JUMPING FOR JOY!!!

SKY OF BLISS….

This story started as a picture book. When the words hit the paper, I couldn’t stop. I realized this was much too long for a picture book, but I didn’t know the first thing about writing a chapter book. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and just write from the heart.

In the summer of 2021, I started and finished Sky Of Bliss. I was staying at my in-laws shore house for the majority of summer. After I put the kids to bed, I sat out by the bay, overlooking the beautiful pale orange sky. The sky for me has always been an inspiration. Looking out at the sun setting, I wrote and wrote and wrote. Within 2 months, I had a finished book. At that time, I was working with 2 different publishers. I decided to submit it to one of the publishers. Within 5 days I received the most humbling news.

The email felt life-changing. My publisher extended a contract to sign on Sky Of Bliss. I remember this moment like it was yesterday. I called the kids downstairs and out of bed. Tears were streaming down my face as I embraced my children and told them the amazing news. I was always so excited and honored to have a book picked up, but this time felt different. I never imagined I would even be able to start and finish a chapter book. To now have it instantly picked up for publication felt like a dream coming true. The story has so much significance because the characters and alot of the inspiration came from my family and my life. Now it was time to work with the editor and boy did this story have a ways to go…..

Looking over edits for the first time ever… felt a little overwhelming to say the least. This story was originally written in third person. My editor suggested to switch up some things or change who the story comes from. I instantly knew this story would be expressed so much better being told by the main character, Layla. It was now time to rewrite the entire story being told in first person. It took a lot of work and dedication but wow what a difference! In those moments of perfecting the story, I finally felt like a true author. I know that sounds silly, considering I already had 3 books published, but this was different. This was a story that I didn’t even think was possible to complete, and it was now sounding better than I could have ever imagined. After 3 months of re-writing and editing, I sent it over to my editor. Within that same week, I received some pretty awful news…

She closed the doors? What? How? Why? It was as if she vanished off the face of the Earth.

My publisher sent out an email to all of us authors. She explained that she would no longer be in operation and we all have rights back to our books. I had just published a book with this publisher 3 months earlier. I also had 3 more books signed on with them. I just completed my edits for Sky Of Bliss! This was gut wrenching. All of the dreams I felt were coming true now felt more like a nightmare. We never truly got an explanation for any of it, so it left me so uneasy about the publishing world. How could someone sign on so many books from so many different authors and then decide to shut them all down with no response to any of us. I was confused, hurt, and discouraged. After a month of feeling down…. I realized something.

Sky Of Bliss needs to be published. I couldn’t let this story go. It has such a valuable lesson about finding happiness even in the darkest of times. The lesson was one I needed to be reminded of. Just because this situation happened to me, doesn’t mean it should stop my passion and my love for this story. As worried as I was that I could be let down again, I decided to give it another go. I sent the story to my other publisher and anxiously waited for a response.

The story is back on! My other publisher loved the story and offered me a contract. I took a difficult situation and gave it hope. That hope turned into another excited moment and grateful heart. I then worked with another editor and got right to work. After completing these edits, more news was headed my way….

My publisher announced some big news. They had decided to sell the publishing company. That gut wrenching feeling came back full force. This couldn’t be happening again. But I reminded myself, have hope. I always try to live my life looking at the silver linings. I am so happy that I didn’t get discouraged this time around. As much as I loved my publisher, this was exciting and great news. The family who took over the publishing company has been phenomenal. They want to see us all succeed and are working endlessly to make that happen. They have been amazing with communication and perfecting the company to be the best it can be. In this time, I received the cover to my book as well as continued updates on the release….

This past Saturday I had my first ever book signing for 2 of my picture books. What an amazing day to be able to experience signing my books with my children by my side. It was a day that I will always remember and appreciate. During that time, my publisher held a meeting with all of the authors. I wanted to badly to attend, but it happened to be at the same time as my signing. During that meeting, we would be finding out the release date for our books. As soon as I packed up my books and made my way into my car, I quickly pulled up the meeting. As I waited for the page to load… my heart was beating intensely… I would finally see a date and know that Sky Of Bliss would finally make it onto a bookshelf and in the hands of so many people!!!!

SKY OF BLISS WILL BE RELEASING ON OCTOBER 26, 2022!!! All of my hard work, dedication, and persistence has finally paid off! We have a release date! I am so beyond excited to share this story with all of you! Stay on the lookout because I will be sharing all of the behind the scenes, the things that inspired me, and much more!!!

Never stop going after your dreams!! 😁🙏