Days 9 and 10–30 years of books!

So this had been fun but I’m going to catch up a bit. I won’t blog over the weekend, so I’ll be giving away books for days nine and ten today. And we’ll catch up on the other two on Monday.

So to recap:

So far here are my winners. You will receive a book and some of them have been mailed out!!

Mary Garner, Sue Holland, Roxanne Cruz, Barbara Wolford, Tina Hughes! You’ll all get a book!!

Some of you have been with me from the beginning, reading my books and helping me gain more readers. Writers thrive on good readers. It’s not about the money, although being able to help my family financially has been nice. But knowing that people like my books is the best part of this job. Pouring your heart out onto a blank page and then letting others read it is scary, nerve-wracking and terrifying. Bad reviews sting and linger with us, but we all get those from time to time. My stories aren’t for everyone and I don’t mind that. But to those who do read my books, you have my heart and my sincere appreciation. Always.

And here’s what happened the rest of the day I got the call. This was back in the word processor days, so I had called a print shop where I bought ink cartridges to let my friend there know my husband would be coming back to pick them up. I also told her I’d just sold my first book–as in I’ve verbally agree to a contract. She was excited and, I, being so ill, went back to sleep with sweet dreams. When my husband got home, I woke to find him standing over me, his eyes wide as he asked if I was okay. Then he said, “Uh, did you sell a story today? Or maybe you’ve been dreaming?

I told him yes, I did sell a story–my first book–while lying there on my deathbed. I had not dreamed it. He looked doubtful but he went with it. I was still in Lala land but that’s how it happened. Oh, and I also got a secondary sinus infection followed by an eye infection. Took me a good month to get well. But that month was blessed because I could now say I was truly a published writer. My advance was $600.00. (Rich!!!)That’s gotten a little better, thankfully.

Winners for the 9th and 10th books are:

Patti Jo Moore and Denise Stout Holcomb!! You will both receive a book! Maybe this one!!