Before last summer, I couldn't have guessed that I would be signing a book contract with a NY publisher on a subject that I so deeply love.
I had just finished filming The Desha Show in Nantucket and decided to have a front porch meeting with Development Editor/Author Suzanne Kingsbury and Literary Agent Dede Cummings to discuss how to grow the show, when Dede suggested writing a "Style Book." Her words made my heart RACE. The energy and ideas flew back and worth and at the end I was almost scared of the idea. It sounded so good and so close to my heart that if I let myself get too excited, and then it didn't work, I would be more than disappointed... I would be devastated.
Isn't this how it works? We can't acknowledge our number one dream b/c it's too scary to admit we want it. If we admit it and fail, it hurts so much worse than if we failed at something we didn't really care about.
I am not an interior designer. I am not a stylist. I am not an author. It seemed like a long shot to try and write a book on home decor/style and meaning. But I thrive in the world of possibilities. If there was even the slightest bit of hope that it could work, I had to try.
I might not have the right degrees or certificates, blah blah, blah. But I do know what I like when it comes to style and I am willing to work hard.
Since that day on the porch, I put my whole heart and soul into writing the proposal and tried to be patient through the process. Now I know why authors have sentimental dedications in their books... writing a book is sort of like hanging up a piece of art that took you two years to paint. You've thought about it a lot, it's personal and it makes you feel a bit vulnerable to show the world.
There's so much more I want to share, but for now I just want to take a deep breath and acknowledge my feelings of gratitude. I've loved decor, style and inspirational stories 4-ever and now is my chance to write a book about what I love most. Yippee- Hayay!
Do you have a dream you're too scared to even admit to yourself? Did you take a risk and follow a dream even though it seemed impossible? How did it go? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below.
xo
