When I was a freshman in high school, I had a boyfriend. I know, I know…that's a really bland statement, but hang with me here. Now, where was I? Oh yes, the boyfriend. Nice guy, grew up to be a great human being. Anyhow, this post isn't really about the boyfriend.

My boyfriend had a best friend, and this best friend had a girlfriend, too. She and I…we did not run in the same circles. Not that we were enemies or anything. Our paths just didn't really cross. I was the band, sports, get good grades sort. She was more in the "I get invited to the parties with the cool older kids" crowd. Quite frankly, we didn't know much of each other at all.

Anyhow, one day during lunch, my boyfriend told me that he was mad at her. I asked him why, and he said that he didn't like what she said about me.

My stomach hurt hearing this, but I kept the calm exterior on my face and asked what she said.

"She said you were boring," he said.

Boring. Huh. Truthfully, it could have been a lot worse. But boring. Boring. I ruminated on this for a while, not quite sure how I felt about it.

My boyfriend went on, saying that she said she didn't understand why he liked me, because I was "boring, and didn't really have anything special."

Yeah, okay. That next part stung. Humor, my defense mechanism, even as a young teen, kicked in. I told him I would get right on sky diving and feeling G-force in an F-16 from Luke Air Force Base. He laughed and walked me to class.

I'm fairly positive that this "boring" thing left his mind the second fifth period began. And I'm pretty sure that the idea of me being boring was gone from the mind of the girl who said those words about me moments after she uttered them. They were speed bumps for them, filler for their day, so absolutely inconsequential that I can almost guarantee if I were to bring it up at a reunion (oh god, believe me, I won't), they would look at me like I'm nuts.

But for me…for me, this little speed bump left a mark. I don't think about it often, and sometimes years go by without even recalling this little adolescent blip on my lifeline. But it's there, and I can close my eyes and hear the conversation so vividly that I could convince myself I were actually in that moment. A girl, who I didn't even really know, called me boring--and I know there are a lot worse things people can call me--but damn did this little nothing ever make me feel bad.

Why am I thinking about this? Well, there are probably a few reasons. Firstly, I have seen a lot of bullying lately--the cyber kind and beyond--and it just gives me a funny taste. I wish like hell I were bigger, braver, stronger (basically, I want to be a Kanye song), so I could insert myself and hold up a hand to make it stop. It's something I'm working on. But until then, maybe just heed my little plea that we all try to be nicer to one another, or at least demonstrate respect.

And then there's that other thing that has my head spinning. This Is Falling comes out in hours…literally hours. And like my four previous releases, I am so anxious, excited and…did I mention anxious? I think I could throw up. But release day always makes me sit on the edge of my seat because my god…you amazing readers. You have no idea how overjoyed and happy you make me, to know that my stories have a home in your hands, on your kindles, in your nooks. And there probably is a little piece of me (okay, there is definitely a piece of me) that sort of grins at the girl who once labeled me so easily, and it's because of you.

Writing stories like these, this is all I ever wanted out of life. And you will never know how grateful I am that you make it possible. And yeah, that 14-year-old is probably still buried inside of me, also wanting to be liked. But she sure as hell doesn't think she's boring. So thank you for that gift. And truly, I hope you enjoy Falling. I put my heart and soul into it and will promise you to always give nothing less.