The above one-eyed figure is a daruma doll. At some point today, I plan on blackening its other eye.For those of you unfamiliar with a daruma doll, it is a good luck talisman used in Japanese culture. Meant to represent Daruma, the father of Zen Buddhism, the doll is purchased with two white eyes. One eye is filled in and a goal is set (or wish made). When the wish is realized, the second eye is filled in. The daruma above is the second one I’ve purchased for my writing goals. I purchased my first one nine years ago and set my goal of “being published.” Though my thoughts at that time were of a full-length novel, I filled in the second eye of my first daruma when I had a novella published in a Christmas anthology in 2011. Even with that, I maintained the dream of publishing a full-length novel. I purchased another daruma, blackened its eye, and kept it ready for the day. If I’d known then how long it would take me to finally add a second eye, I don’t know what I would have done. I’m proud to say that the day has now come. My first novel, The Samurai’s Heart, is now available. My blurb is below.Japan, 1587. Sen must find a husband to marry into her family’s swordsmith business. She seeks a Christian husband, though Christianity is banned. Enter Nobuhiro. Third son of a high-level samurai, Nobuhiro fled his harsh father and apprenticed himself to a swordsmith. He yearns to prove his worth. They seem an ideal match. But for Sen, the choice is faith or family. For Nobuhiro, choosing a Christian ends any reconciliation with his family. Can love be forged from the impossible?If interested, please click here to be taken to Amazon.