The release day for A Storied Life is finally here!
I'm an official novelist and I'm so giddy about having written a novel that people can actually buy and read.
The idea first came to mind nine or ten years ago and it took until early 2010 before I started writing the first words. Fun fact: those first few thousand words eventually got moved to chapter 3.
I still remember my amazement when my characters started talking back to me and how plot points descended out of thin air. And then how the last 20,000 words poured out of me in 5 days in December 2011.
I could not stop writing and when I wrote the last sentence, I slumped back onto my couch and cried in relief and awe over what I accomplished.
Now we're here and A Storied Life is a real book I've held in my hands. It's on Goodreads and all the major online retailers. I never want to lose this sense of wonder.
I keep saying thank you but truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Whether you remember when I finished writing A Storied Life all the way back in December 2011 or you're newer here, thank you for being a part of my internet community and cheering me on. It means more than you know.
If you read A Storied Life, please consider writing a review. It's really helpful in raising awareness, especially for debut authors. And please feel free to tell your family and friends! Word of mouth recommendations carry so much weight.
We'll see where this book of mine goes.
Friday night I arrived in my hometown because there's no other place I'd rather be. My mom gave me a bouquet in a vase that belonged to my Grandma and said she and my dad are proud of me. Sunday marked eleven years since Grandma died and while I don't know for sure what she'd think about me writing a novel exploring loss, I hope she'd be proud.
Today I'm wearing my special Release Day dress from eShakti. My best friend and her kids are taking me out for lunch and then I'm celebrating with friends at dinner tonight. I'll toast to my accomplishment with an Old Fashioned or the butteriest chardonnay I can find and I'll bask in the glow.
Tomorrow I'll start delving into research for my second novel. (Newsletter subscribers will be the first to hear what it might be about!)
This is the start of a beautiful writing career. I can feel it.
“Live your own story. Make every moment count.”
Olivia Frasier grew up under the guidance of her grandmother's mantra: “Live a storied life.” The oft-repeated words gave her the courage to pursue art instead of working at the family bank until a mistake made in college altered the course of her life. Now, no one knows Olivia still paints. Not her friends. Not her staff at the art gallery. Certainly not her family.
She can ignore the twinge of unease, the regret that surfaces when Gram's mantra comes to mind, the question of whether this is all life has to offer.
When Gram announces she has terminal cancer—and names Olivia as her Power of Attorney for Healthcare—Olivia is thrust in to the world of hospice and dying wishes. Olivia may be the family’s black sheep but she is determined to see Gram through this, no matter the cost.
Faced with losing the one person on her side, Olivia clings to the knowledge that Gram's death will finally allow her to walk away from the family. And yet Gram is determined to impart one last lesson: let go of the past so she can live the life she’s meant to lead.
When Reagan walks into her art gallery, the timing couldn’t be worse. He’s everything Olivia ever dreamed of wanting but she has learned to settle for less when it comes to her relationships and career. At what point does owning your story outweigh the potential hurt?
Weaving together grief and beauty, humor and romance, A Storied Life will make you rethink life, love, and loss.
Please note: this book explores the death of a loved one by cancer and contains mentions of past sexual harassment and suicidal ideation that could potentially trigger certain audiences.
Order the book here:
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Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post.
