So…Authors Rock!

So…you remember how I said that I was a contributing author to The Motherhood Diaries? Well, this weekend, I had the opportunity along with several of the other authors to participate in a book signing in Houston. IT WAS AMAZING! I’ve been to book signings and been simply awed at being able to meet with amazing authors. Well, this time, it was my turn! Each day, I’m still amazed that I was given a chance to participate and be a part of a team. It was completely AWESOME!

This past weekend, we came to Houston and the ladies of Motherhood Diaries shut it down! Friday, the book signing was held at Dionisio Winery in Downtown Houston. I can’t describe the feeling except to say that I felt like Cinderella at the ball. Originally, when this was suggested, I REALLY wanted to go, but I knew that it was NOT in my budget…(hey..my story is Diary of a Struggling Mom…my budget is limited)! Anyway, my mom didn’t understand why that should stop me. She GRACIOUSLY offered to purchase my plane fare. My best friend helped and got a great deal for a room and a rental car for the weekend and a prayer partner gave me spending money. The trip was all planned and sponsored by friends and family! My sister even hooked me up with her iPhone for the weekend. It was sooooo awesome.

Now to the business. The authors of MD have been communicating online for the most part since right before the book was released. We’ve bonded and come to know one another over the past month or so and have really gotten close. One of the ladies (my sister writers) and I chatted that we would all get together and feel awkward probably because meeting folks online and then in person can be completely and totally different because people aren’t always the same online. I am glad to say that while at first we were ALL a little shy, we broke out after a few minutes into the same folks we have shown ourselves to be online! It was soooooo friggin’ cool! One of the sister writers, L.A. Lewis had this to say:

“Imagine you’ve always loved acting. Now, imagine that one of your favorite actors who you’ve admired for as long as you can remember, chose you to be a part of a movie that they’re starring in. Now, one would say that’s a very big deal, right? Of course it is. Now also imagine that this big time actor also invited you into their home, and fed you and made YOU feel like a star! Can you imagine that? Well, that’s exactly what this weekend felt like to me. Not only meeting, but actually being able to socialize and eat with authors that I’ve known and read for as long as I can remember reading, is just WOW! Not only that, but to top it all off, I was also able to meet other women who are about their business.”

Yup. That about sums it up. I straight felt like Cinderella except midnight didn’t turn my carriage back into a pumpkin! I was living a DREAM! I really, REALLY can’t believe that I was schmoozing with STARS (did you not know that authors are stars? You better reckanize! lol…)

To add more icing on the cake (this cake was seriously sweet!), Victoria Christopher Murray came out to support Reshonda and the rest of us and popped up at the signing! What she said that completely blew me away, was something that I’d said. SHE said that SHE was star struck! WHA?? She said that she now understands how her readers feel when they squeal with delight upon meeting her. I was completely flabbergasted. I got to meet most of my sister writers and I was cracking myself up because I recognized EACH AND EVERYONE of them…well, mostly. Pat Tucker threw me for a loop though! (lol)…she got all super sexy on us! HAHAHAHAHA! (hey…you ain’t see her!).

We all had so much fun! Roishina helped me live a little and get outside my box. IF it had not been for her, I would LIKELY have been in the room all weekend with my nose in a book until it was time for our two events. This was my first time going west of Alabama! I already knew that Pat Tucker and Crystal Brown Tatum and I shared a special bond because we’re members of the same sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho. I also found out that another sister writer, Felicia Williams, is a member also! WHAAAAAA!!! I’ve told you before that this is a talented bunch of ladies. I was sincerely overwhelmed and just star struck! YUP! I SAID IT! STAR STRUCK!

I’m honored to know these ladies. I feel like I’ve known them forever and I know that they are praying for me just like I’m praying for them. Big things are happening. Make sure you come along. You don’t want to miss it. Check out the links below. These are some of the things we’re up to. Now, some of them, I’ve already linked to above. Just click their highlighted names. The others, I’m posting below. Check them out!

Shelby Alexander Griggs – Diary of a Mature Mom

Keleigh Crigler Hadley – Diary of a Wimpy Mom

Sadeqa Johnson – Diary of an Overachieving Mom (who needs a drink)

Makasha Dorsey – Diary of an Aspie Mom

Gina Phillips Johnson – Diary of a Praying Mom

Edna Pittman – Diary of a Special Needs Mom

Jamesina Greene – Diary of a Depressed Mom

C. Mikki – Diary of an Adoptive Mom

Tia McCollors – Diary of a Stay At Home Mom

Norlita Brown – Diary of an Abusive Mom

Gail Diamond – Diary of a Single Parent

Marcena Hooks – Diary of a Working Mom (the balancing act)

Lichol Ford – Diary of a Welfare Mom

Tanisha Tate – Diary of a Mom/Dad

Deborah Gaffney – Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Miranda Parker – Diary of a Mom With a Disability Big Heart

Like I said, this is a talented group of ladies! We have lots going on. I hope you’ve enjoyed the book as much as we have. This weekend, as we signed books and mementos for each other, I felt like it was the last day of school and we were signing yearbooks! I was sad to see the weekend come to an end but I so enjoyed the time that I did spend with my sister writers. I am looking forward to the next time we’re all able to get together.

Until next time,

Hakuna Matata