Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do

I did it.
Three books published in one year.
​My third romance novel, The Nearness of You came out last month and I’m still glowing in the aftermath. People keep asking me how I did it. It’s simple – HARD WORK!
 
When I first toyed with the idea of querying publishing companies with my first novel a couple of years ago, I was like a sponge reading everything I could about the book business and how to do it. I also started following tons of writers to see what they did.
 
Wendy Wax, one of my favorite contemporary women’s fiction authors (who is also an Atlanta lady) was coming to a local book club in my sister’s neighborhood to speak. My sister invited me because she knew how much I loved Wendy’s books. I really wanted to speak to Wendy one-on-one to get some advice before I jumped in with both feet, but I knew she’d be too busy at the book club party. My mama always told me, “it never hurts to ask” – so I emailed Ms. Wendy Wax through her website and asked if I could buy her a glass of wine at the local Marlowe’s and bend her ear an hour before the book club started. Low and behold, she agreed to meet me! I was floored and so nervous that night. Wendy was gracious and wonderful. She didn’t know me from Adam and took time out of her busy schedule to meet with a star struck dreamer. It’s something I will never forget.
 
About six months later, I signed my first publishing contract and my first novel, Unexpected was released on December 12, 2016. Five months later, Love Song was released on April 13, 2017, and just last month on October 10, 2017, The Nearness of You made its debut.
 
Readers have been incredible, and I can’t even begin to tell you how fantastic the author community is! I have reached out to dozens of authors including New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors in the romance genre asking tons of questions – and all of them have emailed or called me back! What’s funny is, since I’ve been published, I’ve had a couple of authors reach out and ask me questions. Me? Gulp…
 
Fast forward to this Saturday, November 11, 2017. I will be performing in the first ever Milton Literary Cabaret at the Olde Blind Dog Pub. I’m singing a 20-minute set @ 5:30pm, SHARP! This will be the grand finale of the Milton Literary Festival http://www.miltonliteraryfestival.weebly.com/
I will also be signing books earlier at the Milton City Hall from 3:30pm – 4:00 pm.
 
It’s going to be a full-circle moment for me – guess who else is a featured author at the Milton Literary Festival? Wendy Wax! Can you believe it? I will finally get to thank her face-to-face for paying it forward. Isn’t that what life’s all about?
 
Dreams really do come true…you just have to work at it – and help others along the way.
KG
xoxo

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