Today, you are that day

AND THEN THERE WAS US

Imagine writing a book at eight years old and knowing exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life.

I always tell people that I’m fortunate because I knew I wanted to be an author since I was in third grade. More special than that, I pursued it. I pursued being an author with the same vigor of a medical student. Through doubters telling me I’d never make any money, through doubting whether I would ever get published, through rejection after rejection after freaking rejection, here I am.

Today, my novel AND THEN THERE WAS US is finally in the world. It’s another achievement on the path of that eight year old boy who dared to dream out loud.

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I talk a lot about what it means to be “superstar” and understand your place in culture as a writer. I’ve grown to believe that half of being a working writer is to never stop writing.

There were so many times I could’ve quit. When over a hundred queries got turned down, when my first agent dumped me, when another agent told me my writing wasn’t good enough, when my mother told me maybe I should think of another career just to be safe, on and on and on.

But I didn’t quit, and now I’m here.

My book is here, my fourth in total and my second published by one of my dream publishers. All I did was stay in the game and keep learning so I can become the best author I can be.

AND THEN THERE WAS US is in the world and I just know you will connect with this story deeply. You’ll probably cry, you’ll probably shake your head at how unbelievable this story feels at times, but you will feel it. All of it.

Here’s a short description:

After years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother, fourteen-year-old Coi moved in with her father, and together they created a peaceful life. But now, four years later, that peace is shattered when her mother dies.

While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who did nothing but hurt her, her mother’s passing does help reopen the door to that side of the family. It’s only through reconnecting with her estranged family members, especially her younger half-sister Kayla, that Coi’s long-held views about her mother are challenged.

And when Coi begins to see visions of her mother in her dreams, she is forced to ask herself what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and, most importantly, what it means to be family.

For those of you following me for years, thank you. You know what every book means to me. For those of you just joining the journey, welcome! You’ll know that these emotional posts pop up every now and then.

In the meantime, keep writing. Sharing stories is the greatest gift in the world and I’m so blessed to be able to do this for a living.