Hello friends. I hope the sun is shining on your Saturday with as much light and brilliance as it is shining on mine. It’s been an overwhelming week for me and for my family. We spent the greater part of the week in specialists’ offices and holding my son tight as we search for answers. While we still don’t have a diagnosis for what’s causing our son’s high blood pressure, our hopes our high and our faith is firm. We will find a cause and then a cure. In the meantime, I thank God every morning for another day, for me, for him, for all of us.
Your prayers and kind thoughts mean more to me than I can adequately express here. Please keep lifting my family up, and please know just how much we appreciate it. Truly, we are so grateful for your love and support.
As you may or may not know, Ripple’s planned release date is Monday, 1/21. I thought about delaying it, but right now, working is keeping me sane and helping me get my mind off my worries. With my family behind me, I’m going ahead and releasing Ripple on time. It’s true to my nature and true to what the characters in this novel would do were they in my shoes. No matter the circumstances, life must be lived, rather than set aside. And in living, and working, we can find relief from our difficulties.
To those of you who were kind enough to advance read Ripple, I would be so very grateful if you could write an honest review on Amazon and/orGoodreads. And I do mean honest, with the gentle caveat that the more stars you give it, the more likely it is to end up in the hands of other readers.
I’d also like to send out a huge thank-you to Renée Schuls-Jacobson, who sent me a note late last night and single-handedly turned my Amazon blurb into a much better end product. My name may be on the title, but the writing of this first novel has been one I could not have done alone.
Here are the links to Amazon and Goodreads.
And finally, to buy an autographed copy of Ripple, I think you can click on this link: Buy Autographed Copy of Ripple
And again, thank you all so very much for your support, and especially for your prayers and kind thoughts concerning my son.
What a week!!! I can’t wait to review Ripple because it’s a gripping read. I am keeping your family in my prayers. And Monday’s gonna rock!! So grateful I read an early copy of this amazing and triumphant story.
Thank you millions my friend, but for your kind words about Ripple and for your prayers for my family! xoxo
El! I know you are overwhelmed with all that is going on with Ben and that writing is keeping your mind off things. Thank you for the shout-out, and I wish you every success with this book. I loved working with you on it during its earliest incarnation and I can’t wait to see what you have birthed.
(PS: I’m not sure you can install a Paypal button unless you are self-hosted. Tweet @amberwest with your questions about how to get your books sold via blog. She recently had to think about these things when her fabulous book launched.)
Thank you so very much, Renee, for your kind words both here and elsewhere. Thank you!!
I did figure out how to link to PayPal. It’s not a gorgeous solution but for now, it will work as far as directing people to my PayPal account, and rather than stress about it for hours, I will go with the easy solution, you know? I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
So glad you figured something out. You are truly forging the way. I’m not surprised. You always take that path, and make your way fearlessly.
I can’t wait for you to tell me how everything works.
My friend–I’ll be overjoyed to share all that I’ve learned and am learning with you. Even this first weekend, I’ve learned some neat things and would do things a little differently (ha–adverb) next time. I will confess this: it’s not so much a lack of fear, because I’m terrified. It’s that I’m reckless. There’s good and there’s bad in that. I didn’t even send out query letters . . . so was that out of fear that I’d receive too much rejection, or out of this crazy abandon and exuberant spirit with a dash of rebellion thrown in? All of the above I imagine. But yes, I will help you and anyone I can.
You’ve got my prayers – and a review definitely coming from me, too. Almost done with the book – of which the writing in many parts is poetic and beautiful.
Aww friend, thank you so, so much for your support and for your kind words!!
El, I will be praying for your son and for a special grace over your life as well. May God sustain you and keep you under His wings in the weeks to come. As for Ripple, I can’t wait to get a copy in my hands. I’m sure it will be nothing less than stellar!
Awww my gosh, Anka, thank you so very much! I appreciate your support and most of all your prayers!
Dear El,
I’m hoping that you get the diagnosis and treatment options lickety-split. And I think you made a wise decision on releasing the book. I’m looking forward to reading it. I will put it on my Bloggin Buddy Books page on Monday when it comes out!
Dear Elyse: yet again, your kindness and support truly fill my heart with gratitude. Thank you so very much my friend! xoxo
Be sure to let us know when you figure out how to do autographed copies – I definitely want one! “Oh yes, El Phoenix Farris? She’s a friend of mine – see?!”
Thank you bunches dear friend! And LOL re a friend of yours–why yes, a proud friend I am of yours! Thank you for your support and your friendship!!
Looking forward to reading Ripple, El.
Thoughts and prayers with you and your family.
Aww Dawn, thank you very much re Ripple. And thank you so much for your prayers.
I will keep you all in my prayers, El. You can count on me to write a review too!
Thank you so much Christine, for both your prayers and your support!
Blogger/Wordpress have kept me away from you for far too long. I am so sorry to hear about your son and, as a non believer, am sending the strongest healing, comforting wishes I can through the blogosphere. For him and for you.
It is so very good to see you my friend, and I’m so grateful for your kind thoughts and wishes. xoxo
praying for you this moment, dear. Xxxxxx
Thank you so much dear friend! xoxoxo
Done, on both counts. Much love and healing power being sent your way. ♥
Oh my gosh hun. Thank you so, so much, both for your lovely review and for your healing thoughts and love. Thank you. xoxo
I continue to keep you all in my thoughts and in my heart. And I am very excited for you and the book! I just bought my copy and can’t wait to read it.
Thank you so much, Melissa, both for your kind thoughts re my family and for your incredible support for my writing!! xoxo
Praying that everything works out OK with your son. And big, big congratulations on your book – you’re my idol!
Good news all around!!! Congrats on the publication–that is AWESOME! And I promise to keep you kiddo in my prayers!