Seeds of Accomplishment Beginning with the Ricochetti

Long ago in the Before Times, SeaWriter conducted a writing challenge for the Ricochetti and I added my two poetic cents. I was surprised and pleased to receive positive feedback from a few souls, including Front Street Cat and Trink, who encouraged me to submit my poetry for consideration to writing competitions. I never did — the consuming demands of life, marriage, and motherhood, a mask for bone-deep imposter syndrome.

Fast forward through some of the Crazy Years as I lurk in the background of Sarah Hoyt's marvelous blog. Commenting in my once-a-quarterly way, Sarah pins me down with the question: Why am I not published? The answer is rank cowardice, because Amazon has removed the barriers to publishing. Being made to articulate cowardice as my motive pricks my self-image. I open my big mouth to a big enough circle of my friends that I cannot back out and tell them I am publishing a book of my poetry on October 1.

Peer pressure to perform now battles cowardice in my soul. I am committed. I gather bits and pieces here and there and shape the book. I battled the 'easy' Amazon cover creator and, voila!, I am publishing a book. I cried because I accomplished a goal I had long held as impossible. I cried because I had put little pieces of my heart up for observation. I cried because I was suddenly scared of being observed.

Pre-sales rankings as of Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, show me at #23 in "Dating, Relationships and Spirituality," #25 in "Death, Grief and Spirituality," #41 in Family and Inspirational Spirituality.

I came to post a big Thank You to the Ricochetti who planted the seeds of encouragement lo those many years ago, as well as in my acknowledgements in the actual book itself. To my embarrassment, I misremembered who said those kind words nearly ten years ago. So, to Front Seat Cat and Trink: Thank you. You were instrumental in making a dream come true. To SeaWriter, who gets the acknowledgment in the book itself: Thank you for encouraging engagement from the Ricochetti.

And now the plea of all authors: Buy my book!