Nobody Told Me!

Happy Wednesday. Ha!

This morning at 5am, a little voice woke me up. It wasn't my son, and luckily, it wasn't a crritter. It was my blog voice creating this post. So I got up to write. Here's why.

A couple days ago, I was assessing the functionality of my website to see what it would take to integrate a new platform, so I can help even more aspiring authors get their powerful story out of their heart and into their hand when...

I read my last blog post. Okay, I read a few of them and got quite nostalgic, but that last one from May had a promise that I completely forgot about, and nobody told me. Granted, it's nobody else's responsibility to keep me in line, but when I kept seeing the cover of In the Dirt 2 upon frequently entering my website, I surely thought I already told you.

In the Dirt 2 is out!

I love when people read my books and send me hasty messages about how much they loved/are loving it! Thank you! (You can also post a review.) And five months later, I'm announcing it's arrival here. Better late than never. Sheesh!

The first In the Dirt won first place in the Michigan Outdoor Writer's Association best book category, so don't take my word that these books are powerful!

Did you already get your copy? If not, you can order here. I'll sign it for you. But one copy does not ship for free, so order two. Ha! One for you and one for a friend. Christmas is coming, you know. And if you want to order all the books I currently have in stock, or a mixture of any 4 or more, you'll automatically receive a 15% discount at checkout, get free shipping, and get them signed. Extra books are great to share with your local library or your book club!

I didn't realize that an author signature on a book is so special, but it is! With the popularity of print-on-demand books, most books never pass through an author's hands. But not mine! I ship all my titles to myself in large quantities (yeah, I have a big closet dedicated to book inventory), so I can them sign and ship them to you. To me, that's special.

But moving on!

I did publish a couple more podcast episodes last spring. If you didn't already listen, they are at the bottom of the list at this link.

And one more opportunity for you before I catch you up. Have you ever wanted to write a book? Do you have a burning story about your life and wish you had guidance on how to set it free? Well, wish granted! I am currently in the process of scaling up my author services, but take a look here to book a call or see what's coming!

Other than that, what's new?

Brady is in fifth grade. He is absolutely loving school, and the people at the school love him. The fact that Brady's school is working out so well warms my heart to the point that Esa and I bought a house close by. We are doing this!

Little man also went to summer camp and absolutley loved it. Those are his people! He can't wait to go back next summer! And they adore him there. I can see why. He's quite the guy. I'm a lucky mama to get the best snuggles everyday from a small being of light.

I also had a great spring/summer waitressing at the Glacia Tavern in Mohawk. The food is so yummy there! I highly recommend it. I just worked my last shift because I'm working with author clients and subbing at the school more often, which I also love.

Last week, I had my first high school shift. Let me tell you about that!

Even though I went to college to be a high school English teacher, (but dropped before getting that certificate), I was nervous to sub in the high school. I've been sticking to the elementary because my heart feels at home there. But then this high school shift came up. It was 11:30-12:30. One hour. High school English. I thought, "Well, it's time to get my feet wet! To see if I still have it in me! It's time to unleash my passion and skills on tomorrow's leaders!"

I was soooooo excited about this little shift. I mean, my heart was beating fast, and the spirit was moving through me!

So I got to the room where several of the student waited for me to unlock the door. I made a joke and small talk about homecoming at the end of the week. I could tell I was already connecting! Some of the students signed out, which I thought was strange, but it seemed legit, so I let them. A couple students pulled out their laptops and others opened text books. Seeing them be so studious, I scanned the teacher's desk for my lesson plan and, upon not seeing one, I asked, "You guys already know what to do? I don't see anything written here."

I was still buzzing with life, eager to see if maybe I had the chance to improv an English lessons. I mean, the possibilities were endless!!!

Then a girl in the back said, "Um, this is study hall."

Study hall!?!?!?

My balloon deflated, but I was not there for my ego. I was there for them. "Oh, then I don't even have to do anything! I guess I'll just be quiet." A couple of the students nodded or snickered.

I sat down and let them do their thing. I observed all I could with an unremoveble smile on my face. Because, although I wasn't going to show them how magical of an English teacher I could be, I took the leap to join the high school community. And if you ask me, I passed.

Remember to do the things you feel called to do... even if it seems scary. You never know how it will turn out! Life is full of more possibilities than you can fathom. See which one is next for you!

Thanks for reading. It's nice to be with you again. If I ever forget one of my promises in the future, please let me know. Thanks, and stay awesome!