It has been quite a while since I’ve written on this blog, and honestly, I can’t say exactly what I’ve been doing, but as many of you know, life just happens sometimes.
With that said, a very exciting event happened recently, and once again, I am so thankful for this amazing journey and what it has brought to my life. My publisher, Schiffer Kids, asked me to attend the American Library Association Conference in Washington D.C. and my family, always there to support me, put off our vacation for a half day to visit our nation’s capital and allow me this exceptional experience.
Walking into the conference center and seeing fellow authors (Yes, I am included in that group- check out my name tag!) was a dream come true. I met so many wonderful people and even signed books at the event which was incredible. As I was signing, I spoke to librarians and book buyers about SOAR and The Nightmare Bug and enjoyed learning about their libraries and towns. It was so remarkable to be surrounded by people who value books and the impact they can have on a person’s life.
The Schiffer Kids’ booth was adorable and standing with the team as we interacted with attendees was amazing. It reminded me, once again, this journey is definitely not a one-man show. I have many people supporting me to help make this a success which is so comforting and exciting. Seeing my books on the Schiffer Kids rack, along with the many other books they publish, was thrilling.
As I continue on this journey and publish more books (fingers crossed), I am hopeful that one day, my published books will be enough to cover an entire shelf or two at an event like this. This dream come true has been full of ups and downs along the way, but I wouldn’t change any of it, and appreciate it all the more. With renewed determination and inspiration, I am going to finish up some of the manuscripts I have in the works and try my best to get them on a shelf next to these two gems. I can’t wait to experience more of these author events and enjoy seeing the final version of my musings in hardcover. For now, I will bask in the glow of the event a little longer and enjoy the ride.