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Finding Gratitude Celebrating the Birth ofFinding

Emmaus

I love talking about my book. Cant help it no point in

dissembling or trying to deny it. Anyone who knows anything

about me, or has spoken with me for even five minutes, willtell you that. I also love addressing a crowd as long as Im

passionate about the subject matter. So, when October 8th

rolled around, I was absolutely in all my glory. After all, whatcould I possibly be more passionate about than my new baby,

my novel, Finding Emmaus?

Its funny: I expected the day to be somehow different. Not

sure how, just different. Perhaps everything outside would

look clearer, more sharply defined. Perhaps the air would feelcrisper or the sun would shine brighter or my bagel would taste

better. I read once, a long time ago, that life-altering events come in on cats paws and I know

that to be true. I dont tend to walk around blinded by rose-colored glasses, but still I couldnt

help but think, deep in that little girls heart of mine, that it might have been nice for the universeto stand up, even for a moment, and take just a little more notice if only enough so that maybe

walking the dog would take on some new, prophetic meaning.

But the universe did not cooperate and, frankly, neither did the dog.

No matter. It was a lovely day and by the time the evening rolled around, I was excited but relaxedand confident and above all, deeply grateful for all I've been blessed with.

Theres no reason for any of this to have happened. Outside of my degree, which says Im a high

school English teacher, I've no formal training to be a writer. I had no rsum with which to wow

a potential agent or publisher; I did not have an office wall papered with rejections or a bookshelffull of unwanted manuscripts and I certainly was not living the life of a starving artist. All I did

was spend three days in a monastery at a silent retreat and, in the absence of external noise, I dugdeep down inside myself and found the voice thats apparently been clambering for my attention

for nearly fifty-six years.

They say things come in threes and I think maybe

thats so, for I now celebrate three births: my new

granddaughter, my new book, and this miraculousbut strange new woman I have become. I love her,

Im just spending a little extra time in the sizing

her up stage of our relationship.

Coincidentally (and I dont believe it coincidences!)

it looks as though The Lodestarre Series will be a

trilogy.

The Book Launch Celebration was a great success. Friends Id spoken with but had not actually

seen in thirty-eight years drove in from New Jersey and Washington DC just to be with me. BethDevlin, the events coordinator for the Wallingford Public Library, outdid herself. The publicity

was excellent, the room was beautiful, and Beth herself was cool as a cucumber and the

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consummate professional. She managed everything so smoothly, the evening just couldnt have

been better.

I've a lot to be grateful for. And a lot to look forward to. And wonderful people in my life to

depend on and celebrate with. And all I can think to say is Thank God.

Finding Gratitude Celebrating the Birth of Finding Emmaus.doc

19 October 2009 @ 1:19AM