After 15 years of trying to tell her story, Stella has officially been in the world for one month. I’m overwhelmed with joy at the reaction I’ve received from readers so far, and this is only the beginning!

Debut month by the numbers:

• 402 books sold… and counting!
• 1 party in Anchorage, Alaska to launch the book
• 1 party in Austin, Texas to celebrate
• 217 books signed and mailed across the US
• Readers in New Zealand, Australia, Kosovo, Germany and Brazil
• Texts, DMs, and Social Media posts from readers saying they loved the book!

I’ve never launched a novel before, so I have no idea where this measures on anyone’s success scale. But I know how it feels to get messages from friends (and even strangers) telling me how much they loved the book… and that they definitely want a sequel!

I’m the happiest person on earth right now.

What have you been wanting to do that you’re putting off?

I asked people at the party in Austin to think about the things they still want to do. One woman has always wanted to publish a poetry book. Another has been wanting to take a trip to Alaska (I know all the best places to visit!) Someone else wants to get back to the Drop Zone and start skydiving again. And one friend wants to find someone to play Mahjong with.

It doesn’t matter what’s tugging at your heartstrings. And it doesn’t matter if you can’t quit your job, drop everything and focus 100% of your time on making your goal a reality (though I highly recommend that route if you’re able!)

The only thing that matters is that you take a step right now to put you in the path of your dreams.

• Read a book on how to publish a novel.
• Share a poem you’ve written with a friend.
• Ask someone you know (hint: it’s me) what they must see in Alaska.
• Look up at the sky and imagine yourself leaping from a plane into the crisp winter air.
• Eavesdrop on a group of people talking about Mahjong and introduce yourself.

A month after making my dream come true, I can tell you there is no better feeling than accomplishing your goal. But I didn’t get here quickly. It took me 54 years of being on this earth to make this happen. Countless steps in the right direction, and countless more in the wrong direction. Dreaming in secret and dreaming out loud. Trying and failing. And trying again.

I’m so glad I didn’t give up. And I hope you won’t give up on your dreams, either. Life is simply too precious for us to spend all our time putting off our dreams, however big or small they are.

What do you dream of doing?

I’d love to hear what’s on your bucket list! Drop me a note and let me know what your heart longs to do. No dream is too big (or too small). Then take one small step today toward that goal.

And if you see someone sitting in an airport with a goofy grin on her face and tears of joy in her eyes, it’s probably me.

Happy writing. Happy life.

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