~Finally~

I am a big believer in jinxing things by being too happy.

But after weeks of writing into the wee hours of the morning and learning the ins and out of social media until my head is spinning, things are finally beginning to come together. And I am happy!

This week I made the trek into our local bookstore and asked the owner if he would consider carrying my book. With a skeptical look, he perused the back cover for what seemed an eternity. Silence makes me uncomfortable so I blurted, "It's a Scottish, historical story. It's loosely based on the life of my grandmother." Slowly, he glanced up over the top of his glasses and with an unmistakable Scottish burr he asked, "It's not like Diana Gabaldon's is it?"

I could feel the heat spread across my cheeks as I mumbled, "Well, it's Scottish and it's historical, but uh, no it's a much faster read than Diana's, or so I've been told."

He fixed me with a piercing stare and said, "I'll take three."

Three? What? Did he say he's taking my book?

Woohoo! My book - MY LITTLE BOOK - was going to be sold in a bookstore. Feeling pretty darn excited, I asked, "What do you think of me doing a book signing?" To which he replied, "Book signings are usually for famous authors  or people who are well known." 

Well, burst my bubble.

I am not famous. I am not well known. But I do want to share my story with my little hometown.

So, feeling very grateful and more determined than ever, my next stop was our local paper where I was thrilled to be given an extremely warm welcome and promise of a little mention in their next issue. My step was a little lighter as I left their office. But still, I thought perhaps I could do a bit more.

So my wife and I approached a friend of ours, a brilliant business woman, and she graciously agreed to have me do a booksigning in her jewellery store during one of the most popular shopping events in our town - Diva Night! In two weeks, I will be meeting some of my current readers and, if I am fortunate, a few new ones and I will be putting my humble little signature to paper! This is a crazy dream come true and one I am most grateful for!

And the icing on the cake came this morning in the form of an email with the word 'Winner' in the subject line. I was informed by IBD that I had been nominated and had won Indie Book of the Day meaning A Thistle in the Mist will be featured on their website, facebook page and twitter. Wow! 

So at the risk of jinxing myself, I am happy, grateful and so honoured to be in the company of so many other motivated and talented writers. I know that tomorrow someone else will take my place on Cloud Nine but for today I will enjoy it!

Many thanks to the good merchants of my hometown, Port Perry and specifically to Bill Minors of Books Galore and More, Peter Hvidsten and Maryann Fleming  at the Port Perry Focus and Dana Smith of Silverside.