FCA Cleveland

Well here is the big surprise! A little less than a year ago I was browsing a friend’s blog. Susan at Stony River, always posts open markets at the end of her blog. This Chicken Soup for the Soul was the one posted for that day. I checked it out and it sounded like something I could do. So, I blindly submitted my story to them in hopes of hearing something back. Well, months passed and I forgot about submitting it, until I received an e-mail saying that I had made the first cut. The editor said there were around 4,000 submissions and they cut it down to about 200. Then about a month later they cut it to 120 and there was one more cut to make it to 101. I found out at the first of the year that I was selected to be in the book. Since the book wouldn’t come out until April, I had to keep it a secret from my dad. I wanted to give it to him for his birthday, which is also in April. I only told a handful of people about it and they were sworn to secrecy.

Wednesday, I helped my uncle-in-law, Jackie with a photo shoot for a dance studio in Alabama and decided to drive home afterwards to surprise my dad with the book. When I handed it to him I said, “I thought about you and had to get this for you. That first story reminds me of you.” He didn’t know that the first story was about him. He opened it and was pretty much speechless. It was a neat moment for mom, dad, and me. I received payment up front and will not receive any royalties but, I hope all of you will buy a copy anyway! You can find one here on Amazon. They will make great Father’s Day gifts. Be sure to read the first story (FYI: that’s mine). Thanks for your support.