...and what happens when you catch it.
I can remember standing in my closet--I was following my 18 month old daughter on one of her adventures--when my phone buzzed, letting me know I’d received a new e-mail. Then, I only received e-mails from my sister, my mother-in-law and a few friends. Checking it, I saw that it was from an editor who I’d recently sent my manuscript to. My heart jumped to choke me, keep me from breathing, keeping me right at the edge of panic while I questioned--is this it? Will this be another no? Another rejection? How many will this make? Maybe, could it be a yes? No. Please?
I squeezed my eyes shut, prolonging the agony. I didn’t really want to know the answer. Not really. I’d waited so long. Worked so very hard. Read. Written. Studied. Conferenced. Written some more.... But I had to know. I opened my eyes and looked at the e-mail. It started out like so many others I’d received. I have had a chance to review your manuscript--
My heart sank. I had to scroll down to read the rest of it.
I forced my fingers to move. --and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I’d love to have it.
Tears, so many tears! I cried. I screamed. I laughed. I jumped up and down. I picked up my baby girl and laughed and twirled and cheered. My two other daughters heard me and came running. Eyes big. Smiles questioning. They’d seen me happy. They’d seen me cry because I’m happy. They’d seen me cheer...for them, for their dad, for their brother. But this time, the cheering was for me. This was my dream. I was seeing my dream come true. This is what I’ve worked for--for as long as I could remember. Before I did anything that I knew I wanted to do. Before I became a teacher, before I became a wife, a mother, a barrel racer, before...anything.
This is who I wanted to be.
Now, I get more e-mails than I can keep up with. Now, I write not only because I love it, but because it is my job. Now, I get to say...my publisher says... That’s not true, I actually call her Jennifer.
There has been so many things to learn. So much to do that I never anticipated, social networking, blogging, guest posting, interviewing. Oh so much!
And I love it. I love checking e-mails while I make dinner. I love rocking my baby and typing responses to blog posts--one handed. I love plotting and planning and writing in the middle of the night, because that’s when my house is quiet. Infact, I thought of an idea for my next book last night, when I should have been writing this. However, the thought for the next book is very exciting because it is real, a hidden dream no longer.
I don’t know what is next. Not really. But for now, I have two books set to be published before the year is out. I have another one I’m currently writing that is so thrilling I can’t wait to finish it. And another idea brewing.
But, besides that, around me, I have great group of friends--the Montana Romance Writers--who are wonderful. They laugh with me, they encourage, they advise, and most of all they understand. Thank you ladies for being amazing!
I’d enjoy hearing about your experiences, your dreams, your plans!
