What a journey it has been! My writing adventure began on December 1, 2023, and except for a break to celebrate Christmas with family, I’ve been at it every single day. Transitioning from semi-retirement to this level of consistent work has been quite a shift for me. Through this process, I’ve gained invaluable insights, particularly discovering how much there is to learn about the craft of writing. While I believe more time would have made my book even better, I’ve always thrived under deadlines, even those I set for myself.

Self-publishing and marketing have proven to be far more demanding than I initially imagined. Previously, I was only minimally active on social media, primarily using Facebook to support causes dear to me. However, I’ve since invested a lot of time trying to learn TikTok. As it turns out, platforms like Booktok are essential for indie authors, offering great marketing opportunities. Today is a particularly special day for me: not only is it my book launch day, but I’ve also reached 1000 followers on TikTok—a milestone that allows me to share links, host livestreams, and even set up a shop to sell my work directly. And as fate would have it, today is also my sister Diana’s birthday!

So many individuals have played crucial roles in this journey, far more than I could ever fully acknowledge. To all my local supporters, I extend a heartfelt invitation to join me at the launch party today at 5 pm at Tsunami Books, located at 2585 Willamette Street.