Dear Readers,
Today is Launch Day for my debut novel, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady! I’m listening to “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” as I type this–it captures the deep joy and gratitude filling my heart. I’ve looked forward to this day for most of my life. At the age of eight, I caught a glimpse of the power of books to touch hearts and lives. From then on, writing such a book seemed to me to be the highest thing to which I could aspire.
Touching hearts and lives are the operative words here. Over 30 years ago, my first article appeared in American Baby magazine. It was exciting to receive the acceptance letter, sign the contract, receive the check, and see the work in print. The best, however, was yet to come. Young mothers who read the article wrote to the magazine editor. Others wrote to me and one even called me–and this was back in the days of snail mail and phone books. These readers went to their public libraries and looked up this information, all because they wanted me to know that the article had made them feel less alone as mothers of premature babies. To know that my words comforted and encouraged mothers in a difficult situation was the very best part of being published for the first time.
Likewise, the road to authorship has had exciting moments–finding my wonderful agent, Ali Herring, signing the contract with Kregel, working with my editor, Jean Bloom, seeing the proof copy for the first time, holding the actual book in my hands when my author copies arrived. This past Thursday, friends and family joined me at Ewe2Yarn, the yarn shop where I teach knitting for my launch party. My cup of gratitude ran over as I greeted my guests, signed books, and posed for pictures to commemorate the occasion. Many of these folks have been on this journey with me for years, praying this book to publication.
But, as wonderful as all this has been, I know that the best, the very best is yet to come. The deepest joy will be hearing from readers. Yesterday my sister-in-law (who recently received her pre-ordered copy) gave me sneak peek at this anticipated and humbling joy. She had just finished reading the scene with Fran’s granddaughter appearing in her first Christmas pageant. It reminded her of the time one of our nieces, debuting as an angel, dropped her candle and set the hay on fire! The pastor and Grandpa calmly stamped it out, as our niece cried and cried. For my sister-in-law, the scene in the book brought back this memory and the memory of my father-in-law scooping up his “L’il Bit” to console her.
As my publisher releases The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady into the world today, I release it as well, to do and be all that God intends it to be. If it touches your heart and life, it would give me great joy to hear about it!
Blessings,
Sharon
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