I'm a PAID AUTHOR

After a weekend with my family in Southern California, I arrived home last night, opened my mailbox, and found *GASP* my very first author paycheck. After jumping around in the lobby of my building for a bit, I took a bunch of goofy pictures of it so I can relive that moment later. From the day I typed THE END on TOUCHED, I've been dreaming about what it would feel like to get that baby in the mail. I can honestly tell you, it felt every bit as good as I imagined. Better, actually, because nothing came as easy as I daydreamed it would. And I hope I feel just as grateful, just as humble with every paycheck I earn from my writing. Not everyone gets paid to do what they love, and I don't ever want to take that for granted.

So what am I going to do with this new windfall? Splurge and buy something completely impractical that I long for when I have a million other things I should be using the money for. THIS.

Also, I am going to buy myself a lovely gift on my Italian vacation. Because I can. And, boy am I grateful for that.