My Castle Heart Publications

My birthday (the big 4-0!) has added an extra patina of sentimentality and reflection to this holiday.

In honor of this milestone—punctuated by finally unlocking the “author” achievement—I’ve assembled my own 12 days of Christmas* Thankfulness.

Day 1: Cathy Taylor
Day 2: Sue LaGow
Day 3: Ryan Hylland
Day 4: Jackie Phillips
Day 5: Szaba and Von
Day 6: Shanon Lyon
Day 7: Kerry Colburn
Day 8: Debbie Reber
Day 9: Peter Orullian
Day 10: Christa Charter
Day 11: Steam Crow
Day 12: 1986 State Fair Judging Panel

These people dropped the breadcrumbs that led me straight to this publishing adventure. Thank you, all, for your part in this Hero’s Journey.

* Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the 12 days before Christmas. Per the Oxford English Dictionary, it’s the 12 days leading up to the Epiphany (January 6) “observed as a time of merrymaking.”

Kerry

In the winter of 2011, I was searching for… something, but I didn’t know what. I was a new mom simultaneously dealing with a profound loss. There was a siren going off inside me blaring, “Carpe diem!” but I had no direction, no outlet.

Kerry, a friend from my Cranium days. reached out about a Saturday workshop she and her business partner, Jen, were hosting. They’re both published authors several times over and known for their work in the Pacific Northwest helping would-be authors get book deals. I’d never taken my publishing dream very seriously, but something compelled me to go.

Their workshop helped me to focus. Even though their advice is specific to the traditional publishing industry, it gave me clarity on what I wanted to create, how, and for whom.

Kerry also served  as a trusted beta reader on The Denim Jungle and was an invaluable sounding board along this journey.

Thank you, Kerry, for being my guide post at several stops in this adventure… not the least of which was at the beginning.

I look forward to seeing where the journey goes from here and all the amazing people I’ll have the pleasure to encounter in the next 40 years…

Banner photo inspired by Sarah Witherby’s 12 Days, Flickr Creative Commons.