It’s Complicated
It’s here. My book is officially out in the world! happy dance
How was I supposed to feel? If social media is anything to go by, there should have been an unboxing party, a dramatics-filled countdown, and streaming happy tears.
Instead, I’m sitting here typing this with a chaotic cocktail of emotions:
Gratitude
Worry
Exhaustion
Excitement
Pride
Joy
Fear
You name it—I’m feeling it.
In the grand scheme of things, a launch is just one moment. There are so many other milestones and life experiences ahead, God willing. But looking back on today, I’m actually deeply thankful for how calm my release was.
There was no big fuss. Just a regular Monday where I got to pack lunches (thankful for full bellies), drive my boys to school (thankful for safe places to learn and grow), and come home to tackle laundry and tidy up after a crazy weekend celebrating my son’s 11th birthday (thankful for growing kids).
I’ve spent so much of my life chasing after "big moments" and peak experiences. We all do. But those meaningful feelings don't just happen at curated parties with themed decor. They happen in quiet, everyday conversations and in the messy living room while everyone is rushing to get out the door.
There have certainly been high-dopamine highlights throughout this process: receiving overwhelmingly positive beta reader feedback, reviewing the final manuscript, seeing the characters take shape through the illustrations, and opening the very first completed page with my husband and boys.
Then there were the moments that drained me completely: unmet expectations with project managers (mostly from my own impatience), random power outages, needing to work right when my kids needed me most, and that incredibly rude imposter syndrome.
Through all the highs and lows, this adventure has taught me a few core lessons—ones I hope I’m passing down to my kids:
Keep working hard, especially when the process isn't glamorous or doesn't match your expectations.
Stay curious. You have SO much left to learn. Keep asking questions, researching, and growing.
Be proud when you make mistakes—as long as you own them and pivot.
Pray more.
Drink more water.
Walk more.
Set simple daily goals, or the big picture will be overwhelming.
Stay off social media as much as possible (ironic, I know! 😊).
The release is here, and there is still so much work/fun to be done.
For now, I am going to have some lunch ,drink some water, and pray.
Hope you enjoy When Brother Reads a Book. I know I enjoyed creating it!
Blessings,
Holly B
Begin!
Welcome, y’all!
It feels a bit ironic to be sharing this on an author’s website, but to be completely honest, I did not grow up loving language arts, reading, or writing. In school, those classes actively gave me stomachaches. While my wonderful teachers gave me a solid foundation, my spelling and grammar remain works in progress, and I always viewed reading as a checklist rather than a passion (oooh, that might sound familiar after you read When Brother Reads a Book).
Instead of reading popular book series like my friends did, I preferred Calvin and Hobbes, wildlife reference books, and Magic Eye. Science was my true joy, and I spent years wanting to be a marine biologist—attending SeaWorld camps, reading about anatomy, and dissecting animals that were unlucky enough to meet their doom in my parents' pool. Though I eventually talked myself out of that path to pursue a Business Administration degree at A&M Corpus Christi (where I still got to enjoy life on an island), my love for science and animals never left. It wasn’t until after college, and surviving a copious amount of required reading, that I finally fell in love with reading for pleasure.
Now, 19 years after college, life has brought both planned and unplanned moments. I have succeeded, failed, and grown. Today, I am a wife, a mother, and a published author.
As we get older, we get better at many things, but we often lose our curiosity and the ability to try new, scary things without letting the fear of failure stop us. I, as a kid, thought that adults never failed and knew what they were doing all the time. Oh boy, was I wrong! That is what this first post is about: beginning. I am not talking about the wild ideas that come to you at 11 p.m., but rather the things that your head and heart keep playing on repeat.
I have wanted to write a book since I was about 26. To make it happen, I just needed to begin. I started with a basic Word document and scribbled super basic drawings, and I kept moving forward. While the direction changed along the way, with God's grace, every day was a new start. I am just focusing on learning, creating, enjoying, and beginning as many times as I can.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let the countdown to you reading my first book, When Brother Reads a Book, begin!
Blessings,
Holly B