Blatant Self-Promotion

I don't often talk about writing in this blog. More specifically, my aspiration to be a writer.

You see, there are lots of good writers. Tons of 'em. When you think about the talent out there, it is easier to drink some gin from the cat dish and watch another episode of  The Real Housewives of New Jersey than to take that step into the unknown.

I mean, putting yourself out there? That takes ovaries.

***
Recently, I was out with a friend and she said, "What would you tell your teenage self?"

"Oh," I replied, "That's easy. I would tell her that she's smart and she's funny. I would tell her to stop caring about what other people think and to trust herself. I would also tell her that she should wear sunscreen and more sleeveless tops."

My wise friend then asked, "What do you think you'll tell yourself ten years from now?"

The answer, once again, was obvious. "I would tell her that she's a good mom. I would tell her not to worry about what other people think and to trust herself. I would tell her to be fearless."

My friend said, "Why do we keep telling ourselves the same things?"

Why, indeed?

***
About a month ago, my friend Coby sent me a link for a call to submissions. I've been burnt by the submission game in the past year.  Every rejection slip felt like a paper-cut. After awhile, I was too tattered and raw to try again.

Then, I remembered my friend's words. I stopped asking myself the same questions.  I submitted a piece. 

I wrote about this guy:

Some of you know that Joel was airlifted to the NICU when he was two days old. He was on oxygen briefly, and spent his first ten days of life in an isolette, surrounded by pic lines and beeping sensors.

He was a eight pound baby in the NICU. He looked like Godzilla. 


I wrote about the experience, and how it brought me closer to my mother.

I'm very proud of the piece.

Well, folks, the piece is going to be published. 

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Here's the information:

From the Heart: A Collection of Stories and Poems from the Front Lines of Parenting will be available for presale on May 22nd.  The ISBN for this title is 978-0-578-05737-8 and will be available through various distribution channels. 

Inside the pages of this book, dozens of authors have given of themselves to share their unique perspective on the journey of parenthood and to make a difference in the lives of children along the way.  The result is a collection of stories and poems that track the fun, the challenging and the truly phenomenal aspects of parenting.

From pregnancy worries and the miracle of birth to tough times and growing up, each unique triumph and challenge through a lifetime of parenthood palpitates on the page.

From the Heart: A Collection of Stories and Poems from the Front Lines of Parenting was created to raise money for children’s charities.  With this collaborative effort, we will help every child get the medical care that they need and find cures for some of life’s most devastating diseases.

With inspired stories and poems from a group of extraordinary writers, this volume will leave an impression on the heart of any parent.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to children’s charities.

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If you are interested in buying this book, email me here or here. You can also learn more about the book here. 

Thank you for your support. I will mention this again, but will try not to annoy or be too blatantly self-promoting.

Off to find the cat dish, the remote and the gin...