Bragging Rights

I'm published.

I've always wanted to say that. I am a wannabe author, and would LOVE to write a book that is so compelling that it becomes the hit. Kind of like Harry Potter, or Twilight. I look at those authors, and say to myself, they were once just ordinary people, like me, but something compelled them to tell a story, and unlike me, they possessed a talent to tell it.

That's not the case with me. My words that made it to a book were few. Six to be exact. 

About a year or so ago, I saw a challenge online, to tell a story about myself in six words. The first thing that came to my mind was my first daughter's birth, and that's what I wrote. In order to submit those six words, I had to fill out a form with my name and email. Which I did.

I promptly forgot about it until about 6 months later when I got an email telling me that my submission was being considered for the next book, and would I give them permission? Which I did. Then I forgot about it again until last November when I got an invitation to come to their grand opening, or whatever it is you do to celebrate the printing of a book. (that's how close to becoming an author I am, I don't even know the terminology. heh) I checked out the location, and wrote back, thanked them, but I couldn't possibly travel to New York to read my six words. But I did find out the name of the new book. It All Changed in an Instant - More Six-Word Memoirs.

So now it is published and for sale on Amazon. I got one more email asking for my address so they could send me my copy of the book. Which just came in the mail.

How nice.

I got a copy of the book.

I thought it would be one of those things they do with the High School students when they tell you that your son or daughter just got nominated to be in the Who's Who of High School Students. What an honor, you think! But when it all comes down to it, it is just a book filled with a list of names of youth in High School. And it cost $50 to possess your own copy. It felt like a scam, but I dutifully purchased the copies for my children who were honored at first.But after the third one, I asked the other kids if this means anything to them, and the younger ones turned them down. (thanks kids)

I thought this would be the same kind of thing. But it wasn't, at least the part about selling you a book containing your name.

After it arrived, I eagerly opened the package and began to read.

As I read everyone else's entries, I found that many of them did not even pertain to the title. But there were some who fit. For example:

"Sentences got shorter. Suddenly became novelist."  Jessica Anthony
or
"Eye punctured. Soul window forever broken." Michelle Morales

I found my entry on page 8.

"Sent home. Baby born in bathtub."

So that is my claim to fame.

I hope you are having a wonderful day.

~a