Next Saturday at 6 P. M. I’ll be at one of my go-to places, Coffee Cottage, in Newberg, Oregon.
I love doing in-person book signings. It’s where I get to see you in person and hear your stories and listen to your news. We can hangout and get to know each other better.
And, well, I also love coffee, so it’s a win-win.
I’ll have my books with me, especially my new release, Shine the Light.
Shine the Light is connecting with people in a way I didn’t anticipate. I didn’t realize how rare it was to have a main character with mental illness-and what that means to people who fight that battle or love someone who does.
When I first started writing about Shannon, I knew she’d overcome a lot. And even with her overcoming and being a successful adult, there were scars and hidden things she needed to deal with.
Like so many of us, growing up wasn’t easy for Shannon. My desire was to reveal her character in a way that made her accessible to people that suffer from bad childhoods, or for those who love people who did.
But I didn’t truly know how important that would be. I’ve heard from readers that Shannon’s story isn’t unique. And that her fight to overcome is inspiring. How it’s given them hope.
It’s a reminder to me how important our own stories are, and how sharing them creates empathy and can bring comfort and peace in a world running short on grace.
So I hope you’ll do that with someone. Share your story. Find another who needs a listening ear. Who needs a shoulder. You’ll be surprised at the impact it makes.
And if you’re in town next Saturday, come share with me. I’d love to listen.