Big Ol' Box O' Blessings

Early last week, my cute UPS man delivered a big ol' box of THE BLESSINGS OF THE ANIMALS to my door. There's nothing that makes a book release feel more real than to hold the actual book in your hands.

I'm so pleased and thrilled. I think it's gorgeous. I love the cover, I love the font, I love the flap copy, I love how it's all put together. I've been blessed by so many talented, wonderful people at HarperCollins...and very blessed by the three amazing novelists who gave me generous blurbs.

I even woke up in the middle of the night, got out of bed, and turned on lights just to look at the book again! All that time, all those various drafts, all the revisions, all the slogging work of putting words on the page...and here it is, an actual book soon-to-be-for-sale in stores. Even though there actual, physical book makes the years long process seem real, there's also something very surreal about it.

Here we are, less than two weeks away from the August 3rd publication date. Huge thanks to everyone who helped bring this book to life—fellow writers who inspired me and offered insightful feedback, all those who helped with research, every reader, friend, and book club who offered me encouragement and support on this crazy journey!

Here we gooooo....

I'm feeling very blessed indeed.