The Support We All Need (also, some winners!)

I’ve done several contests lately. It’s because I have all this awesome stuff and am kind of dying to start sharing it. I suppose I should save some of it for the upcoming launch month and all that, but, uh, that’s two weeks away. And I have winners now! To that end, the winners of last week’s drawing are… drumroll…

Descendant swag pack:                Karlene Browning

Swag pack #2                              Roberta Hulse

Descendant e-book:                     Donna Nolan

Congratulations ladies! I’ll contact you this week for mailing addresses and all those details.

Also, last week I failed to mention that I am about to send out the bookmarks from the previous contest (which have been packaged and almost ready for several days).  I cannot get used to having our local post office close earlier than most. So if you’re wondering where those are, um, yeah. They’re still coming.  

               

On another subject, I’ve been thinking a lot about support. We all have people we depend on, who support us through…well, life. Good times (like launching a new book) and tragedy (horrible accidents/illnesses/disasters), our emotional ups and downs, and also, our in-between blahs.

(You know what those are, right? Those times when you’re not really up, and not really down, and you’re sort of spinning around and around and not going anywhere, and you need someone to give you a little shove and tell you to do something, and maybe give you advice on what kind of something.)

We all need these people in our lives. We need people who cheer for us and mourn with us and kick us in the behind. Ironically, the people who manage to show up for our moments might not be the ones we expect. Sometimes we’re hurt by those who choose not to show up, and other times we’re surprised by those we didn’t expect who do show up. But when all is said and done, we realize that despite everything else, and in spite of all outside circumstances and choices, those people who are there for our moments—they’re the people we most need to have with us at that given time.

Maybe they have a lesson to teach or a message to share, or maybe they are a better friend than you ever realized. Or maybe a little voice whispered in their ear and made them think of you—and then they listened.

We can never really predict these things, and that’s okay. So maybe we should learn to hold onto the sweet, let go of the bitter, and fully enjoy the miracle that occurs anytime someone graciously offers the gift of their support.

And this week I am so, so grateful, to everyone who has been a part of my miraculous journey. Thanks for supporting me by reading! 

Fun Stuff and a Thought About Love

This week, I’m diving into planning fun events leading up to the release of my book, Descendant. The first in a long string of fun things, Giselle at Xpresso Reads is coordinating my cover reveal for March 4^th. Anyone can sign up, and there is no limit to how many people can participate. If you’re interested, you can sign up here.

I’m also working on bookmarks, posters, and other fun swag. What does this mean? Uh, prizes. Contests. Chances to win. And maybe, possibly teasers. Exclusive stuff. Not announcing any other dates yet, but working on it, so stay tuned.

*takes a moment to jump up and down squealing*

Please forgive my excitement. It’s just that I thought this day might never come, and it’s ALMOST HERE! And I intend to celebrate in a very big way. I hope you will all join me.

On a different subject, last weekend, a very dear friend of mine came to visit me in Texas. She knows I’ve been feeling a little homesick for my Utah people, and so she did what only the best of friends would do. She bought a last minute plane ticket, and came to hang out for a couple way-too-short days.

And even though I shed a few tears when she left, her visit was so good for me. Because no matter where we live or what we spend our time doing, everyone needs to feel loved sometimes. Not just by our spouses or children (although, that’s also really important), but by other people who matter to us. We all need to be reminded that, regardless of how it sometimes feels, we are not alone.    

So, with that thought in mind, what have you done recently to show someone special that you love them?

Books are Still For Lovers

Last year, my friend Lisa put together Books are for Lovers, a sort-of support campaign aimed at brick and mortar bookstores. And let’s face it, bookstores need love too. I don’t think anyone wants to see physical bookstores disappear from society, even if we read more e-books than regular ones.

Ink and paper books just have a distinctly special smell, a texture that cannot be imitated, and the experience of reading one is completely different from that of reading an electronic book.

So this Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to treat yourself, and maybe even those you love, to a real ink and paper book from a brick and mortar store. Barnes and Noble, independent bookstores, wherever your community goes to buy books in person.

I’m going. Not sure what I’ll choose, but I have a list of books I’d love to read, so we’ll see what I can find. The question is how many will come home with me.

If you participate, be sure to stop by and tell me what you bought! Oh, and also, visit Lisa’s blog and enter the Books are for Lovers contest.

Speaking of lovers, being the hopeless and ridiculous romantic that I am, I love Valentine’s Day. Not because I receive expensive gifts or get to eat out (though, that does happen on rare occasions), but because I love when people express their love for others. I love to give my kids a special little something—even if it’s just a chocolate bar. I don’t need an excuse, of course, but having a day designated for that expression is sometimes a good reminder for people, and the truth is, I think we all need reminders sometimes.

So tell me, what are you doing for the people you love this week?

What Sets You Free?

I’ve been thinking about courage, and how much it takes for us to do those big things I talked about in this post.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I manage to find my courage because I know that no matter how many times I fail, there are certain people in my life who will be there anyway.

Those people have kept me going when I wanted to quit, and held my hand to prevent me from falling into the dark, black pit of doom. People who love me, and who I love. And that love—that’s the thing that gives me the freedom to search for more, push boundaries, travel new roads, and do other hard things.

That clichéd phrase about love setting you free? Not such a cliché, actually. Because in love, there’s a degree of freedom that you can’t get from anywhere else. Or, well, this is truth for me.

What about you? What sets you free?