T-minus 5 Days and Counting

I've learned the hard way that destiny usually look upon our most strident convictions with amusement, or perhaps even pity ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Well, it is t-minus 5 days and counting until A Place to Call Their Own is published and available for sale.  I am anxiously awaiting my galley copy for one last review before it is put into production.

I look back on the years I didn't complete my manuscript. Reading the quote makes me laugh because I felt so guilty about not getting the manuscript done.  And now, in providence's time, release day is almost here.

Looking back on some of your accomplishments, what do you laugh at because you didn't accomplish something on our time?

Love

Love--no matter how it's offered or when it comes--can build a bridge to something better ~ Oprah Winfrey

I hope you're enjoying the weekend!

How are you using love to build a bridge to something better today?

Sharing Together, Succeeding Together

You cannot do it alone. Sharing together means succeeding together. Don't let stubbornness stop you from reaching out to others for help ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

I love Tuesdays!  No matter what anyone says, Tuesday mornings are easier than Monday mornings; Tuesdays are easier at work. And I love meeting with my critique group on Tuesdays.

Since joining the writing group, I've grown in my writing immensely.  It's wonderful to have 5 or 6 sets of eyes looking at work, helping me to hone it as I put the finishing touches on my second manuscript, Disappear With Me.

I've been a part of the writing community online for awhile, but that has nothing on meeting and collaborating with people in person. 

Where do you find community on your dream journey?

Real Success

You have reached the highest achievement if you have lived well, laughed often, and loved much. Real success is about fully enjoying every moment ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

What a roller coaster ride!  Really I've been on it since this time last year.  After four years of writing, I finished A Place to Call Their Own.  After a editing, I started submitting it to publishers and agents.  In February I was offered and signed a contract with Musa Publishing.

I just finished a weekend of edits in preparation for a July 5th release date and another polishing round last night.  Although the "down to wire" can be exhilarating and I wrote on Sunday that most of the time I can work under pressure, it can be a bit stressful as well!  I prefer to leave myself a little bit more room for deadlines.

But I wouldn't change anything for the world.  In less than two weeks, my first novel will be published.  Along the way I've lived, laughed, and loved. 

How do you define real success?

Identify Your Strengths

Teach you children to identify their own strengths. Challenge them to contribute these strengths to others ~ Marcus Buckingham

My strengths have been stretched the last couple of days.  I just completed a last minute round of editing for the release of my novel, A Place to Call Their Own. A strength of mine, most of the time, is being able to perform under pressure.  I usually try to avoid it.

I spent most of my weekend editing, how far did you get on your dream journey?

Rules

Whatever your father rules may be, treasure them. Don't try to act as though they don't exist. You won't succeed--the psychology of fatherhood is too deeply rooted--and you'll be tossing out something you can use to illuminate, motivate, and inspire your right life ~ Martha Beck

When you create routines how do you do it?  I have to confess, even though I did it unconsciously, I follow some of the same rules my father did. My father is a very methodical perfectionist when it comes to performing most tasks. 

When it came time for me to create routines, I have to confess, a bit bewildered, I found my routines in much the same way.  For me, it was one of the moments when I felt like I was turning into one of my parents. 

What influence, conscious or unconscious, from your parents do you carry into your personal or professional life?

Let Love Direct Us

You do not need to hide your fears or pretend you are stronger than you are. Sharing tenderness and caring, we can let love direct us ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

So what are you afraid of?  Now that we've got that out of the way, let's move on. 

It's okay to be a little scared when you embark on your dream journey.  I've had so many peaks and valleys and as I come down to the wire for publication, the anticipation is killng me...I can't wait.

I do consider myself lucky.  I have a supportive partner and extended family, some great online friends (writers and otherwise) and a local group of writers cheering me on.  Their love and support will carry me through to publication day and beyond. 

What can you do differently in your journey to let love direct you?

Happy Father's Day!

Strength comes from our ability to stand up, face resistance, and walk through it. As you walk into what you fear, know that you already have the enduring power you're asking for--then say, "Thank you," because you understand your deepest struggle will produce your greatest strength ~ Oprah Winfrey

Happy Father's Day to my readers!

Where Do I Start?

You grow the most in the area where you already show some natural advantage, some natural area of talent or strength or passion. That's where you start ~ Marcus Buckingham

Where do you start when you undertake a big dream journey?  You start at a natural area strength or passion or talent, just like the quote says.  It's that simple.

I started writing by just sitting down and thinking about my characters and getting the story going.  Now the beginning section of A Place to Call Their Own has undergone some adjustments, but the intent of the story has always been the same.  My strength and passion was that I wanted to write a novel, I developed the talent along the way.

Where do you start when you dig into a new project?

Thoughts, Words, Actions

Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature ~ Thich Nhat Hank

I think that anyone following a dream goal is worthy of respect.  Today's quote speaks to that even further.  I think it's just as important to build your dream with dignity and ethics as well.

For every step you achieve in your dream journey, there are hundreds (or thousands) behind you looking up to you.  When we share our accomplishments on social media, we have all these followers looking up to us for guidance and example.

What example does your dream journey hold for others?

Wisdom and Advice

Even after children are grown and ready to leave home, they will still look to their fathers for wisdom and advice. Fathers continue to play an essential part in the lives of their children as they grow, and perhaps, marry and build their own families ~ The national Fatherhood Initiative

With Father's Day later this month, today's quote is focused on fathers, but I think the same thing can be said of mothers.  When you're working on a dream journey, this parental advice can take many shapes and forms.  Remember, parental advice doesn't always come from someone older than yourself.

Who are your mentors, male or female?  Mother's Day is a great time to reach out to your female mentors and Father's Day is a great time to reach out and thank male mentors. 

Which male mentors do you have to thank this year?

Become a Person of Value

Being successful is easy. Being respected and appreciated is special. Rather than becoming a person of success, become a person of value ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

Do you truly understand the value of what your dream journey brings?  It's my opinion that the best dream journeys bring value not only to yourself, but to others as well.

When I was in direct sales, that value was bringing valuable products and services to the masses.  For some, that was also offering a career that could provide a few extra dollars a month or replace income from a traditional job.

Now that I'm a writer, I have similar goals.  Although I enjoy writing and just write some of the stories I'd like to read, the bigger goal is educate, entertain, and inspire.  I hope that my work inspires others to reach their goals.  I hope my work educates on the realities of LGBT issues.  I've written before that it's hard in the current political climate for any writing to not have some undercurrent of equal rights.

How does your dream journey benefit others, directly or indirectly?

Respect and Peace

When we respect everyone around us, we are in peace with everybody around us ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Are you meeting some new people along your dream journey? I've met many new people, both online and in person.  And respect is deserved by all.

No matter what your dream journey, there will be people along the way that you meet that might rub you the wrong way at first.  But if you stick in there and look for the good in all people, I'm sure you'll understand and respect them more.

Who have you met lately that took some time to understand? 

Cover Art Reveal

Pinch me!  Am I dreaming?

Here is the cover art for A Place to Call Their Own.  Earlier this week, I submitted the manuscript one last time for line editing.  Things are well on their way for a July 5th release.

I have a signed contract, I have weekly contact with my editor, I have daily contact with other authors at Musa Publishing.  And sometimes I still can't believe I am just 30 days away from being a published author.

Thank you for sharing this moment with me today.  If you're already published, you know how I feel.  If you're not a writer, but pursuing some other dream journey, I am sure there are stepping stone achievements you can remember. 

Don't you think they did a great job on my cover??

Your Greatest Strength

When I walk into a boardroom or stand before an audience or just move through the world, I bring all my history with me--all the the people who paved the way for me are part of who I am. I take my greatest strength from their strength ~ Oprah Winfrey

Where do you get your greatest strength? Maybe it's from your dream journey community. That's where I get a lot of my strength. I love following fellow writers on Facebook and Twitter and seeing them reach their daily goals.

I'm also finding strength from my writing group. I belong to a group of six other beginning writers who critique each others work on a weekly basis.  Each of my partners has a different strength in their writing and suggestions.  As I rewrite Disappear with Me in preparation for submission, I hear their individual suggestions in my head.  All their suggestions strengthening my writing.

Who do you gather strength from on your dream journey?

Life

Life does not come with instructions on how to live, but it does come with trees, sunsets, smiles, and laughter, so enjoy your day ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

I hope you're enjoying the weekend. If you're caught up on your dream journey, maybe you can relax today.  I worked double hard yesterday so I could do just that today.

But if not, maybe you can work it in. Some of my best weekends have been those that I was not only productive in my writing but also had plenty of time to relax and have fun.

What are you doing this weekend?

Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is ultimately achieved only when the characters opt out of active emotional involvement in life and accept the fate they have been given ~ James Higgins