People often ask me if receiving  a brand new book I’ve written is like having a baby.  Comparing creating anything to a mom giving birth is a little too much.  While the actual birth experience only exists for me in my imagination I’ve walked with many friends through the journey of pregnancy and birth.  I see birth as an utterly miraculous-unlike-anything-else event.

To answer in the metaphor, however, I can say, “Yes.”  But the moment of “birth” isn’t when the book is printed and published.  It’s that moment, after months of writing, and re-writing and editing, removing and adding and editing some more, it’s that ONE MOMENT when I sit back and sigh.  That moment of certain knowing that I am done with the manuscript.  I can call this my best effort and put it in the hands of the publisher.  That’s the moment of birth of a book.

To continue the metaphor – the day I receive the book, ready to go on shelves and in the hands of readers all over the world, is the Bar Mitzvah, La Quinceaneraor a debutante’s ball. The work has been impacted and molded by many others after it has left my hands.  What comes back to me is no longer singularly my own work, but rather the collaborative effort of many.  Hillary Clinton often says that it takes a village to raise a child.  This is true of a book: it takes a village to create one. 

Mac Anderson, founder of SimpleTruths.com, gave me the opportunity to reflect on my core values found in my poem LIVE WITH INTENTION.  And he asked me to season the work with the quotes that have made me the person I am through my life.  What a great opportunity to roll around in my favorite words – partnered with beautiful and engaging photographs and elegant typography.  You’ll see what I mean if you acquire a copy of LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU DO.  And I hope you will let me know what you think.  Today is the coming out party.