There’s a new baby in my house and, as with all babies, its birth has sparked joy and the realization that there will be much work to do on its behalf.
It will need hours of my tender loving care each day and will thrive when afforded proper time and attention to its well-being. Conversely, it will wither away if neglected, leaving little trace of its fledgling presence among us. Although it won’t cry, spit up, throw a temper tantrum, or eventually say “I love you,” it will launch out into the world as a new creation laden with all the expectations of me, its proud parent, for a successful life.
I am speaking, of course, of my book baby, I Know She Was There, just released on November 12th of 2024, and still in its infancy as of this writing.
The parallels between human babies and other brand-new creations struck me and got me thinking about the importance of passion, love, and devotion to a cause so much bigger than ourselves when unleashing our interests and talents into the wider world.
The concept made me think of the Ralph Waldo Emerson poem, To Have Succeeded. I have loved it for decades:
To laugh often and much
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends
To appreciate beauty
To find the best in others
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived
This is to have succeeded
I’d venture to say most of us have experienced just about all of the situations listed above. It’s the universal appeal of those words that draws us together. I am in the “earn the appreciation of honest critics” phase and it can be intimidating (though not as heartrending as enduring the betrayal of false friends), but as I set off on my book tour next month, I’ll find comfort in Emerson’s words. I will be at six different writing conferences in six different cities over the next six months—with multiple book signings and book club events peppered in between. When I’m overwhelmed, I’ll remind myself that this has always been my dream. And now it is reality.
I have the passion for this project, the devotion to carry it out, and the love of story and writing to inspire me to do it again with another book.
What new creations are you launching this year? Having a baby? Planting a new garden? Starting a new home or work project? Reach out and let me know in the comments section.
And if you are joining me on my literary journey, check out my latest podcast appearances and my most recent magazine review, below:
PODCAST: 'Toe Tags - Mysteries to Die For' - https://m2d4podcast.com/toe-tags-2/
PODCAST: 'The Patterson Library Connection' - https://youtu.be/aQSRLgdW5Y8
PODCAST: 'Only At The Library' -https://open.spotify.com/episode/0yUq92oW1mUdpP2Qv1B7Jg
MAGAZINE REVIEW: 'Outliers Monthly', p25 -
Whatever your aspirations, embrace the new possibilities the spring season provides!
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