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Such a bittersweet day! Virginia, owner of Z&H Candy in Belton, asked me to come read at their final Rock 'n Read event. They had to close their doors that evening, but I was honored for her to reach out to me as to share that day together. I am beyond grateful for her friendship.

For Week of the Young Child, my daughters' daycare invited me to read Evalee Searches for Clancy to the students! Today was a beautiful day to share my story about Clancy and Stache! Prior to today, the kids had a visit from a local petting zoo, where they were actually able to bottle-feed a calf! Before reading, I referred to their experience with the calf, which increased their excitement even more about the book. This was also a memorable time for me because both of my girls were able to be outside and listen to me read!

I was invited to read at the monthly Rock 'n Read event, located at Redbird Books & Gifts in Salado. This was a sweet way to introduce my newest book (Adventures with Mimi: Evalee Searches for Clancy) to our community. The greatest surprise of the day: One of Mom's dearest friends showed up to support me -- She drove all the way from Copperas Cove to listen to me read! My heart was full.

TODAY IS LAUNCH DAY!! Adventures with Mimi: Evalee Searches for Clancy is officially shared with the world! 

Because of my tremendous, wonderful support group, I've already earned Amazon Bestseller, Top New Release, and #1 New Release! I'm beyond blessed for my family, friends, and loved ones who continue to support me each step throughout my journey.

As most of you know, my mom was one of the primary reasons behind me (tentatively) changing my mindset of writing thriller/suspense to children's books. What made today even more special (as I have previously mentioned in January 15th's blog post), was that today is/was Mom's birthday! She would have been 66 years old today (haha she probably doesn't approve of me throwing that age out there!). Even though it was an emotional day, knowing that she's proud of me made today easier. 

I understand that I wouldn't have this series if she were still alive because she and Evalee (and Dalynn!) would actually be out on the ranch, going fishing, or checking the cows. But that's beside the point -- I know she had faith in my writing ability and my dream as an author. One day, a few years ago, we were sitting on her couch and she wanted to hear some of my thriller/suspense manuscript I had been working on. After finishing the first chapter, I looked up and her face was beaming with pride. She told me that I had talent and she wanted me to follow my dreams in publishing that manuscript. 

I will, Mom. And I will do so much more.

Other than buying the infamous Girl Scout cookies, I had never been exposed to Girl Scouts before. A couple of weeks ago, one of the leaders reached out to me, asking if I would speak at one of their meetings -- They have been trying to introduce the girls to different careers that they may not be commonly exposed to. Of course, I jumped at this rare opportunity! 

When I arrived, I was greeted by an enormity of cardboard boxes. They were working on a project -- building a castle to enter a contest for Medieval Times. Everyone worked together, putting the boxes together, which they later constructed into their castle (picture below). Again, with this being my first exposure to Girl Scouts, I was blown away.

After sharing my background and story, we spent a lot of time on the Q&A session -- which, if you know me, is my FAVORITE part of presenting! These girls had some of the coolest, most thought-provoking questions. Engaging with them was fun and intriguing. Never a dull moment! Love me some Girl Scout Troop #21201!

Talk about a blast from the past! I received a Facebook message from one of my friends from college, asking if I'd be willing to share my background and story with her students. Of course I was down! To my surprise, not only was it her class, but I was able to share my story with 125 fifth graders at Beck Elementary in Trophy Club, Texas! I Zoomed in to multiple classes, and at the end of my session, the students were able to ask me questions about my journey as a writer, who my favorite author is, and the publication process.

UPDATE: Small world -- I went to work the next day, and one of my colleagues said that her granddaughter was one of the students I shared my story with in Trophy Club! 

My publishing team confirmed it! MARCH 13, 2025 -- Evalee Searches for Clancy will be released! 

I was asked to choose between two dates (March 11 or March 13). Through this entire process, choosing a my launch date was one of the easiest decisions for me. As most of you know, Mimi's character signifies my mom, who passed away from brain cancer in 2021. Her birthday was March 13th, so of course, I chose this special day to honor my mom and shine a brighter light on a day that our family still celebrates each year. 

As always, through these books, I hope for my daughters to grow to love and cherish their Mimi in the greatest capacity possible. 

My second outside event under my belt! Downtown Belton's Holiday Market was a success! So many families were out, exploring, visiting, and enjoying all of the vendors spreading holiday cheer! I even met a few kids who said they have already read my book at my author visit to their school! 

Huge THANKS to my dad, who helped me set up, break down, and gave me the best company throughout the day!

I was a vendor at Lake Belton High School's Holiday with the Silver Spurs event! Three holiday programs were performed this evening, a couple even highlighted elementary students who sang! 

One thing that was cool to witness:  Even with the foyer packed, I was able to overhear a few kids tell their parents that they met me at an author visit. Then they proceeded to tell their parents about Mom's diagnosis and why I became an author. It was really neat to hear them speak about my book, especially when they didn't know I was listening.

James L. Burrell Elementary hosted their annual Literacy Night, and invited me to share Adventures with Mimi: Evalee Goes Fishing with their students! This event was unlike others I've been a part of. Students and their families came in waves. Each session was about 20 minutes long, which made the night go by very quickly! I had just enough time to introduce myself and the book, read the story, and have a brief Q&A session before the next wave came through. I had so much fun meeting the kids, parents, and even siblings! I received a lot of positive feedback about the book, including the backstory. 

My favorite part: Towards the end of the night, after my last session had already ended, a family came in to check out the book. One of the boys started reading it aloud. This was the first time I've ever personally heard a kid read my book aloud. A wave of pure joy ran through me -- all I could do was stand and watch him -- my eyes were glued. In that moment, it was the greatest sound in the world.

Pirtle Elementary invited me for an author visit today! I read to and spoke with almost 230 students, ranging from Kindergarten through 2nd grade. My favorite part of author visits are the Q&A sessions. Each grade level asked about and was fascinated by my illustrator, Lidia Fernandez Abril. Their questions always start off with, "Did you draw this pictures?" When I shake my head and tell them about my illustrator, they're automatically intrigued. 

"Can she come next time?" one student asked. I chuckled and then told them that she lives in Spain, which sparks up a new conversation. 

When talking about the illustrator, a student in the 1st grade session asked about the illustration process and how it worked. This was a fun topic because we talked about storyboards, sketches, and color. We also discussed how there were aspects to her initial sketches that I wanted changed -- I gave them examples, showed them what the initial sketches included and explained why I wanted them changed. It was neat to see them work through, mentally and verbally, and understand the process of working with an illustrator.

Officially registered for my second vendor event! Downtown Belton's Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14th! Mark your calendars!

My first outdoor event was a success! Harvest Market in downtown Belton. 

I shared my story with so many wonderful people and some even became emotional! Kids were excited, loving the free stickers, bookmarks, and coloring sheets!

I asked my dad to come help me set up. Little did I know he was going to spend ALL DAY helping me! Six hours! He definitely won the MVP award that day! 

Because I enjoyed the day so much, I registered to partake in the Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14th!

I've registered as a vendor for Harvest Market in Belton, Texas! This is my first vendor event. 

I'm actually really excited about it. I bought some merchandise and hoping it comes in before the big day! 

It's this weekend...wish me luck!

AANNNNDDDDD

When it comes to Adventures with Mimi Book #2 (title to be released soon!), it is now in my illustrator's hands! I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

Tarver Elementary invited me for an author visit today! It was so much fun! This group of 1st-3rd graders was FANTASTIC! They were inquisitive, invested, and simply delightful. What I found so intriguing about them was how focused they were on age, numbers, and years. For example, so many questions were based around Mom's age when she died, how old she would've been today, how old Evalee is currently versus her age in the book, how old the dogs are in the book, and how old would they be now if they were still alive. 

Speaking of, those were two concepts that no one has ever asked me about before: 

1. The Tarver students wanted to know why I changed Evalee's age in the story. 

"If she's only 2 1/2 years old now, why did you have her as 6 years old in the book?"

2. The Tarver students also wanted to know the significance behind the dogs in the story. 

With the number of interviews that I've been a part of, no one has ever mentoined either of these concepts, especially about the dogs. I was taken aback when the students inquired about them because I wasn't expecting it. I was excited to touch on these two topics. Mentally, I compared it to a signing I heard about a long time ago with Robert Pattinson. Hundreds of kids brought the Twilight book for Pattinson to sign and he was getting bored, but then a kid handed him a copy of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Pattinson's mood perked up and he was so excited to sign this kid's book! I felt that same breath of fresh air when the Tarver students asked about Mom's dogs. 

My interview with Logan Crawford aired tonight at 7pm (CST)! 

Let's talk about the actual interview itself:  As requested, I jumped on the call at 3:15pm (CST) on August 20, 2024, to make sure our connection was stable and all of our ducks were aligned. The interview was scheduled to start at 3:30pm (CST), and I wanted to be ready and waiting. However, because I was at work, I kept getting pulled in multiple directions, which only increased my anxiety and made time tick faster. As I sat down, the clock struck 3:30pm...not my plan. I took a few deep breaths before pressing the "Join" button; I needed to calm my nerves. Then he started talking...

His voice was professional, yet inviting. My nerves subsided and I was able to relax. Something about his demeanor took a weight off my shoulders. Talking with Logan was easy and enjoyable, which made the conversation flow. There were only a few (four, to be exact) moments that I wish could've been different: 1-3) The three school bells that chimed, which interrupted our conversation; 4) I didn't take the opportunity to talk about Dalynn, my youngest daughter. I wanted the audience to get to know her, as well...wanted them to know that future books would feature her, not just Evalee. 

I understand that I can't change the past and I know that more interviews are in my future...Lord's will. The next opportunity I'm presented, I will use it as a platform to speak about Dalynn. She'll get her shine.

Overall, I was pleased with the interview. Logan was personable and professional, which allowed me to relax and enjoy the experience. Please click on the video below to watch the interview with Logan Crawford.

The deadline was quickly approaching. I'd already received an email from my publishing company a few days ago, checking in on me and my progress. But TODAY'S THE DAY! I submitted my manuscript to my editor for Book #2! Waves of uneasiness, yet an odd sense of relief, consume me. This is another start to another new beginning! I anticipate her feedback, knowing that much work will need to be done. How do I know this? Because this was the content of my email:

Omg....HELP!

My fingers just kept typing and I ended up with 1223 words! Please get me under control. I appreciate any feedback!

Children's books with my age range should stay between 700-900 words. Obviously, I am well over the preferred amount. I find this ironic because initially, I was having trouble with writer's block. Next thing I knew, I was 1,223 words deep! Well, here we go! Now, I'm just patiently awaiting her suggestions. 

Oh, and Book #2's official title will be revealed soon! Stay tuned!

The Morgan's Point Library hosted their annual Summer Reading Program, where kids of all ages attend the last two Saturdays of July and first two Saturdays of August. Each year, the program revolves around a theme, this year's theme being "Future Leaders." I was asked to read aloud on a book about leadership and self-esteem, and I chose Confidence is My Superpower by Alicia Ortego. The reading was followed up by a presentation from Boy Scouts and hands-on activities. This experience was neat to see a collaboration of various, engaging events that kids loved and learned from. Evalee and Dalynn even joined in on the fun! Evalee loved the tents that were setup outside, visuals the Boy Scouts incorporated into their presentation.

Z&H Candy in downtown Belton hosted a Local Children's Author Showcase open to the public, highlighting four local authors and their books. Virginia, owner of Z&H Candy, even composed a song specifically for each author's book. This event turned out beautifully and the kids loved the stories and music! They danced and even participated by using shakers to add to the tunes! 

Today was an emotional one for me and holds a special place in my heart. Ironically (or coincidentally), July 27th serves as the same day that my mom died...this was her three year anniversary with our Lord. The song Virginia wrote for Evalee Goes Fishing is titled "Mimi, You and Me" -- the video of her singing is attached below. I hope you take a moment to listen to the beauty of Virginia's words. 

Side note: July 27th is also my dad's birthday! All the feelings were felt today!

What a fun day! Central Texas Christian School (CTCS) in Temple, Texas, held a summer writing camp and I was invited to read and present! After reading Adventures with Mimi: Evalee Goes Fishing, I presented over Author's Craft, which focuses on how writers create intriguing characters, settings, interesting plots, and enhanced diction within their stories. For each step of my presentation, the students were able to design their own character(s) and storyline. Every student was engaged, was asking questions, and running their ideas by their peers. At the end, we pair-shared, where they paired up with a table-mate and presented their story. 

I'm looking forward to another opportunity to visit with these amazing students!

Even though this was Evalee's third trip to the coast, this was the first year she could actually partake in the activities that come along with it. I grew up saltwater fishing and I'm so excited to share these moments with Evalee (and Dalynn, my youngest daughter). 

This trip was wonderful! Brod and I took the girls to Indianola, Texas, which is where my family owns a fishing cabin. Evalee loved crabbing, fishing, and feeding the seagulls off of the dock behind the cabin. She caught hardheads and one Red Drum, which we released back to their fish families. 

This trip couldn't have gone better! Luckily and with God's grace, we were able to safely leave and return home before Hurricane Beryl knocked on the door. 

The Morgan's Point Library Committee did not disappoint! I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to the committee members for organizing and hosting the event, community members who came to support me, and my friends and family for their continued encouragement. This reading and signing was intimate, filled with love and emotion, and one for the books (pun intended)! The MPL Committee offered cake, coffee, and of course their hospitality. After reading, many questions were asked about my purpose and reasoning for writing a children's book, if I saw more books about Evalee and Mimi in my future, and if so, which topics they may cover. While I was being asked all of these questions, I could only feel blessed. Blessed beyond belief -- that people actually wondered about the backstory and my "why." Thank you all for coming!

What a fun morning! Belton High School hosted their annual Comic Con event and invited me to present! I chose to present on Writer's Craft: Crafting Stories for Young Minds. All of the students were engaged and inquisitive! We discussed topics ranging from tools and resources to theme selection to publishing and illustrator finances. We had a great Q&A session and students were inspired. It was great to be a part of such a fun event, and I felt honored to meet these young, aspiring authors!

Today, I had the privilege of reading my book to multiple classes at Evalee's daycare, Cadence Academy Preschool in Temple. Last night and all this morning, Evalee and I spoke of us reading to her peers/friends at school and her excitement was palpable. As the first group of kids piled in, Evalee became more excited, grinning from ear to ear. As we read, the kids were eager and full of energy! They were engaging in my questions and some of them said that they had already been fishing before! I look forward to my next daycare adventure!

Today was my first book signing/reading! A huge THANK YOU to Blackbird Books & Spirits in Belton for hosting the event and providing such a welcoming, fun environment for such a memorable experience! Blackbird even purchased 20 books and donated them to the first 20 guests! We had a great turnout with kids and adults! Attendees were able to enter a raffle for a kid's fishing pole and an Academy gift card! Thank you to everyone who came out to support. Please enjoy the pictures below of the event!

I'm feeling blessed and bold today. 

Blessed because, recently, I've scheduled a book signing and reading at Blackbird Books & Spirits in Belton, Texas. This will be the FIRST community-wide event broadcasting and highlighting Adventures with Mimi:  Evalee Goes Fishing! 

Bold in the fact that I just reached out to a news station for the very first time, asking if they'd be interested in covering the story of my book! Bold or insane...I can't quite tell at this point! 

One month away!

We are literally one month away from my dream coming true! A dream I've had since I was a young kid. Initially, I wanted to write thriller/horror books; however, once I had my first daughter, my mindset changed. Children's books, here I come! My goal for this book, and those to come, is for children to see what the outdoors has to offer. If children read it who don't have a background or experience in outdoor activities, such as fishing, I want this book to serve as a gateway for future engagement and learning. On the other hand, if children read it who have experienced the outdoors, then this book will serve as a connecting source to their lives. 

I'm so excited to share my experiences and passion through the pages of my book!