I'm writing tonight as I lay here, bored, and cannot help but feel guilty for not updating sooner. A lot is happening right now! For starters, I am just days away from the official release for my new book What Goes On in My Teacher's Head! It feels odd calling it new, since I wrote it when I was fifteen. It's only just now getting published. But you won't see me complaining! It's incredibly hard to get published. This industry is hard and, some could say, cutthroat. Not only that, but it is practically unheard of for someone's first novel to be published. First try. Fifteen. My heart is so light. I am so blessed. As part of the "tour" and leading up to the official release date, I was able to have a book signing-my very first- hosted by a small bookstore in a small town in Indiana. Again, this was my first book signing, and I was go from Missouri to Indiana. Unheard of. It was such an amazing experience! It was July 12, the day after my 22nd birthday. I had my mom there (unfortunately the rest of my family couldn't make it), and my grandparents and other members of my extended family, people from the town, which just happens to be where my mother grew up. We had a great turn out. I sold twelve books. I see you shaking your head (believe me-I do). Let me tell you, book signings are fickle things. When you're first starting out, you kind of have to learn the ropes, learn what to do, what not to do, how to sell as many as you can, meet new people. But no matter how many things other, more experienced people may tell you, there are just certain things you have to learn through experience. And a lot of times, there will be slow days; days where you sell one book. Or none. And you just sit there feeling awkward and dismayed. Every signing is different. Twelve books is a lot.
Anyway, this experience has already been so rewarding and such a dream come true. I've wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. And I've been a writer since I was 11 years old. Maybe not published, but a writer nonetheless. I can't wait to share more with you readers as I go along.
For those who want to know more about my book, here's what you need to know for now. My book is called What Goes On in My Teacher's Head. It tells the story of a young girl named Delis Kentworthy who has been without a family for seven years. When she finds herself in need of a place to stay, she finds solace with an unlikely ally; her very young, very single teacher Ms. Madison. As the two live together, they grow closer as a family, but face a harsh reality when members of the community find out about the arrangement. Will the two be able to stay together as a family and overcome the stigma of a judgmental town?

Look for What Goes On in My Teacher's Head in stores and online starting Tuesday, July 29.


That's all for now!
Ever yours, Dystoniac