I finished my book! Well, kind of

I have finally finished my book! I've sent it off to an editor and a few close family members to get their initial feedback. I tell ya, it's like giving birth to a child ... after nine long months, a few deep breaths, a final push, a few tears of joy, a sense of absolute terror that I have to let her go into the world to be judged and hope I've given her the tools to hold her own. I just have to believe I've done my job, that I've nurtured her as best as I know how. I hope to have my baby uploaded to Kobo in a few weeks. I'm now going through the less creative aspects of publishing: getting a ISBN (a number assigned to every single book out there—who knew?), write my synopsis, pick the right cover picture, set a price. It's mind boggling, but it's got to be done! I quote an excerpt from Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love and actually had the forethought to ask permission. I wrote an email to her agent and they just wrote back today saying they will give me permission!!! That in itself feels like a huge boost of positive energy coming my way. I had to send them the excerpt where I mention the quote. I guess they didn't hate my writing ... that's a bonus!

Don't worry, I'll keep everyone posted on the date it will be available. Look for it ... and buy it ... please!!! It's called:  Following my tug ... all the way to Cost Rica!

So excited and terrified at the same time!!

Of course, as I'm rereading it again, I'm finding more typos and a few grammar errors. So I guess I'm still not completely done. It's all part of the process, and I'm so close to it that it's hard for me to have any more perspective. Hopefully the editor will also have good suggestions.