www.kellykomm.com

So over the weekend I particiapted in Chapters' Annual Local Author Extravaganza. It included myself and six other authors as we peddled our wares and munched on cake. It was a major event for me-my first multi-author signing.

The day hit a high point as Marty Chan arrived and ended up coming over and chatting with me. This is an author whose books I'd sold numerous copies of working in the bookstores, and whose play I was totally anticipating this fall. He blew me away further by purchasing my book! Friggin' Marty Chan! I couldn't believe it. I sat there writing out his name in the book. For Marty...

I refrained from writing 'Holy Shit-you're buying MY book'.

I was lucky enough to be seated next to Cheryl Kaye Tardif, a wonderful friend and writing mentor of mine. It was SO fun to chat with her in between customers.

I met several other great authors and all-in-all had a blast. It wasn't overly busy due to the weather being ridiculously nice, but I had fun, sold some books and walked away with a sweet gift from the store.

Quite a day!

I have found a new haven.

I decided to wander outside this evening with my laptop and was tremendously rewarded. I could barely write I was so overwhelmed with such contentment.

I sat on my plain patio, the warm glow of my $9.00 patio lanterns surrounding me, a hot cup of tea in an oversized mug and my laptop-fully charged. What more could a girl ask for?

I’ve been wracking my brain for weeks on what to write my next blog about. And in turn, I’ve prolonged it. I’ve learned so much just since the release of my first novel that I just couldn’t focus on one aspect. So I figured: screw it. Inspiration would find me.

Boy, did it ever.

I’ve written more tonight that I have in weeks and it feels SO GREAT! All that pent up frustration and anxiety over my lack of writing-gone.

Ah-there. The glorious sounds of a distant wind chime take my worries even further from me. They ride away on the backs of the crickets lulling my muse to work.

So take my advice. Suffering from pre-summer writing stalls? Take a deep breath-and a step outside. It’s worth it.

So I've never really had a blog but at the urging of my good friend and fellow author Cheryl Tardif (http://www.cherylktardif.com), I am succumbing to peer pressure.

I might as well start this off with a little bit about myself. I am a 26 year old female self-published author, which right there causes me grief. I get overlooked because I'm young, I get snuffed because I'm self-published and I get judged because I'm a woman.
But I didn't start this blog to whine...
Too much.
Honestly, I'm a young author because writing is all I ever wanted to do and I was lucky enough to complete my first novel by the time I was 24. Most people don't figure out their purpose in life at 9 years old, like I did.
Now, I'm not going to go on a self-publishing rant because frankly, there are too many already out there. I'll say the same thing that I always say when people ask why I self-published:
"I did sent out manuscripts to traditional publishers. After a couple of rejections, I just decided that I'd rather spend my life writing and sharing my work than wait for some publisher to actually pick up my manuscript, let alone deem it worthy enough to publish."
As for the woman thing, my reply is simple. Um, it's 2008 and women CAN write. Jerk.

About my first novel, it's called Sacrifice and it's the first book in a young adult fantasy duology entitled The Last Forever. Feel free to explore my website and check out the synopsis and other information.

On a personal note, I am happily married to a tattooed guitarist who doesn't read books and we have a ridiculously adorable 16 month-old boy named Evan.

Stay tuned! I'll update regularily.