Launching a Book; Birthing a Baby

 I had to laugh, because I thought of myself as pregnant with twins— and many of the feelings I’ve had since receiving 189 boxes of books in my office were much like I felt after giving birth to my miracle boy minus the very sore body and swollen breasts!

In fact the parallels are strong:  I insisted on birthing my boy at home, in a birthing tub.  Despite being a few months over 40, I was clear that I had the innate capacity to give birth without undue interventions by impatient and pain fearing doctors and hospitals.  I wanted to do it my way, at home where I was comfortable and had more control over the environment.  I resisted the warnings that I was endangering myself and my child, and held in my mind the truth that women give birth all over this planet, outside of hospitals, with the assistance of their communities, midwives and family.  I knew what was true for me, I listened to myself, and twelve hours after starting labor, my beautiful, BIG, boy was born.

When I began writing Wild Money I assumed I would approach agents and publishers.  I wrote a book proposal, researched my options and talked with editors and authors.  I knew that retaining artistic control was essential to my book— and as this feeling crystallized I knew that the only way was to self publish.  I have a tendency to take the most difficult path because I’m not one to compromise— and it’s arduous, but worth it in the end.  When birthing Hunter I never wanted drugs to diminish the pain— I wanted to fully experience the RITE OF PASSAGE that becoming a mother is; and the same was true with my books.

In the fall of 2012 I thought I was finished with Wild Money.  The pages were DESIGNED, the text had been edited too many times to count, but I had this problem:  it was 400 pages long!

I had decided to use crowd funding to raise the money for publication, and had underestimated the incredible work this required.  It was as though I were eight months pregnant only to discover I was having twins!  I was delighted to expand the project to include a companion journal and visual glossary… until I realized how much more work, and money it would take to complete.  Idealistic is my middle name.  Maybe I have two middle names:  idealistic dreamer.  I’m Aquarian, what can I say?  I dream big, and make things happen.  Then I collapse, cry with relief, laugh like a teenager at a slumber party, and do it again.  I’ve come to accept this about myself.

So…. how do I feel?  Relieved, proud, vulnerable, strong, and excited all at once.  It’s disorienting to be finished with a three year creative process.  It’s liberating to have the books launched into the world- to see them on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, in the Wall Street Journal.  I’m impatient for more— I want to change the world… I want Wild Money to catch on like a wildfire of financial love.  I’m twiddling my thumbs wondering what to do with myself from 5am to 8am each morning when I used to write, edit and design.  It’s like having been at anchor in a protected bay for years, then suddenly realizing the sails are up, the wind is blowing and I’m moving out into the open sea- it’s exhilarating and terrifying.

Like any new mother, I hope you see the beauty in my babies that I see.  I hope you will spread the word, do the work, and most importantly CELEBRATE with me at my July 7th book launch.

You can meet the twins (if you haven’t already), and I’ll even let you hold them!

Of course there will be some special treats (both the kind you eat, and the artsy kind you take home), as well as an opportunity to experience the Wild Money Oracle, which I created especially for this event.

If you won’t be in Portland on July 7th, you can still send your love by commenting here.