We’re Riding Out The Storm! 

“Like the eye of a storm -find the sunshine and calm within you, even if there is chaos outside.”

Brittany Burgunder

Okay, I’m freezing, the electricity has been out for more than fifteen hours, and a storm is still raging outside. It’s as if I’m starring in my own horror movie, and things are about to get grim. The wind is howling, lighting is streaking through the sky as if Zeus himself were standing on Mt. Hamilton, and rubbish is cluttering the streets. It looks like a warzone. 

I half expect Freddy Krueger to come walking down the street.

The entire back fence at my daughter’s house fell down last night. Obviously, it couldn’t take the stress anymore. I can relate. When I glance across the street, I can see all the way to El Solyo. Did I mention the neighbor has a pool, and it’s about to overflow?

I’m writing as fast as I can because I’m running out of battery and I’m hungry.

But we can’t cook, heat the house, OR MAKE COFFEE. Larry and I decide to drive into town for breakfast. This seems safe enough, but we’re about to find out most of the traffic lights are out, trees are blocking the roads, and work crews are parked haphazardly all over the place with orange-clad men carrying chainsaws. The newscaster warned us all to stay home.

Did I mention I was hungry? 

We decide to take our chances. Larry’s truck has four-wheel drive, and starving to death seems foolish despite the storm. As we were leaving our favorite empanada cafe, I cleverly bought a coffee to go, or I would be writing this without caffeine. I know. Sacrilegious!

Luckily we have a gas fireplace, and it provides a little warmth while I host my computer on my lap, and write from the sitting room. Clearly, not all is dismal. I’m using my phone as a hotspot, but my battery is down to thirty-three percent. I’ll need to be expedient with my message! 

So here it is…

I want to praise and maybe worship the Word Press writing community for being one of the most supportive and encouraging communities I have ever experienced. Well, aside from the Girl Scouts, so a close second, but then, of course, there’s the mighty Geckos. But I digress. 

It feels as if a miracle happens every damn day. 

Here I am, stumbling around in the dark (literally), and just when I’m about to break my blessed neck, someone illuminates the darkness with their own damn brilliance. 

My personal storm has to do with trying to publish a book. Grow Damn It is scheduled for release next month. On February 23rd, to be exact (as you’re probably all nauseatingly aware), and I’m still trying to finalize the manuscript. The process is daunting, especially for amateurs.

After a lot of back-and-forth shenanigans, the publisher creates a document from the manuscript for my approval. A document you can look at but not touch. If changes are to be made, you have to send them in a special form listing the page number, paragraph, highlighting the old copy, and clearly stating the new verbiage. My first change sheet had like forty-nine changes. I’m sure they are enamored with me at Black Rose. 

I had the original document edited by a professional, but I added several essays, changed the format, reorganized the material into sections, added some pictures, etc. And now, I’m forced to take on the roles of writer and editor. It’s like editing your own thoughts or, worse, trying to visualize what you look like without a mirror or light.

I realize I’m being dramatic, but my battery is now down to twenty-nine percent, so I don’t have time to clean this mess up. 

This whole process has been complicated as if learning a new language by braille, it’s called Publish. And believe me, something always gets lost in translation.

So I recently sent in my last and final adjustments to the project. It seems like we’re cutting it close to the wire. I, for one, like things done well in advance. That’s just me. But this project seems destined to slide into home base, road rash on my hip, and dust on my drawers as the clock ticks toward the final seconds of the game. Well, at least it will be an exciting finish.

Now jumping to the good part since I’m down to twenty-two percent. 

When I announced what I was doing, this community sprang into action as if the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz, you know the ones, they were all born with green thumbs. Get it? Grow Damn It. Okay, it makes sense if you’re sitting in the dark and your breath is fogging up inside the house!

Last week I was flooded by water due to my ingenious grandchildren, but as we know, most storms are followed by a rainbow. This week I’m flooded with opportunity, or at least, that’s how I chose to experience it. 

Sometime last year, several well-established bloggers and authors jumped in and not only publicized my book but offered to write blurbs, review it when it comes out, and many of you have already purchased an advanced copy. 

I’m sort of over the moon about all this kindness and support.

Then…

I got an email this morning. When I opened it, it was as if receiving a bouquet of flowers. The hint of rose is still floating in the air.

Inside this note was a plethora of information on marketing my book, which I have been floundering around with, and not making much progress. I’m talking details. Debby explained how she had to hunt for the link to preorder my book, and that needed to be rendered immediately. She suggested I add a page to my website with a description, a link, and blurbs about the upcoming publication. 

I did.

She also suggested I pin the preorder tweet to my Twitter page. I did.

She coached me on how to recreate a cover photo for my Facebook page using Canva (posted above). I did.

But the fun doesn’t end there. I have commitments from several people to showcase my book when it comes out on their blogs! ON THEIR BLOGS! I know. It’s over the top.

By the way, it’s still raining cats and dogs. I’m down to nineteen percent on my phone. Now, if rain is a metaphor for growth, I’m considering this a really good sign. 

While I’m writing this piece, Larry is reviewing the visa bill from December in the hall bathroom because it’s the only room in the house bathed in light. You can’t possibly imagine his angst. Every few minutes, he yells, “Cheryl, did we spend $500 dollars at a wine bar in New York?” 

“No”

He comes storming down the hall, hair standing on end, eyes bulging, and says, “We did. It’s right here in the statement.” 

I google the wine bar and explain. “We had dinner there with the entire group. You paid the bill for seven people, and they all venomed you.”

He mutters as he returns to his makeshift desk on the toilet. Then ten seconds later, he says, “Cheryl, what did you buy at C & H for $200.”

“I didn’t.”

“It was the day before Kelley’s birthday. Wait, that was the day I went shopping with the girls? Oh, never mind. That was the present I bought you for Christmas.”

“I returned it. Remember? We reordered a larger size (keeping it real), and you saved twenty-five percent because it was on sale.”

“That’s right. But there’s another purchase from the same store.”

“I picked up a little something extra while I was exchanging.”

“Or course you did.”

A few minutes later. “What is this purchase from Amnimoto?”

“That’s your Christmas present that was delayed because of the storm. It still hasn’t come yet. Now you ruined the surprise.”

“Maybe we should cancel it?”

“Absolutely not, you’ll love it.”

“What I don’t love is this visa bill.”

This is where my love/hate relationship with December comes from! Damn, thirteen percent.

In the meantime, I emailed Black Rose. They’re happy with the manuscript. They’re happy with the pre-orders. They’re undecided about me. 

Get in line! 

I’m Living in the Gap, riding out the storm, I’ll gladly be your cover. Any storms you care to share?

My book is NOW available at Black Rose for preorder! If you are compelled to purchase a book or two prior to the publication date of February 23, 2023,  Grow Damn It!: The Feeding and Nurturing of Life, you get to use the promo code: PREORDER2022 to receive a 15% discount. Your pre-ordered copy will process and ship on or prior to the release date. So you get it first! Whoot! Hoot!