It was around this time last year that I decided to give my writing another chance. I had heard so much about self-publishing, but I was hesitant. What if all those rejection letters were right? Maybe I wasn't good enough. Maybe my love of writing was simply a way for me to connect to the books I love to read.





I was at a bit of a crossroads in my life, so I prayed about it. (I'm not an 'only when it's truly important, will I ask God for help' type of person. He hears from me, A LOT) His answer literally hit me in the head. As I stated, I had written the series a few years back and kept a hard copy in my closet. Now, I'm not saying the pages fluttered down around me like snowflakes on a winter's day. It was encased in a VERY LARGE three ring binder on the top shelf of my closet. And it fell squarely on top of my head (OUCH!) when I tried to reach for my winter gloves. (I've often thought that God was a wee bit perturbed that I kept asking the same question when I knew the answer. I was just scared.)




So, given the Almighty's approval, I girded my loins, which is a fancy term, for puttin' on my big girl panties, and decided to give it one more try.







Rewriting Whistlin' Dixie, was the easy part. I had to update it for technology, but the story was still fresh. It's about ordinary people and their problems so I tried to write it that way. There's no billionaire CEO, or dinners in Paris; just romance, and humor, and sex! Oh, and a little suspense.




And I had the cover design in mind - it's actually my daughter and son-in-law's engagement pic. So yep, that's them. He's tall, dark and handsome. She's short, sassy and sweet. Just like Mac and Dixie. It was more than that, though. The symbolism was perfect - the box she stands on represents the ways to overcome their issues. Think outside the box? Preach on a soapbox? A height difference solution? The old barn in the background, weathered but still standing. The "00" represents a tie, or stalemate, where no one wins. And the entire cover like a yellowed photo - Tempered in loss, sorrow and pain yet still precious, cherished, timeless. Now, I just had to find someone to make it real.




It's funny how destiny plays it's role. A friend of a friend, who grew up in the Grafton area, was not only a graphic designer, she was also an editor. Talk about a wonderful collaborative effort! The Killion Group led me, step by step, through the process of editing, marketing and publishing. Sometimes it was like trying to teach a monkey, I'm sure; but, through it all they were gracious and fun. I can't thank them enough.




So here it is, my book's ready for pre-order and will be released on November 30th, paperback to follow soon after. I hope you enjoy it. There's a bit of my blood, sweat, and tears on every page. But there's also something else - pride, accomplishment, and love.







Oh, and the polish sausage garbanzo bean casserole really is a recipe; and it really is awful!