “Fiction is a lie. The good fiction is the truth inside the lie.” Tonight I celebrate and tomorrow I will write.

The countdown to the release of The Harvest Club has begun. Today is 12 days away.  Here is an a small taste of the story.

Startled by a loud bang in the hall, Jessie jumped up to look. The woman’s frizzy, red curly hair was pulled on top of her head in a haphazard updo, which was threatening with every movement to spring loose of its confinement. Her clothes were wrinkled, her eyes still puffy from sleep, but it was her gravelly voice that brought a smile to Jessie’s face.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I dropped my bucket of cleaning supplies. I’m having a blonde moment. I can’t for the life of me remember where I put my keys.” The lady tapped her forehead.

“Can I help you?” Jessie struggled to hide her amusement as she sat back down.

“Not unless you know where I left my keys.”

“You can borrow mine if you need to.” Jessie nudged them toward her.

“I’m Melinda, the custodian, and I have to empty the trash can in Pastor’s office. Is he there?”

“No, it’s his day off.”

“Right, I forgot. I think I’ll sit for a minute. Maybe I’ll remember where I put the darn things.” She peered at Jessie, her faded hazel eyes bright with curiosity. “You’re our new secretary, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m Jessie.”

“I’m a little rattled at the moment. I saw her again.” She drummed her fingers on the chair, while her foot bounced back and forth under the chair.

“Who’d you see?”

“I forgot you’re new, and you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. You must think I’m nuts. Sometimes this place really freaks me.” She scratched her head.  “It was Pastor Gina that I saw, walking in the hall. She was murdered, you know.” Melinda’s eyebrows arched. “Several people in the church have seen her, although most of them don’t want to talk about it. Reba Thomas is keeping track of all the sightings. So tell her if you see Gina.

Jessie crashed through the trees in a panic. A low-lying tree limb smacked her cheek with a sting. Her heart beat so fast it felt, as though it would explode in her chest. Its pounding increased at the sound of the car closing in fast. Fear sucked the air from her lungs and her breath came in short gasps; she scanned the woods for a place to hide. Any place, please. Panting, she ran on. Suddenly, she found herself out of the trees in a wide-open clearing. The car stopped behind her. No place to hide! Her sides ached. Her lungs were on fire. She was cornered, defeated, and stood frozen to the spot; paralyzed, like a deer caught in the headlights on a dark night.

“Get the damn kid!” She heard someone yell. Big hands yanked her to the ground from behind and a large foot kicked into her side. She rolled just in time to miss the next blow. On all fours she tried to crawl away only to be pulled back by her legs. She kicked and clawed at her captor’s arms hearing his curses until she was too weary to fight anymore. Instinctively she raised her hands to shield her face from his fists. The pain was beyond anything she had ever felt. One blow after another landed until she no longer could feel anything at all. A glorious numbness washed over her and it was if she was floating above it all looking down on her body on the ground…Jessie struggled to awaken, but fear gripped her and suspended her somewhere in between.

With exactly one month to go before the release of The Harvest Club, I’m busy working on the revisions of another book. To be honest I never thought I would write a novel, much less a murder mystery, ghost story. The whole process has been a lot of work, but fun. Every new first that I’ve experienced has been great. Who knew that a copyright page with my book title on it, could make my heart flutter. Or that seeing the book cover with my name on it for the first time, would nearly take my breath away.

I’m a realist. There are thousands of new books hitting the shelf everyday world-wide, and mine will be another one among the thousands. That knowledge keeps me grounded. But it is my book, and with that I soar. It is a dream being realized, a new chapter in a lifetime of firsts, and a feeling of satisfaction. As long as I am alive, there is always something new to be imagined.

So I’m counting down the days, working on revisions, and another story is being developed as I write this. In case I haven’t said it lately I love this writing gig.

The crack of thunder startled Jessie. The scream stuck in her throat, and then she saw him, his sinister face, lusting eyes, and sheer size. She screamed, dropped her keys, and ran realizing too late she was running towards the graveyard and the wooded area just beyond. Too late to run to Matt now. She gasped for breath, heart pounding in her ears.

Making it through the graveyard to the trees, Jessie ran along them, hoping she was headed back towards the church and lighted parking lot. He was closing in fast. Tripping over a tree root she pitched forward into the darkness sliding sideways down a deep embankment grabby at the muddy grass. She chocked off a cry as she fell several feet to a ledge below, hitting her head on something hard.

She lay winded on her back, struggling for breath, looking up in the mesmerizing light show as a fork of lightening unfolded across the sky. On any other night it would have fascinated her, but now it was like a scene from a creepy movie. As she breathed in and out her racing heart started to slow down.

“Jessie, sweet Jessie…” The man’s mocking voice floated down to her. “I’ll be back to play another day.”

My release date is less than two months away. I am both excited and very nervous at the same time. So much has happened since the day I made the decision to write a book. It sounded like such a simple thing to do at the time. I wasn’t really thinking about having it published. I just wanted to write it. But things have a way of changing and new decisions are made.

A fascinating thing happened as I began to write. I found characters coming to life in my head and clamoring to have their story told. They showed up at the strangest times and in places I least expected them. Their story  kept building with twists and turns that surprised even me. My imagination came alive and I found I was hooked from the beginning to the end. I loved the crazy conversations that would wake me up at night or the feelings that came over me when I would see something through their eyes. And then it was finished. I felt slightly lost almost in mourning wondering what to do with myself next.

Thankfully they were not done yet. They had more to say. New stories have taken root, weaving their way through my mind taking me on other adventures, with the hint of more to come.

September 5, is the first time anyone other than my editors will read my debut book. It is  strange to think about. The what ifs have come front and center in my mind. All I can say is, it is what is, one of the grand adventures in my life.

The countdown for my book release has begun. Now I’m thinking of all the things that I must do to get ready for it; promotion, book signings, and a launch party. It’s both exciting and quite nerve racking.

I read this statement which made me smile. “Never be afraid to do something new. Remember an amateur built the ark; professionals built the titanic.” (author unknown) There are many great writers out there, professionals at their craft. I’m an amateur, but it didn’t stop me from trying.  I’m an avid reader who has found joy in reading over the years. It seemed like the natural thing to write and try to bring someone else a little of the joy that I found in books. I can only hope that I’ve succeeded at it, but only time will tell.

I admit that I’m nervous about pleasing readers, but it hasn’t stopped me from the process. Book two is now being considered by the publisher, and book three has just been completed. Book four is on it’s way, and I will keep working to improve my craft. The ark really did better than the titanic on its maiden voyage.

I’m determined to keep doing what I love. And I love telling stories with interesting characters who have become like friends to me. I like waking up to their chatter in my mind. I enjoy coming up against walls only to have them tell me how to get through it. I love the beginning of the story and I love seeing the end unfold. I think I just love writing.

Today I got the release date for my novel The Harvest Club being published by The Wild Rose Press. I have to admit, I’m both excited and nervous at the same time. I’m sure this is something every writer feels from time to time. It’s what keeps us working to improve our craft. Ernest Hemingway said: “We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”

Everything is exciting right now for me. Who knew that a title page could set my heart to fluttering or a copyright page could make me downright giddy. I’m enjoying every one of these firsts to the fullest. The cover created for the book is the best, the result of someone else’s talent. I find myself walking around with a smile that appears randomly and without warning.

I guess it is that sense of accomplishment that  makes the joy palpable; a dream pursued and soon to be fulfilled. It might also be because I discovered writing at a very hard time in my life. It was a therapy of sorts for me and I found myself a little more in every page that I wrote. So for now I’m flying high, and enjoying it all.  Like Matthes said: The best days are neither ahead of us or behind us…they’re happening right now cradled in the palm of our hands.” Put September 5, 2014 down as the day this gal gets to see a dream come true.

Have you ever noticed: that when some folks get older they never lose their beauty, it just goes from their face to their heart; that laughter with friends is great, and the laughter of children is the sweetest of all; or that birds sing the loudest right before the sun comes up? I love the early morning, when there is stillness and yet the world is starting to awaken around me, humming to life. I can hear the whispers of my heart in the early morning hours. It speaks to me of hope and promise; a sense that in the chaos of life there is still peace to be found.

Here’s wishing you true beauty, great laughter, and songs to awaken you from sleep. May you find your sense of calm in the midst of chaos, breathe deeply, and be filled with hope. Welcome June!