I recently completed the manuscript for a book that will be available in the fall of this year. I can’t wait to share more on this later, but in the meantime, I’m basking in a kind of twilight between absolute and immeasurable joy (part accomplishment, part astonishment) and sheer terror.
It’s a good thing I’m not in this alone — I have a kind and generous editor, a supportive and understanding husband and family that’s put up with too many leftovers, and a bunch of friends who have prayed me through tens of thousands of words.
I am one blessed woman. And bubbly, too.
One of those amazing friends showed up with a special bottle of champagne to toast this milestone, and I gotta say this: never has anything tickled my nose and brought tears to my eyes like this surprise. Well, maybe the tears weren’t entirely from the champagne, but let’s be real — it was a right tasty toast. And then some.
I tried to be gentle with the bottle so I could open it without incident, but just as soon as I released the wire cage and positioned the bottle to loosen the cork, it flew off madly, hitting one of the paddles on the ceiling fan and bouncing off the wall. A minor scramble to save the champagne followed: we only spilled a little bit (that we wore behind our ears). And the rest was a delightful evening of sharing, and laughter, and maybe a few more tears. There’s something about champagne, a rare treat, that really tickles my nose.
We drank to the completed manuscript — but there was so much more in the process than just the few months I took to write it. This book has been a long time coming, and not just because I’ve been working at being a writer since I could hold a pencil. Everything has had to reach a certain level of readiness — of maturity. The obvious, of course, is my ability to string words together in a way that makes sense and speaks to others. But there’s been more growth. In my confidence. In my discipline (still a mess there), and in the maturing of my faith, too. It’s all there, wrapped up in a digital file.
It was good to celebrate.
The vintage 2004 champagne matured beautifully. When the grapes from that year were being gathered and prepared, I was in the midst of my own “fields” in my vocations of wife, mother, and teacher. I was scrambling from carpool to after school event, from class to class, and trying to keep my sanity taking care of a household. In the midst of all that chaos, I was scribbling notes and penning poems that were stuffed away in boxes and in the pages of unfinished journals.
Like the champagne, I’d like to think I have matured well, too. Enough to be bubbly about my book. Enough to be bubbly about the projects that may come next — because the real toast that night was for more than the book. I feel like I’ve finally taken this gift that came from God and I can put it to good use, for Him.
That bottle of champagne waited patiently to be uncorked, and then it let loose. I feel the same way.
another cup of coffee 
lovely. Congratulations!
Made me think of the song “Tiny Bubbles” in the wine – make me feel happy – make me feel fine – but it’s so much more than that. 🙂 Congratulations. And doesn’t it seem they shake those champagne bottles just before one opens them??? 🙂 LOL! Makes it more exciting for sure.
LOL. NO! Not shaking that bottle 🙂
What a great analogy. Congratulations and looking forward to hearing about your book.
Thanks for that. I totally feel “uncorked.” Teehee.
oh how cool the analogy is for you and the let loose bubble (and was that some Dom u enjoyed???) mmm
anyhow, congrats and good for u – I will try and make sure I read your book this fall – again – congrats ❤ ❤
mmm. it was good 🙂
thanks!
Congratulations, Maria!!! I wish you all the luck with your book and enjoy your new camera 🙂
thank you Ana! I am having lots of fun — book and camera!
Thank you for stopping by my blog, Maria and all the very best to you in 2015 with your writing. I love the expression you used in your post; “a kind of twilight between absolute and immeasurable joy (part accomplishment, part astonishment) and sheer terror.” This describes exactly how I felt with my first book and still feel every time I hit that ‘publish’ button.
Thank you, Jean. It’s quite an adventure!
Kudos on the book. Now I can brag I “knew” you when”. A definite must to add to my library. 🙂
Sending hugs and love.
I love you Judy! The Queen of Iowa gets a signed copy 🙂
Super! 🙂
Thanks, everyone, for your kind words! I can’t wait to share more in the coming days!
So very happy and proud for you, Maria! Let her pop!! Congratulations.
Congratulations! Can’t wait to hear more about your book. I also have to compliment you on the photo! Very nice!
Thank you! I got a new camera and wanted to try it out — the perfect opportunity!
Thank you
Congratulations on reaching this hugh milestone! Can’t wait to know more about the book!
This is beautiful.
It sounds like there were 10’s of 1000’s of words written long before you wrote this manuscript. Can’t wait to hold a bound book in my hand! That will be a different kind of celebration. I’d like to be on the champagne patrol for that THAT one!
Congratulations on achieving such a wonderful goal. 🙂