DIVIDED LOYALTIES said hello to the world today. I didn’t see it, mind you, until someone brought it to the house after it arrived on her doorstep. But today was its release day.

Launching a book was a nerve-wracking process. I didn’t have to do anything. It was just a date on the calendar. On bookseller websites blackrosewriting,com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, there it was!

So what do you do on the day your book is officially launched?

I could hardly sit still.

I swept everything in sight. I vacuumed and cleaned.

I filled my Facebook page with posts to thank everyone who supported me as I wrote this book.

I wrote a chapter to my next novel.

I tied balloons to my street sign and mailbox.

And at the end of the day, I threw a party. I invited
family, fellow travel writers and members of my critique group. There was cake—always have to have cake for a celebration. And glasses full of cava and prosecco—bubbly is essential, too.

It was a day for celebrating. Divided Loyalties has been launched.

Seeing and signing my book for the very first time.