A Moment in the Spotlight…Really?

I’ve spoken to groups of 150 or more, feeling totally comfortable—most comfortable of all with groups of children. But TV? Well, this was new. As a debut author, despite my years of writing and studying the craft, I have to jump in with both feet, even when those feet feel more than a little bit wet!

My pitch is practiced, but never to perfection. My style, my hair and nails, my age. Oh my gosh, all that was showing! But the great thing about arriving in life at this point is that I realize none of the surface stuff matters. What matters is the message.

I’d had the questions ahead of time, which for me, is never good. I ran them through my brain, jotted down notes and thought I could at least perfect some of the thoughts ahead of time. Striving for perfection? It still comes back to me, even though I know it’s a phantom phenomenon.

But, when the door opened and I was ever so kindly ushered in, mic’d up, buckled up (just kidding) and greeted so warmly by Jessica Keisling the news anchor at WWAY in Wilmington, I stopped the voices in my head, focused and threw everything I thought I was going to say out the window. I spoke from the heart, which is what always works best for me.

The message, Ivy Leigh Ever After’s message, is about all kids stuck in the middle of those turbulent middle school years, the popular kids, the outliers and even those who fall in between. Ivy’s story is a small circle of inclusion. When we live in smaller circles, we can widen those circles at any time and squeeze almost anyone inside that needs to feel the love. It’s a story about looking out for one another all the way through our lives. A concept that never gets old in time.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cape Fear Chapters: Brunswick County author explores grief and growing up in debut novel - WWAYTV3

A Brunswick County author is drawing inspiration from her time in the classroom for her debut novel.

WWAYTV3