I have wanted to be an author since I was eight years old…
I remember sitting in my pink and green room, colors chosen for (not by) me, with a legal pad (borrowed from my dad – not a lawyer) and a pencil sharpened down to a nub writing one page stories about ghosts (always a topic of morbid fascination), friendship, and family. I wrote until my hand began to ache, the words spilling out of me at an alarming rate. It was never planned. I don’t remember sitting around thinking about stories. The words just came to me.
As I grew, my goals changed. By my sophomore year in high school, I was determined to help kids. A dear friend of mine had been through more than I could ever even begin to process. I lived a fairly sheltered life during that time. My parents were married. My grandparents were alive. Problems were hidden from the kids. We were tasked with simply being kids. But this friend of mine…she lived a different, far less sheltered life. Although she didn’t know it, I worried about her a lot. I wanted to help. I wanted to erase her sadness. I wanted to make it better. To this day, she probably doesn’t know that she is the reason that I do what I do.
But I never stopped writing. In high school, in college, and even in graduate school…I never stopped writing. I wrote unfinished novels, unfinished nonfiction, and words meant only to heal my soul. I wrote my way through my grief when my father died without notice. I wrote my way through infertility, pregnancy loss, and just about everything else. I just kept writing.
And then, one day, I started a blog. Relying on my knowledge of child development and my expertise in parenting, I just kept writing. You read it. You shared it. You asked for more. So I kept writing. With that, I revisited that lifelong goal of becoming a published author. That little voice somewhere deep in my soul just kept whispering, “You can do this.”
I’m pleased to announce that dreams do come true. I’ve worked hard. I’ve worked lated into the night and early in the morning. I’ve fought hard to balance my writing, my clients, and my family, with my children always in the lead position. And it all paid off.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I’m committed to helping parents raise happy kids. One topic at a time, I help parents focus on the positive and enjoy the parenting journey (that’s my goal, anyway).
What you don’t know is that I’ve been busy writing, editing, and, with the help of my incredible literary agent, submitting a proposal for a parenting book on this very topic. ”The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Cheerful Children in a Stressful World” will be published by Tarcher/Penguin!
Check out this amazing announcement in Publisher’s Marketplace:
There will be countless thank you’s in the months to come…but for today I want to keep it simple. A HUGE thank you to the following:
Lauren Galit at LKG Agency: Lauren has believed in me from the very first moment we spoke on the phone. It was an instant connection. She has cheered me on, pushed me, and helped me find my way in this giant world of publishing. Thank you seems insufficient…we did this together and I can’t even describe the gratitude that warms my heart every time I think of her, see her name pop up in my inbox, or laugh out loud at a text exchange that occurs at the perfect moment. Lauren is so much more than a literary agent. She is a visionary.
Sara Carder at Tarcher/Penguin: Every writer dreams of finding the perfect editor for any given project. I am lucky enough to have that particular dream come true. Sara believes in the Happy Kid message. She is full of positive energy and she genuinely wants to help me get this message to the world. I am so very grateful for her support right out of the gate, and look forward to working with her along the way. I do believe that Happy Kid is in the best possible hands with the best possible publisher. For that, I am beyond grateful.
Sean Hurley: I am not only lucky enough to be married to my best friend, but I am lucky enough to married to a man who believes in big dreams, love, and happiness. Sean has supported me from the very first moment that I announced my intention to finally become a published author, almost three years ago. He has cheered me on, held my hand, and pushed me when I need pushing. He is the dream catcher of the universe, and that positive energy helped me find my way.
My kids: I am lucky enough to have two incredible children who fill my soul with happiness each and every day. That, above all, inspires me.
My readers: YOU have made this blog what it is today. You read, you share, you ask questions, and you come back for more. What began as a tiny little blog in a huge blogging world has grown into a community of incredible parents – for that, I am grateful (and humbled). Happy Kid is written with all of you in mind.
Stay tuned for updates and, of course, more articles and posts in all of my usual places. And now…please excuse me while I chain myself to my laptop and finish writing this book!
Have a HAPPY day!
