I opened up my amazon page to Alexandra Fry today and saw it sitting at number one in its respective fantasy and detective categories.  Cracking the top 100 regardless of a sale is difficult, and getting to and holding number one for an entire week takes a near miracle.

But my book did it.

12,000 people and counting now own a copy of my book.  That’s 12,000 potential new readers for my series.  It’s 12,000 potential new fans and 12,000 potential secondary sales of any further books I publish in that universe.  The thought is exciting.  It’s motivating.

This week I’ve been swamped with a to-do list.  Working on a new co-authored novel with my editor (and favorite author- Delena Silverfox), finishing up edits on Rise of Apollo and Single Mom Dating.  Getting outlines done on my Daniel Webster series, working on my first chapter of my new series Reapers, and finishing my final listen in on my audiobook The Awakening– which spoiler alert, sounds glorious.

Some days I feel stressed and overwhelmed.  I have a massive pile of work, and between that I have to find time to spend with my children, my husband, and myself.  My career choice isn’t easy.  Things didn’t get easier when I left editing.

But it is hard to complain.  This was my dream, after all.  Recently I attended a family gathering where a bunch of my family members flew in, and so many of them remarked on my career.  “I can’t believe you actually did it.  Your entire life, ever since you were a little kid, you always told us you wanted to be an author.  And here you are and look how well you’re doing!”

I had a moment the other day when I was sitting at my desk listening to my audiobook and talking to a couple of my best friends.  Here was this award-winning narrator, someone who has hundreds of titles under his belt–many of the NY Times Bestsellers– and he was reading my words.  Mine.  It was a very surreal moment for me.  I used to listen to audiobooks all the time, and there was something about the moment when I realized that I’d reached that point in my career where it was my turn– where it was my book being read, that I felt like yeah.  I made it.  I’m official.

I mentioned it to my friends and one of them said very pointedly, “You are the reason I refuse to give up on my dreams.  Because you realized yours.”

And it’s true, I had.  My dream was never to be the next Stephen King.  I wasn’t asking for fame and fortune.  To make enough to pay my mortgage every month is plenty for me.  To get fan mail a few times a week from eager readers clamoring for my next book is all I could possibly hope to ask for.

I know I probably sound like one of those uplifting memes you see shared around facebook, and I know most of you are shaking your head going, gross Angella.  Stop being all nice and sweet.  Weren’t you just raging out at the patriarchal nerd market for refusing to include Black Widow and saying the word fuck a lot?  Doesn’t your facebook cover photo say Go Fuck Yourself over a picture of Castiel?

Yep.  But I’m happy.  I can’t deny that.  I’m about to break into the Lego Movie Everything is Awesome song.  Seriously.