One year ago today…

My life changed.

It actually began changing many months before when I finally gathered up the courage to turn my idea of a lonely widow finding love again into something real.  Sometimes finding the courage to do something new and scary is half the battle.

One year ago today, I hit publish (or maybe my husband did because I was too scared) and my life changed forever.

Sitting here, reminiscing over the last twelve months, I am completely awestruck by how much has changed in my life from that one tiny event–the little flick of a button.

When You’re Ready was suppose to publish on July 25th.  Being a new antsy new author who had no idea how much time all this publishing nonsense took, I decided the night of the 23rd to go ahead and publish it early.  I mean, who was waiting for it?  No one.  It could just sit around for a few days and then I’d announce it, right?

Easy.

So, with much excitement and nervousness….my husband and I published my first book on Amazon and waited anxiously.  Within an hour, it was live!  For the record, no other book since then has ever gone live that quickly–go figure.

I sat there, staring at my book on amazon.com and cried.  There it was.  I was a published author.  I could have sold nothing that day and still have been amazed at everything I’d accomplished at that moment.

But thankfully, it did sell.

Since that quiet night one year ago, I’ve sold nearly 100,000 copies worldwide, published 4 books in the Ready series with a standalone set to release next month and made USA Today twice.

I was able to quit my job and make writing my full time career.  Meeting my kids at the bus stop and helping them with their homework is a rare and precious gift I never thought, as a working mom I’d ever have.  I was invited to Book Bash in June and signed books next to some of my favorite authors like Jamie McGuire and Colleen Hoover.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because…none of this would have been possible without you.  My amazing readers.  

Each of you managed to make my dreams come true just by being you–book lovers.

You guys are my heroes.  Hands down.

Thank you for an amazing year.  Here’s to many more.

XOXO — Jenn