Like the rest of the world, a New Year represents a new a beginning for me. A fresh start. You know... well-intentioned resolutions, a list of to-dos, and a positive outlook to go along with it. Yet, on the eve of such an iconic day, my thoughts always come to a crossroads... I feel myself standing on the corner of Hope and Despair...
Just the idea of a new year is disheartening for anyone dealing with a loss. I was just explaining it to a friend as being such a stark reminder of time passing. I will never forget New Year's 2009 - it was devastating to think that Nash would never see it. Something was comforting about remaining in 2008, and I didn't want to move past that. This year, the feelings are still there and they're no different than in years past. New Year's Day falls on the 6 1/2 year anniversary of Nash's death... Last year it was 5 1/2 years, the year before was 4 1/2... It's pretty tough to start the year on such a glaring reminder of the absence of someone that means the most to you.
So this year, Brad and I will be with friends tonight celebrating alongside the rest of the world. And like you, I will raise my glass to toast the future, but even more importantly, to honor the past. I may not be up for big plans or large endeavors, but I will do what I can to make 2015 better than 2014. I will carry hope in my heart like I have on all the New Year's past. I will continue to look for the silver lining, see the glass half full, and dance in the rain... but just because six and half years have gone by without my little one, I won't kid myself that this journey gets any easier.
Because it doesn't.
God Bless and Happy New Year Y'all,
Tracy
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Getting it Out There
Okay, so this book publishing thing is a LOT overwhelming for a LOT of reasons...
First off, I cannot get over the amount of support and encouragement I've gotten from so many people. Not only are people leaving me the most heartfelt and sweet messages, emails, texts, etc., but people have actually bought the book!!! I'm just in awe thinking that families are actually reading this to their kids. My message is actually getting out there!? Crazy. Lots of people have told me they've bought multiple copies to give as gifts this holiday season, which is such a great idea.
Secondly, I'm overwhelmed with the actual process of getting the book out there for the public to find. I know it's a long shot to actually get my book into bookstores - and it's not like I wrote it to become the newest best seller anyway. I mean, let's be honest here. I really hate that people even have a need to get the book in the first place. But that's my dilemma...
The entire purpose in me writing the book was to have something out there that explained heaven in "kid terms." So if people other than y'all (who know me) need a book on this subject, what's the first thing they do? Go to Google or Amazon, right? Herein lies the problem: if you merely search children's books about heaven, death, grief, etc. my book doesn't pop up. A bunch of stuff from Amazon does, but I learned that my book won't show up because it's all based on number of copies sold. Also, on ratings, etc. So... I'm wondering if any of y'all could help me out here. You've already done an amazing job of buying the book, but you know how on Amazon you can "rate" a book or write a review for it? I would be so honored if anyone who has purchased the book (and liked it!) to write a brief review on it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you just have to click on the yellow box marked, "Write a Customer Review." It would be pretty great to see that my book has some yellow stars by it.
In the meantime, I'm overwhelmed at trying to talk to local people about having my book available to them. This time of year is crazy to begin with and I don't know exactly how to start. But I'm thinking I should reach out to local churches, religious schools, bereavement groups, and maybe small Christian businesses to ask if they'd be interested in having the book onhand. If anyone around DFW (or anywhere really) knows a place that could use my book to help in their ministry, I would LOVE to hear about them.
I'm sooooo not a salesman and don't really want to be. But I also know that after pouring my heart and soul into this project, I need to do my best to see it through to fruition. I need to get it out there. I need it to help children the way I intended from the beginning.
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
Love to y'all,
Tracy
First off, I cannot get over the amount of support and encouragement I've gotten from so many people. Not only are people leaving me the most heartfelt and sweet messages, emails, texts, etc., but people have actually bought the book!!! I'm just in awe thinking that families are actually reading this to their kids. My message is actually getting out there!? Crazy. Lots of people have told me they've bought multiple copies to give as gifts this holiday season, which is such a great idea.
Secondly, I'm overwhelmed with the actual process of getting the book out there for the public to find. I know it's a long shot to actually get my book into bookstores - and it's not like I wrote it to become the newest best seller anyway. I mean, let's be honest here. I really hate that people even have a need to get the book in the first place. But that's my dilemma...
The entire purpose in me writing the book was to have something out there that explained heaven in "kid terms." So if people other than y'all (who know me) need a book on this subject, what's the first thing they do? Go to Google or Amazon, right? Herein lies the problem: if you merely search children's books about heaven, death, grief, etc. my book doesn't pop up. A bunch of stuff from Amazon does, but I learned that my book won't show up because it's all based on number of copies sold. Also, on ratings, etc. So... I'm wondering if any of y'all could help me out here. You've already done an amazing job of buying the book, but you know how on Amazon you can "rate" a book or write a review for it? I would be so honored if anyone who has purchased the book (and liked it!) to write a brief review on it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you just have to click on the yellow box marked, "Write a Customer Review." It would be pretty great to see that my book has some yellow stars by it.
In the meantime, I'm overwhelmed at trying to talk to local people about having my book available to them. This time of year is crazy to begin with and I don't know exactly how to start. But I'm thinking I should reach out to local churches, religious schools, bereavement groups, and maybe small Christian businesses to ask if they'd be interested in having the book onhand. If anyone around DFW (or anywhere really) knows a place that could use my book to help in their ministry, I would LOVE to hear about them.
I'm sooooo not a salesman and don't really want to be. But I also know that after pouring my heart and soul into this project, I need to do my best to see it through to fruition. I need to get it out there. I need it to help children the way I intended from the beginning.
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
Love to y'all,
Tracy
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