The Summer I Went All In

For those of you just joining my journey, let me start with this: it’s been my lifelong dream to become a published author. Scratch that – a published book author.

Sure, I’ve had poetry printed in small publications as a child. I’ve worked as a journalist for one of Michigan’s most respected newspapers. And my name graced more press releases – excuse me, “news announcements,” as one former boss preferred to call them – than I can count. And I’ve loved every minute and plan to continue that path for as long as I can.

But this dream? It’s different. I’m talking about a real, hold-it-in-your hands, flip-through-the-pages, admire-the-cover-with-my-name-on-it kind of book.

For those who’ve been following along for a while, forgive the quick recap =)

The truth is, the timing was never right. My career has always been climbing, and between that momentum, being a constant presence in the lives of my family and continuing to show up for my community – none of it was optional. I cherished every bit of it and still do.

Then one day, scrolling through social media, I saw that a local woman had published her first book, and I stopped in my tracks. I was instantly in awe, inspired by her accomplishment, and deeply curious about her journey.

She and I were Facebook friends, familiar faces at many of the same community events, but never had the opportunity to truly connect. So, I reached out on Messenger.

To my delight, Carla Flanders responded quickly, and we set up a time to connect virtually.

And just like that, a meaningful connection began to take shape. She had a dream – just like me – and she didn’t wait for the stars to align. She set it in motion. She shared her journey with me, but more importantly, encouraged me to pursue mine.

She reminded me that there will never be a perfect time – so why not now? By the way, her book, On the Day You Graduate, is so heartwarming and truly the perfect gift for high school seniors.

I left that meeting feeling energized. Inspired. I started digging deeper and connected with more authors in my own community. I’ve always known my hometown was special, but this summer, I was blown away by the talent, creativity, and generosity of the people I met as I followed my own path.

In addition to Carla, I had the privilege of spending time with a friend of my mom’s – a celebrated author of many award-winning young adult fantasy novels. My mom hosted him and his wife for dinner one night, along with my family, so that he and I could meet and talk about our shared love of storytelling.

From the moment we sat down, the conversation flowed effortlessly. He and I talked the entire night, and I was genuinely touched by his willingness to answer my questions, listen to my ideas and even read my manuscript.

He didn’t just offer advice; he offered encouragement, insight and a sense of possibility. We’ve connected throughout the summer, and, in a way, he’s become a bit of a mentor to me.

After spending time with both of these incredible local authors, something shifted. I thought, why not make a real go of this? I had already poured countless hours into my manuscript, dug deep into research, and mapped out the possibilities.

But, in truth, that was just the foundation. The real journey was only beginning!