I'm excited to announce that I just released my first title! The Blackberry Effect: Zena's Beginning is available on Amazon right now! I hope you enjoy this story - I had so much fun writing it!
Today there are exactly zero dollars in my travel fund. That’s a lot of “0”.
“Zena’s Beginning is the story of a child that rises above poverty with the simplest of things, the most brilliant of ideas. She doesn’t have any money, but she has a dream – the dream of a beautiful pair of shoes. Little by little you see how her young mind catches ideas, how they come together to form not only a business, but a brand new mindset and open doors to a little girl that realizes she can do anything.” What is your story? What have your struggles been? For years I have been a writer, but my words have been hidden away in the quiet of a small world. Oh yes, I have wanted to fly, but I was not ready for the journey to begin – or perhaps I was afraid of the unknown. Are you afraid of following your dreams? I’d like to think that waiting has not been a waste, but a time in a cocoon, my wings growing, and now they are drying, glistening in the sun, ready for me to fly. I wasn’t planning to write Zena’s story yet, in fact I have another book almost ready to launch, but then I was given an opportunity to fly to Europe and stay with a friend in a little villa in the countryside. But……I debated, should I really spend the money on a ticket? Travel isn’t cheap, and I like to be prudent and live with margins. It’s just the kind of person I am. Should I really let caution stand between me and a long-time dream? A dream prompted by a woman standing on a misty hillside, her white dress flowing in the wind. Hey, I was young and it looked sooo romantic! Now, I just want to eat cream filled pastries and drink espresso. I sat on my bed, thinking how tangible this opportunity was, and yet…… maybe a little imprudent. I remembered a sermon from a long time ago when I was a little girl, and the Pastor had said, “What do you have in your hand?” The man he was talking about had been a bit down, between jobs or something, and he was holding a bottle with a ship in it – which I haven’t got. But the words came back to me, and the story I wanted to write about a little girl selling blackberries. I suddenly knew what I had in my hand, not blackberries or a bottle with a ship in it, I had my writing. The light went on: what if I could sell enough stories to buy a ticket to Europe and make my dreams come true like the blackberry girl? What if I could, in essence, experience her story and make my dream come true? My thoughts exploded like a July firecracker, sparkles of light and hope filling a dark night sky – what if I inspired others to follow their dreams? Suddenly everything tied together, my dream of writing, travel and inspiring others. Surely I was not the only one that had been waiting, doubting, procrastinating. What if I encouraged others to say “it’s time”? I’m hoping this story will inspire you to ask, “What do I have in my hand? What can I do to make my dreams come true?” That is what this story is about, and that is why I wrote it. If you’d like to share your own story, pop a comment below. Zena didn’t do it all by herself, and sometimes we all we need a little encouragement. Please don’t be shy, you never know when a seed you plant will grow into a tree that feeds a weary traveler. I need your help too. If you enjoyed the book, would you be willing to pass the word? A quick tweet, share, or a blog post would all be really appreciated. Sometimes dreams have to be bigger than ourselves, and we can also use a helping hand along the way. I’m hoping to spread encouragement to young and old, weary or penniless. I’m asking for your help so together we can pass along some inspiration. Let’s break through the walls of our cocoon, stretch our wings – and fly! KM E-mail list |