Of Mistakes and Missteps...

Four years ago when I started dreaming of writing and then actually started writing, I was hesitant. Excited, but hesitant.

I knew there were "things" I didn't know that I didn't know. There was the fear of that reality, but also the excitement of a story, like hot chocolate percolating and spilling over onto the computer keyboard and into Word--hot and sweet and sticky.

I felt like I did when I strapped on ice skates for the first time and took that first step on an ice rink with hands outstretched, or driving home at 16 with a brand new license gripping the wheel in the 10 and 2 position, or sitting down as an eight-year-old at the piano for my first recital, hands shaking.

I fell on the ice more than I skated.

I ran a stop sign (with my mother next to me).

I hit the wrong keys and made numerous stops and starts in my recital piece.

"Firsts" are hard. While self-publishing Pearls for Margaret, I made plenty of errors, mistakes, and missteps. But I had my family and friends, you, who supported me.

This has been a bucket list dream. And you have made it come true.