If Tears Could Talk
May 14, 2022 will go down in my history book as the day I followed through on my promise to my younger self. This will forever be the day, I made my writing dreams come true! This journey has not been easy. I spent thousands of my own money to create, find editing services, promote, and publish this book. Not to mention the countless evenings I spent conceptualizing promo ideas and going out after work to find tools and materials for every single thing I would need. This has been a trying time but in the best way because this process pushed me creatively in ways I never imagined it would. Honestly, I can’t wait to do this all again when I publish book #2 :)
I know I have to give you all time to read my book so, in the meantime I will be posting “behind the scenes” content right here on my blog to give you an idea of the leaps and bounds I had to make to get to this point. Feel free to browse my posts from time to time as you read! And don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts on my book via the Contact Me tab in the top left corner of this blog or by leaving reviews on Amazon!
Also, big SHOUTOUT to my momma for taking the pictures you see on this post! She did THAT! *Snaps in zigzag*
The Countdown!
I can hardly contain my excitement! We are officially 5 days away from the launch/publishing of If Tears Could Talk. I’ve received so much love ever since I made my announcement three weeks ago. It warms me up inside and I cannot thank everyone enough for the outpouring of support.
As of right now, my book will be available for purchase through online purchasing only. However, I am still working out the possibility of getting up to 50 copies (to start) available for in-person purchase as I know not everyone may have access to online purchasing. This is an option that will most likely be available sometime in July. I will keep you posted ;)
Follow my social media stories throughout this week for final information regarding purchasing.
Snapchat: grinerfanatic42
Balance
I adventured out into the Garden of the Gods with some friends from college during our Girls Trip. We came across this marvel of sandstone called “Balanced Rock.” It stands 35 feet tall, weighing 140 million pounds and yet it balances on a a very small connecting base. This boggled my mind. How could this giant rock balance its enormous weight on such a small base area? It got me thinking about the enormous weight each of us carries through our daily lives, trying to find a way to balance it all. There are times when balance seems inconceivable but just like this rock, it is possible to defy the odds to find your own form of balance.
Check out the Poems page for a third sample poem from my upcoming book :)
Careful Consideration
This was the hardest yet most therapeutic part of creating my book. Sitting on my living room floor with all my pieces laid out was a deeply personal moment. I was physically touching the words of my story. My story that I was afraid of telling, my story that was stowed away in notebooks and journals for over a decade. But now here I was reviewing each piece and reminding myself of my incredible journey to healing.
Hours and hours passed by but I didn’t even notice because I was laser-focused on my end goal of shaping a cohesive recollection of my life for readers to follow. Each piece was placed with careful consideration. I just can’t wait for you to hold it in your hands and savor each piece of my story.
The pictures are blurred for obvious reasons ;) if you look close enough you can see my cat, ShaQuay, supervising me and keeping my on track.
Check out the Poems page for another sample poem from my book :)
COMING MAY 14TH!
The journey to creating this book has not been an easy one. Several times I questioned its validity and its worth. Was telling my story really worth it? Who would care to read about me? Questions like these bounced around in my mind as I tried to focus on creating my book. It was only when I read through my work, piece by piece, that I felt the full impact of what I had created, what I had crafted from fragile memories. I realized how life-changing this process was for me as I reflected on my own growth and strength. While this process opened old wounds for myself and my family it also opened doors to conversations about traumas we had locked away years ago. It brought clarity to misunderstandings and closeness to distant relationships. In a nutshell, this book has done wonders for my healing and I cannot wait for you all to read it. These are my tears, this is my story.
Check out the Poems page for a sample poem from my book :)