You And Everything After Is ALMOST Live!

I shared this release "eve" post over on my Facebook page, but wanted to share it here as well. I can't wait for you all to meet Ty and Cass, and I hope you fall in love with their story. I know you're probably sick of hearing me say this, but thank you for reading - I love you all for it so very much.

Here's the link to my FB page just in case you'd like to hang out with me there (I give a lot of stuff away, so might be worth it :-) Ginger Scott's Facebook Page.

Here's the post:



I found something the other day. I was cleaning out old crap in the closet, and I came across one of my many mini notebooks in an old purse I finally got around to donating. In the notebook were lots of notes on these two characters I had been thinking about, Reed and Nolan, and in the back, there was a list of goals. I do this every year--write down my goals. I heard someone say something during an NPR interview once about how writing down goals makes you more likely to accomplish them, so I started writing mine down on the back page of notebooks and carrying them with me everywhere. I usually had four or five wellness type goals - funny, "stress less" makes the list every year. But…I also would end with "write my book." I would copy this goal over every year, and every year would pass without a check mark of accomplishment. Two years ago, I tackled two things on this list in the picture: One, I finally finished that book and put it out there with much fear and trepidation that it would float along unnoticed and be fast forgotten. I also took a risk, because putting this thing out there, this thing that was so personal and such a part of me and such a look inside my heart and mind and feelings, well…just trust me, that was a risk for me. I'm a tough cookie in many ways. I've been a breaking news reporter, and I've had people spit at me (really, people spit at reporters sometimes. Especially when those people are in handcuffs). But I wasn't sure how I'd handle someone absolutely hating my stories. I remember my stomach was sick when I pushed "publish" and then I waited and waited for others to read. It started slow, but the reviews coming in were positive, and after a few months, I had a handful of truly wonderful reviews that were more encouraging than anything I'd ever felt in my entire life. More time went on, and I started to get emails from people who identified with my book, who were moved by Nolan's story, appreciated the realness of Reed's character, and that gave me the courage to write more. After a year, I'd also experienced some of those really tough reviews -- the ones that terrified me. Yes, some people hated what I wrote, and they weren't shy about it. But some of those reviews had some very helpful things to say, so I put more notes in a mini notebook, and I made a goal to get better, but only at those things that wouldn't compromise what makes my stories "me." And I hope I've done that. I saved this post for today because once again, I'm on the eve of my newest release going live. And while I've gotten better at taking this seemingly little risk of putting my stories out to the world, it still fills me with a rush of anxiety. But maybe that's a good thing. Maybe that's what keeps me trying harder. I think we all want to be accepted and appreciated for what we put into the world, and the fact that so many of you have embraced my tiny contribution is humbling and the greatest gift. And if I have to eat through a box of Tums every time I add to the collection, then that seems a fitting price to pay to remind me that you all deserve my very best. So with that…in less than 24 hours, I give you all YOU AND EVERYTHING AFTER, Ty and Cass, and another little piece of me. I hope you like it, and I can't wait to do this again.