When we become mothers something happens inside of us that makes us put our children above anything else.
We love them so fiercely that we just want to do everything within our power to give them anything and everything they could ever need or want.
And that is great.
But what about what WE want?
What I want…
What I always wanted…
is to write.
For real.
Blogging is a fun hobby and it has given me amazing connections and wonderful friendships, but when I was a little girl I didn’t dream about blogging (mostly because no one even had the internet yet.)
I used to dream about writing. Real books. I wanted to be Judy Blume.
My friends Lauren, Nicki and I would make up our own characters and spend HOURS writing short stories in these notebooks. Then we would trade them amongst ourselves and read each other’s stories. Our character’s names were Brianna (that was me), Taylor, and Jordan. We wrote about their friendships, their first kisses, and their trips to the mall, then swapped the notebooks and did it again.
It was the original Words With Friends.
Last year, when my last baby started to get a little more independent and my oldest started school, I made a conscious decision.
It was Me time.
I decided that every day I was going to do at least one thing to get myself closer to my dream.
So between diapers and laundry and Mom N Me meetings I started networking.
I started reaching out to bigger bloggers who were more successful and they were so nice. Anna from My Life and Kids took me under her wing and allowed me to guest post on her blog. She introduced me into an amazing network of women. Leslie from The Bearded Iris became my blogging big sister and taught me how to increase my social media following and even published a piece for me on In The Powder Room. (And guess what? It became their second most popular piece in all of 2012!)
I joined the SITS girls and I started participating in their events. I even won a trip to Bloggy Boot Camp from them, so I will be going to my first ever blog conference this year!
I sent resumes to local newspapers, I wrote manuscripts, and I submitted query letters to publishers and agents, never really expecting anything to happen.
But it did.
IT DID.
An editor of a local women’s magazine offered me a freelance job and I have had 4 articles published so far, with more already in “the queue.”
Real articles in a real magazine that you can get on local newsstands. Real articles that came with real (albeit small) paychecks.
Then I got contacted by a real publisher. And they wanted MY book.
To be honest, I had forgotten I had even submitted that manuscript because I truly was doing so much work trying to get a real writing career off the ground. I couldn’t remember what I had done 2 or three months ago. (It takes a long time to hear back.)
After a lot of research and some negotiating I signed a contract.
My first children’s book will be released in 2014. A REAL book. Just like Judy Blume.
Then I got another offer.
One of those bigger bloggers in the network of women I have grown to love was looking for submissions for a new book. It was going to be an anthology of humor essays written by women on the topic of motherhood and it was being complied by Jen of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, the woman who proved just a few short months ago that a blogger could top Amazon’s best-seller list and stay there. (Her holiday book is STILL i n the Top 10 in Parenting & Family Humor. It’s a holiday book. It’s currently March. She is, like, REALLY good.)
Guess what?
My essay was accepted and the book is here!
Not only is it here, it is amazing.
I’m not just saying that because I am in it.
How could any mom not love a book with a title like this?
Yes, the book is called I Just want to Pee Alone .
Although my particular essay is fairly harmless as long as you can handle a poop story (what mom can’t?), I must warn you that this book is rated R for adult content and some foul language.
It’s also HILARIOUS.
And moving.
We’re covering everything from potty training to dealing with the death of a loved one.
My favorite contribution is from Meredith of Mom of the Year. You will laugh, cry, and be forever touched by her honesty.
The book reminds me of a mash-up of Steel Magnolias and the movie Bridesmaids.
I’m really not just saying that. Without even trying (since today is the day we all agreed to start our big online push) we got to the Top 10 on the Amazon Best-Sellers list in Parenting and Family humor this week. We are also the #1 Hot New Release in our category. Numero Uno! See? Plus we hot #1 in our category (Parenting and Family Humor) and #2 on iTunes in the Humor category!!
That’s right, it’s available RIGHT NOW on Amazon and Kindle. Just click here.
It’s also available on iTunes here.
What are you waiting for?
Oh, you want me to give you one?
Ok, fine.
Of course I’m giving away a free copy to a Binkies and Briefcases reader!
Just enter using the Rafflecopter. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Ages 18 and up. The winner will be selected at random on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Check out all of the lovely ladies squeezed in between the pages with me:
People I Want to Punch in the Throat
The Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva
You Know it Happens at Your House Too
The Underachiever’s Guide to Being a Domestic Goddess
this looks fantastic! as a mom of four i could sure use some giggles.