Once it launches, it’s on. Writing seriously for eleven years, and going to bed, ill with stomach palputations after I’d attempt to venture out to truly promote anything. I’m private, a recluse, well, I say that; these days, I’m having a good time with the public.

It’s scary opening yourself up for judgement. That’s what writing is, just ask E. L. James. One of my kids just recently read the book, and the critique; ‘it was awful!’ She didn’t edit it, she just put it out banking on the content, and she got it right. Sex sells.

My books were all wholesome until the Covid era, when I wrote “Somewhere in the ’80s” which in my opinion is equal to “Porky’s” or in today’s world, “The Hangover.”

Then came the book “Zumba Love” which I thought I’d delete since I teach Zumba now, but my son said not to. “That will be your most lucrative book one day; you just wait and see.”

Then I finished off the what I call the ‘gym setting’ books with “Middle-aged Women” which I had so much fun writing. The ending made me cry because the characters were finished. Our journey was over. They found their happily-ever- after, and I truly loved them. I didn’t want to let them go.

Writing becomes that, a way to create a substitute community. It comes in handy when you don’t want to put the work in on finding a real one. Communities are scary. You might accidentally cuss, or God forbid, admit something personal. You might accidentally pick your nose, or maybe your lipliner is always too dark, which likens you to a coloring book page, where the outline is bold in black, and you trace a bolder black, so the drawing stands out?

Women line their lips bolder on their wedding days, or for evening parties or galas. I do mine that way all the time. (See? I would tell that out in the community, and for some; that’s personal information.) My left side of my face has a good strong lifted lip, while the right side does not. I’ve passed that on to my daughter. She’ll one day freakishly line her lips to even them out, too.

It’s not that I care to go out in the public, it’s just that I don’t want to hear it, what people have to say about me, or anyone else. I’d rather stay at home and claim victory that I never put myself out there in order to become the butt of someone’s joke, or judgement.

But that’s boring, and as I’ve aged, I’ve discovered that there’s strength in community, and it’s healthier to enjoy one’s life with people, instead of spending one’s life hiding in the home. (I don’t actually do that, but it sounds good for dramatic effect, right?)

I enjoy being a part of something, whether it be a Bible study, coffee with friends, or a glass of wine at a bar listening to what the people around me have to say. I’ll have to take the risk and go out.

And I’ll have to do that with writing, take the risk. We already pushed the button, and there’s no turning back now- mistakes are a must at this point.

Literally, my husband had it on Kindle for months. It looked perfect to him; I never checked it. (I also didn’t have this one professionally edited- I suspected it would be free, so I didn’t want to spend the money.) It set there, waiting. He’d ask me, “Today?” I’d shake my head. I wasn’t ready for the work, to lose sleep, to put the book over exercise classes, because I really love teaching exercise classes. I knew once we started down the path, it was permanent. Emerald City, we’re on our way!

Today, the new rest of my life started. I’ll be at the computer nonstop, I’ll be paying my editor, and hopefully she’ll give me discounts, because we have a lot to edit, and I’ll need her for so much more because I still haven’t figured out the specifics, and there are MANY specifics. I have two kids in school, and grandbabies that I want to supply college funds for. I can’t hire all the people that need to be hired, yet, if ever.

We’ll see what happens; because as the song says, “Ain’t no stopping us now, we’re on the move.” Tell me about it.

If you download the book, let me know what you think. I’m actually going to try to keep that one free for a time. It’s the first of three, so if you want to know what happens after this one, there’s a second one, and it’s better. 🙂

Fridays Up the Hill by V. M. Jenkins