I've Been Overwhelmed By Good This Week

It's nearing midnight on Friday and I've had a week many writers dream about. A week that makes one feel both humbled and elated at the same time. A week of joy. Yet a week of tearful clouds as wet as the summer rains we've been receiving nearly every afternoon. I've been blessed and I've been overwhelmed. Believe me when I say I'm emotionally exhausted.

I'm not complaining.

I'm just trying to come to grips with it all.

On Monday, an article I'd written about how my hero--a bear shifter--appeared to me was in USA Today.

On Tuesday, my first paranormal romance was published by Random House Loveswept. I had a book release party from 11 am to 11 pm on Facebook. Authors who participated were NYT's and USA'a Best Selling authors Laura Kaye and Terry Spear, as well as fantastic authors: Kelly Moran, JM Stewart, Amie Louellan, AJ Nuest, Lisa Olech, Sarah Grimm, Mackenzie Crowne and Maeve Grayson.  Oh, and hunks in kilts...

 

We talked about books, men, oogled guys in and out of kilts and laughed. It was a total blast.

There were dozens of prizes awarded to those who attended and commented. Calvin made me food and drinks and carried them to me so I wouldn't have to leave my computer except for pottie breaks. Then, just as I was ready to collapse into bed, Laura Kaye posted on Facebook that A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION was trending at Number One on Barnes and Noble.

What?

I didn't even know books trended, that's how clueless I was!

Thank goodness she provided the link, for I wouldn't have known where to look for it. But there it was...#1

Suddenly sleep was the last thing on our minds. Calvin and I stared at the Trending List of the top 100 e-books flying off the shelves at B and N for hours until our eyeballs went into revolt. My book trended at number one for roughly 28 hours before it began to slip. Even so, my numbers at both places--Amazon and Barnes and Noble have remained high for me. Not for the big sellers, now, but for me. And for that, I'm thrilled.

Reviews started coming in and not a one said "It's obvious this idiot has never written a paranormal before in her life"--and, believe me, I was sure someone would. One guy did lambast my Scottish burr even though my friend, who grew up in Scotland, and the Scottish language expert at Random House had corrected all the many times I was wrong. One reviewer claimed I had too many paranormal elements in one book. But, hey, we can't please everyone. We write the best story we can...and usually it's the story the characters give to us. We don't make them up! We take dictation.

Today my editor emailed me that The Library Journal had reviewed my book and written a very favorable one. It was something I never expected.

This whole week has been a basket of goodness. One I hope you all get to experience sometime. Everyone deserves a week like I've had.