Stacey A. Martin's Blog

Ten months have passed since I became a published author. This still seems surreal. I have distributed over 500 copies of "The E Word". It has traveled all over the world both physically and electronically. What a rush to know that hundreds of people I will never meet have read my work. How COOL is that!

I have the next installment of The Dirty Word series swirling in my mind, but am waiting for a new laptop to begin working on it. That should arrive by sometime in early October and I am hoping to have the first draft ready for initial editing review by early March. "The C Word, when Church becomes a dirty word...and how to overcome it" is my next project.

Thanks to all of my friends, family and co-workers for your continued support. It just means the world to me!

With my first radio interview less than a week away, I confess, I am feeling a little nervous. Who knows what kind of opportunity this may be? Who might be listening, who might become moved enough to buy a copy of my book and help me promote it, where may my journey lead from here?

I continue to feel blessed and affirmed by the positive feedback and encouragement my writing has generated. Smart people have said nice things about it. Many people have thanked me for writing it.

Now I am committed to seeing it move into a wider audience, where it can be a starting point for tough conversations, where it can help people initiate positive change in their lives, where it can help families relate in healthier ways through exploration and conversation about a painful topic.

Wanting to put my best foot forward in this interview, so that as many people as possible can understand the message and meaning of my work, leaves me with a little knot in the pit of my stomach. So, I will be doing some research, and preparing, maybe even a mock run through with the kids. Saying a prayer too, for wisdom and calm, and for the strength to perform well under pressure.

If you want to hear how it goes, check out the website for Just Energy Radio at: http://www.justenergyradio.com/

You can listen through their link on Thursday night, May 23rd between 9pm and 10pm. Wish me luck!

WOW! That really sums up the last 3 days for me. Just Wow! I went to New York City on Thursday with my youngest daughter and niece in tow and had absolutely the best time. All the investment I had made in my image left me feeling confident and capable. I had also prepared for the conference by reading up on previous NAPW events and watching their videos and some networking things. I was ready and it paid off.

I met and got to know on the surface over 120 women and had meaningful and helpful conversations with about a dozen more. In some cases I helped them and in others I was the one who received some great advice. These women were from a wide range of diverse industries, backgrounds and cultures yet they all had one thing in common - a desire to connect with other women.

While it will take several months to see where all this work will lead, I have come back from the conference energized, challenged, encouraged and inspired.

What a way to kick off Spring and jump into the next big push for my writing and for my life in general. Go me!

I am preparing to attend the National Networking Conference for the National Association of Professional Women in New York City in a of couple weeks. There I will be promoting The E Word and hoping to impress some people in the book business.

>business cards - check
>new suit - check
>nail appointment - check
>hair appointment - check
>new shoes - check
>practicing my self-assured mantras - check

Anybody who knows me at all knows that this is more image preparation than I invested in my last set of wedding vows. So, maybe this whole book thing means a lot to me, huh?

Looking forward to reporting back how it goes!

I am very excited to have the opportunity to participate in my first Blog Hop! Many thanks to Olivia Fuller for inviting me. You can check out her fascinating books and also see her post from last week at:

http://oliviafuller.com/blog/

My first book has not been out long but in the spirit of the working title for this blog, I'm going to tell you about my "Next Big Thing" which is book two in the Dirty Words series. So here goes...

The questions:
1: What is the working title of your book? Book two will be "The F Word, when Family becomes a dirty word...and how to overcome it."

2: Where did the idea come from for the book? When I first started writing "The E Word" I knew by the end of chapter three that it would be the first in a series of books. My series is all about people and how we relate to each other and I explore those relationships through words which have multiple connotations. Words which in many ways can give one reader a positive or warm feeling and for other readers may invoke exactly the opposite response. My future plans for the series include exploring the words Church, Management, Sales and Death, but here I am getting ahead of myself.

3: What genre does your book come under? All the books in this series are non-fiction, and they are designed as self help books. They include many personal stories of my own experience and observations, so they also fit loosely in the memoir genre.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Hah, well Nia Vardalos (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) would have to play the current day me. Lindsay Lohan would do a great job as the me from my 20's. She oozes the dis-function I was struggling with then so the role wouldn't be much of a stretch for her. They would both have to gain a few pounds to represent me accurately, but they can afford it.

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Family is supposed to represent harmony, love and safety, yet many of us struggle for decades to either heal or hide the scars of that early emotional environment.

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency? I plan on self-publishing again. I really enjoy having a sense of control over every aspect of the project, although I do hire professionals to help me with editing, cover and interior design elements. I am exploring ways to hand off or hire out some of the promotional aspects of the work.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I can't answer this yet as I haven't gotten very far. My first book took only a month for the first draft. I am sure once I sit down and begin the actual writing this one will go just as fast, I am just trying to find a way to commit the time.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Chicken Soup for the Soul would make a good comparison.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book? My first book was inspired by a desire to help someone who reminded me of myself in my twenties. Once I realized how much I had to say about the transformation I went through at that age, and of other transformations in my life, I knew I had to make this work into a series.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? One of the most important parts of my writing is that I share deeply personal experiences, often things that I found shameful or painful while in the moment. What I learned later in life was the power of those raw emotions to change my mind, to shift my perceptions of reality or to open my eyes. My hope is that allowing the reader into those tender moments may help him or her to experience a similar transformation vicariously, with out suffering to the same degree that was required for me.

I am so flattered that 349 readers have entered my book giveaway and that almost half of you have added it to your "to read" list! I wish I could send a copy to each and every one of you.

For the 5 selected winners, I will be shipping out your books on Monday April 1st. Thanks for entering the contest and I am hopeful that you enjoy the read and have the time to leave a rating or review.

Thanks again!

I am really excited to hear back from the winners of my book giveaway. I am hopeful that complete strangers will enjoy my first book as much as my friends and family have. Can't wait to see the reviews!

Wow! I need to come by more often. I received through a message here at Goodreads my first interview request. I'll post details of the event when we have set the date. Thanks to Rita and Just Energy Radio. I am looking forward to it!

I have sent my book off to Holy Trinity of book promotion: Ellen Degeneris, Stephen Colbert, and of course, the grandest of them all, Oprah. Here's hoping someone on their staff enjoys reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Yipee!

I am receiving a ton of positive feedback from readers as well.

Go me! Go me!