October has just begun and already it has been a month of sadness and joy for me. First the joy.

The Warrior’s Bride Launch Party at the downtown Bellevue Barnes & Noble was a huge success. Over a hundred people attended and were entertained with traditional Scottish Highland dancing and the soulful sounds of the bagpipe. It’s not every day that Barnes & Noble exudes that much Scottish spirit. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun and we sold a lot of copies of both Warrior’s Bride and The Warrior Trainer.

One of the most breathtaking moments for me was when I walked into the store to see a whole endcap filled with my books. Tears came to my eyes, staring at all those books. It wasn’t too long ago that I feared I would never publish. What a difference a year can make. I don’t think I will ever forget the joy of that moment.

The only downside to the event was the unbearable pain I had to endure while signing. I’ve been struggling all summer with a broken right foot and left knee that needs replaced. I put on a happy face for the night, I tried my best to give the audience everything I had, but in my heart I knew it wasn’t my best.

But it is the struggles and the joys that keep us moving forward in life. And on October 10th I will do something about that knee pain. Until then, I will focus on all the blessing I have received from readers who send kind notes and thoughtful emails about how much you enjoyed my stories.

You all mean so much to me!

~Gerri