Not only is today Cinco de Mayo, but it is a day of grand celebration in my life as well! One year ago today, Dear Carolina entered the world! One year ago today, was my very first launch party, complete with tacos and margaritas, and lots of friends. One year ago, I never could have imagined that Dear Carolina would be long listed for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. Or optioned for film. (See how I just slid that in there?) Or one of the top summer reads for Huffington Post and PopSugar and Glitter Guide. And I certainly couldn’t have predicted that I would have spent the entire 11 months until Lies and Other Acts of Love was released coming to your towns to talk about Dear Carolina. I had no idea how much my life was going to change, and it means so much to me to have had my readers here with me every step of the way. This has been such an amazing year because of YOU!
People always say that having a book is like having a baby, and I kind of hated that comparison. But it really is perfect. Mainly because, just like when I had my son, I can’t even remember what my life was like before! Honestly. I’m like What did I do???
It’s so crazy to think that one year ago I was doing my very first TV appearances and newspaper interviews, that my heart still pounded when I knew I had a major radio show, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep the night before I had a speaking engagement. Now it’s all just so fun and normal! Thank goodness!
A year ago was the first time I started meeting my idols–like Jennifer Weiner. Meeting her at a party she was throwing in the penthouse of Le Parker Meridien in New York a couple of weeks after Dear Carolina came out was a pretty cool way to get started, I must say.
Speaking of meeting my idols, these two, Mary Alice Monroe and Patti Callahan Henry are definitely two of my tops. I got to know them at the Pulpwood Queens weekend, and they are two of the best people I know. The only thing better than meeting your idols is learning that they are not only extreme talents but also incredibly kind and wonderful people. And very, very special friends. (P.S. Mary Alice’s new book, A Lowcountry Wedding just came out! You should read it now!! I’ll be signing with her at Park Road Books on May 11 in Charlotte, NC. It will be a Girls’ Night out with signature cocktails! We’d love to see you.)
And it isn’t every day that you get to dress up as Glinda the Good Witch with your buddies Dick Wall and Susan Crandall and a ton of other authors and readers and party with the Pulpwood Queens in Nacogdoches, TX. While driving your Dodge Ram 1600–with a Hemi–that the rental place gave you since they were out of cars…
Of all the fun pics that I have of Dear Carolina, this one is still my favorite! And I just noticed for the very first time that my husband’s hat matches the cover!
But the best part of this past year, the very best thing to happen, is getting to meet readers. It is my favorite thing to do and hearing that someone loved my book is, quite simply, the best compliment I can receive. I am so incredibly grateful to all of you for making my year so special, for making the launch of Lies and Other Acts of Love incredible, and, best of all, for asking me to write more books! I am, just so you know. And I can’t wait until I can tell you all about it!
In the meantime, I’d love it if you’d enter my giveaway to celebrate Dear Carolina’s 1st birthday!
Enter below to win a $50 Amazon gift card, one of my cute author beach bags with a copy of Dear Carolina and Lies and Other Acts of Love and a gorgeous glitter bottle of One Hope’s sparkling wine!
I can’t wait to see who wins!
Happy birthday, Dear Carolina! Here’s to many, many more!
Congratulations!