Normal Activities in Abnormal Times

If you read my last blog post, you'll already know that my little family and I are going through some tough times right now.

Living under the threat of court appearances and legal fees doesn't dominate my every thought. There are lots of completely normal events and activities that fill our time in hugely meaningful ways.

One of the most normal events happening to me right now is the launch of Dry Stories with Morning Rain Publishing. This is what writers do. They write books and get them published. They share the links to KOBO and to Amazon so their fans (I have at least 8) can buy those books. Today, I have a completely normal task to complete in announcing the release of my new book.

It feels good to be normal.

There is also one way it feels good to be abnormal. When I was in elementary school and was being bullied every day, I never imagined that I would one day be surrounding by a crowd of loving and dedicated friends, but I am.

So, it is my great privilege to share with you the abonormal and remarkable list of people who populate the Dedication and Acknowledgements notes from Dry Stories:

"Dedicated to Brian and Mary Christina for taking me on every adventure.

"Acknowledgements become giant tasks with the expressions of love they invite an author to make, even when they are written for short books. To everyone at Morning Rain publishing, I send my thanks for the privilege of your attention and your hard work to make short books a big deal.

"I once got a fortune cookie that said: “Your greatest treasure is the friends you have.” No other form of divination has ever been so accurate.

"While I may have forgotten a name or two on this list in hurry and confusion, I have not forgotten your place in my heart. To Luna Kwan, Amanda and Judith Allan, Regina and Don Moorcroft, Cecilia Moorcroft and Annie Moorcroft, Karrie Porter and Karrie Bannerman, to Renee Frigault, Ali Hewison, Michael Prescott, Yvonne Young, Dawne Grummett, Shani Ferguson, Christina Zola, Jordan Christensen, Jennifer Mason, Joanne Clendening-Kasunic, Anita Windisman, L.Ward, Pete Bevin, Sylvia Degrow, Jane and Pat Dunphy, Elinor Hughes, Kevin Powell, Andrew Noble, Dondy Razon, Rhonda Sussman, Meshell Gudz, Laurie Smyth, Vanessa Stockton, Marina Zvetina, Margaret Wolfhart-Stoll, Sharon Kavli, Kristine Williams, Robin Hotton, Jennifer Bogart, Sarah Hagarty, Maral Maclagan, Elmar Kirchner, Ingo Saatweber, Marianne O’Neil, Alison Fraser, Rachel Kremen, Juliane Okot-Bitek, Leanne and Steven Cvetan, Tanya Fusco, Sandy Feldman, Allison Paige, Matthew Burpee, Jennifer Evans, Sonja Oldwin, Jill Hodges, Stacy King, Michele Marques, Suzanne Roberts, Allison Martin, Robert Land and Jean Bridge, Laurie Boese, Jocey De la Fontaine, Rebecca Morgan Quin, Kelly Peters, Yvonne Bobrowski, Bill Sweetman, Trevor Twining, Trishia DiFruscio, Cheri Raymond, Jenna Kane, Shawn Syms, Kirsty Alke, Gloria Gamat, Sean Sullivan, Anne Field, Gareth Hackett and David Carmichael I send my thanks for rescuing me from threats both internal and external. To you I send my best sense of obligation and my heartfelt promise to pay it forward. You have been my precious sources of strength and hope in times of scarcity and fear.

"To my brother Owen, my sister Sarah and our mother Cathy Baggott, I send my endless thanks for that special combination of chaos and security you bring to my creativity and to my heart."

Thank you. I couldn't have made this perfectly normal launch post without you.