'Making Friends with Ghosts’ turns 1 year old

It’s my book birthday! ‘Making Friends with Ghosts‘ turns 1 year old today.

Today, January 26th is the book birthday for my first published book, Making Friends with Ghosts.

Cover of the book Making Friends with Ghosts, showing two cups of coffee in a hunated library with a green velvet chair on the other side of the table

Though *technically,* my book was actually available one year ago yesterday, on the 25th. I had been shocked and delighted to see my book appear for sale on Amazon a day early when a friend let me know it was there. It hit #1 Best Seller across several categories on release day.

Making Friends with Ghosts is such an important book to me. I gave myself the freedom to write what I wanted to write, no rules or holding back, within reason. I went raw in so many ways it was like releasing my diary to the public. Not only did I write about my childhood difficulties at home, but my later severe postpartum depression, which brought me to my lowest point in life.

I wrote about paranormal investigation – how to do it, its mysteries, its opportunities, & how its community (once I found the right circle) helped me hoist myself out of the blackness.

This book was the start of a brand new chapter in my life. In the past year, I’ve co-founded a publishing company and written a full fiction novel, Desperate Creatures, plus a novella. I’ve spearheaded and written for 3 anthologies, featuring writing from authors who have become friends. I started writing articles and original short stories for a Substack Publication.

I’ve become a book cover designer, dodging judgmental comments along the way and earning a Book Cover Design award nod to boot. I’ve run vendor tables and been invited to book signing events. I’ve lectured publicly onstage about mental health & creativity.

I’ve seen my books be sold in a brick-and-mortar store for the first time, Miss Lizzies Coffee next to the Lizzie Borden House, of all places! I’ve collaborated with talented friends and creators to bring our books to life with bookish merch, videos, and audio recordings.

Most importantly, I’ve met new friends who have become invaluable to me, and strengthened other friendships.

It’s all thanks to writing Making Friends with Ghosts. I’m not bragging; I’m trying to show transparently how very grateful I am that I had it in me to write this thing. The process wasn’t and isn’t easy, but it’s been SO worth it.