Two weeks and counting...

plus an ode to teachers.

My author copies arrived today! I’ve waited so long for this season to arrive, and now that it’s here, I’m trying to ignore the nerves and just embrace the joy of it.

I was looking through some old pictures this weekend, and found this page (pictured below) from my journal in May of 2018. I had just begun the journey of pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing at Spalding University, and had arrived in Louisville, Kentucky for a 10-day writers residency. It felt like a huge leap of faith at the time: leaving my young family during a busy week of May, committing to making writing a consistent part of life while also teaching 8th grade, and embracing the vulnerability of putting myself and my work out there in writing workshops and through monthly correspondence with a mentor (who was already a published author).

That decision to take my writing life more seriously nudged my life, nudged forward a quiet dream to someday write a book. (A dream I had been pushing out of my mind with a thousand excuses.) And I am still dreaming — every night it seems right now!— that this book does nudge the world a little. I hope readers find their hearts nudged by the story.

My husband and I were talking last night about our oldest son and sending him off to college next fall, and how our biggest hope as parents is that he always knows we believe he is capable of pursuing his own dreams.

I told Tim, “I have no doubt that I became a writer because my teachers made me feel like I already was one.” From my first grade teacher, Mrs. Strelecki, to Lesléa Newman who coached me as I completed my final manuscript, I am grateful for each teacher who took me and my work seriously. (I hope many of you are reading this!)

My first books written in elementary school.

I love that my book — a book set on an orchard — is being released during apple season. But I also love it’s being released during back-to-school season. I wrote it for students like the ones I was lucky enough to teach, but I wrote it because of the teachers who helped me to learn that words are sacred, that they deserve respect, and that by getting the right ones in the right order, I can nudge the world a little.

Shameless plugs:

I’m adding events to my calendar every week! I hope to see you soon, if you live near me. If not, I hope we can connect online or in another way real soon.

A Teachers Guide is now available from Zonderkidz — it’s free and downloadable! I’m also booking classroom visits.

Your reviews on Goodreads, shout outs on social media, and shared emails to your friends means so much! Amazon will allow reviews after publication day. Thank you for all the ways you are spreading the word about this book.

I’m grateful.

Dana