Mini Ebook for Mom Cover Reveal

I am so happy to finally be releasing the eBook I wrote last year. Over the last couple of weeks I have been updating the content and getting the formatting down. It has been a true labor of love and I hope everyone enjoys it.

This has been a huge learning experience for me. There is so much that goes into self publishing. I am so fortunate for all I have learned. One of my goals for this year is to complete another (much larger) eBook project. With the knowledge that I have learned from the creation process of the mini eBook I feel so much more confident about going forward with another book.

So here's the cover of the book...

I wanted it to look and feel like a book that could easily be on someone's coffee table but be small enough to fit in someone's diaper bag or purse. Over the next couple of months I am going to research getting some printed copies made.

You still have a couple days left to sign up to receive my book before it's officially released to the public. Signing up to receive the book also puts you on my mailing list for future exclusive offers like my next project and giveaways.

I know I say this often but thanks so much for all the love and support. Next month this blog turns four and I feel like I am finally starting to realize the true purpose for this space. 

30 Things: What is your dream job? Why?

Now this is a good one! And an easy one for me to answer. I would love to be a successful author. As you might remember I've been working on a children's book idea. I've also been working on another book and I'm still brainstorming ideas for its direction. Before I got pregnant I was making some pretty good strides. I can't wait to get back to a place where I can sit down and focus on those projects.

Another part of my dream job would be to do something in the broadcasting field. My major was in broadcast journalism. I knew right away that the daily news wasn't for me. My dream is to be apart of a women's panel like The View or The Talk. I co-hosted a talk show in college and I really LOVED it. It would be a dream come true to do something like that again professionally. 

What's your dream job(s)?

Author Dreams 2

Since I am pretty happy with the two children's stories I've written I am going to move on to the next step on my journey of publishing a book. You can not have a children's picture book with out illustrations, right? Welp, that's where I am. Initially I was going to seek out an illustrator to help bring my characters to life. After looking around on the world wide web I decided to do more of a local search. And by local I mean my husband.

Since he was a little boy he has had a gift for being able to draw really well. He won competitions as a school age kid and would draw for fun while we were in college. As a grown up life got him away from his hobby. He recently started drawing again for his job. His unit was looking for a tee shirt design and he volunteered his services. I had forgotten how talented he was. That husband of mine. Is there anything that he isn't good at?

I think this professional relationship between the two of us will work well. He is already use to me telling him what to do. I don't have to worry about paying him. He knows how particular and detail oriented I am. Despite all that not only does he love me anyway, but he also agreed to be my illustrator. I am so excited about us doing this together. I'm writing and he's illustrating. How cool is that? He is going to start some rough draft sketches this weekend. Can't wait to see what we come up with!

Author Dreams

I have always known that I should be writing. I majored in broadcast journalism while in college. My favorite classes were always the writing based classes. I always seemed to do better in the on-air talent classes but I actually enjoyed writing more.

After college, I decided not to go into the tv news business. Mainly because the work hours did not agree with me. I like sleeping and spending holidays with my family. I knew that the real world was nothing like the projects we did as assignments. I have some pretty good footage of me on the campus and in the studio of East Carolina University. Those were great times. But I don't think it's really my path. If I'm suppose to be doing something tv/video related it will happen organically. I'm not going to force it.

Writing comes a lot more naturally for me. It's almost effortless. It's actually the primary reason I started this blog. To write about whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Another goal of mine is to write a children's book. I have been so inspired by my daughter. She is so funny and expressive. I am currently working on two different books. Hopefully they will be ready for submission or self publication by the end of the year.

I'm not looking to be famous or become an over night millionaire. I'm just looking to have my name associated with an ISBN number. I want kids and families to read my stories and find joy in them. Reading to my daughter is my favorite thing to do with her. She loves a good book. Maybe one day she'll be able to read one of my books to her own children. That would be success for me. The sweetest success.