What a month!

By the end of November, I will have released like 10 books this quarter. Holy cats! No wonder I'm so tired. And I've still got at least 3 more coming before the end of the year, 4 if I can manage it.

This whole year has been wild. You know, I've been a published author for over 10 years, and I'm just now starting to gain traction and sell books.

Am I bragging? Fuck no. I don't know that it's anything to be proud of. It just is.

I'm telling you for other reasons.

1. The minute I'm called an "overnight success" I'll know that I've officially made it.

2. Don't give up on your dreams.

If you want something bad enough, if it's important and it brings you joy...why would you stop just because no one else is paying attention yet? If I had quit writing because no one noticed me, I'd still be working my day job...where I am right now. I'd be married and have two great kids. I'd have a supportive family and a 401k. All of which I still have. So continuing to write, even when I had years of no sales, cost me literally NOTHING. But it brought me joy. It wasn't about royalties or best seller lists. It was about creating stories and putting myself out in the world, regardless of the reception I received.

For 10 years it was crickets.

Today, I have books in the top 10 on Amazon. I have a group of friends who love my books and want to hang out with me on Facebook all day. I'm doing a book signing in April where people are TRAVELING, actual distances, to meet me in person.

If I hadn't continued to write through the hard seasons, I'd still have all that stuff I mentioned...but I wouldn't have this. And I fucking love this.

Don't give up on your dreams. Make them goals. Make them important. Write them down on your bathroom mirror so you see it every day. Set the timer on your phone and label it with your dreams. Don't stop just because no one has noticed yet. YOU notice. YOU matter.