Anyhow, one of my running buddies shared a story with me. Her colleague came to work one day, and saw that an article had been placed on her desk for her to read by another co-worker. It was a story about a girl who ran her first half-marathon. She was so inspired, she excitedly showed it to my running buddy. My running buddy gasped, and said, “I KNOW HER!” The article was about me. It was an article I wrote.
Several weeks later, standing next to my running buddy after a race on Belle Isle, she introduced me to the two other women who had exchanged my article and said, "See, Julie? Full circle." She then pointed to the first girl who saw the article, then to her colleague who found it on her desk, then to herself, and then she pointed at me and said, "You've done this, and it's come full circle." I stood there shaking my head in disbelief. They shook my hand and were honored to meet me. ME?!? I was flattered and thrilled to have had an impact on their training and thought process about running. It’s moments like those that make sharing my crazy life worthwhile.
I hope to continue to share my daily adventures and hope to inspire you or give you new ideas to consider during your day, but today I’m writing about something really special. Uh oh. This could get scary. (Just kidding. I'm not really that scary.) Here is one of my latest observations: I have realized that Albert Einstein is really the bomb. The more I read about him, the more I love him. One extraordinary thing he said was, “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.” Coming from this genius man of science, this statement makes me tingle. As a child, I was always lost in a world of fantasy and make-believe. Being the youngest girl of six children, my siblings often described me as "the loner." I was always drawing, coloring, reading or playing some made-up game, or make-believe…I never knew how much getting lost in that world of fantasy would shape my life. Not only has it given me my eternal optimist view, but it has allowed me to see beyond what is in front of me; to look to the future and know that I can change it, mold it, and make it whatever I want it to be. It’s a fantastical realization when one sees that fairy tales can come true, if you work hard enough at them.
This past year has led me on an extraordinary adventure…one that I never could have dreamed of.
Six months ago, I published my first novel, Ruby Blue. Some of you may have read it, and if you haven’t, I hope you check out the links below and give it a look. At the beginning of this month, I released the sequel and published my second novel, Deja Blue. They have been a labor of love, a lot of hard work, and a dream made into reality. The process has not been easy. I still continue to work and struggle with promoting, selling, writing, editing and marketing every day. But I am passionate about it, and although I spend countless hours doing this, I love every minute of it. Some people have asked me about “writer’s block.” I do admit that sometimes, I worry that I won’t have the words to finish Ruby’s story. And when I feel like that, I don’t write. Because writing when there’s nothing there, will only result in frustration (at least for me it does). So, to answer that question honestly, I say: I don’t usually get it. Because if I have no story to tell, I simply don’t write. I know the ideas are there. I see the characters and their lives in my head. Sometimes, it just takes a while for them to get their story clear to me. (This is where one of my big faults -- my impatience -- sometimes gets the better of me.) If I have an idea but feel stuck, I try to talk it out with a close friend. Usually, after bouncing ideas back and forth, the characters' movements become clearer to me, and I can start to see what they're trying to tell me. I have never considered myself an author. Authors are much smarter than me, much more interesting, and definitely more famous than me. I consider myself a story teller. I tell stories of my adventures and of the imaginary world in my head. That’s all. I’m not the most articulate or most talented writer by any means. I can weave an interesting tale and I love to make people smile. Once in a while, I throw my two-cents in, just in case anyone thinks it might be of value. Does that make me an author? I don’t know. But I’m sure having fun doing it.
In all of my excitement leading up to the release of my second novel, I excitedly told my brother about it over the phone. After a quick congratulations and a “that’s cool!” He went on to chastise me, “You gotta get crackin’ on book three! When is that one gonna be done? How much more do have to write? You've gotta get that one going!” I exclaimed, “Geesh, Jay! Gimme a break! I just put out two novels in six months! Who does that?!?” I could almost visualize his shrug as my quick-witted brother simply replied, “Just you...and Stephen King.” I snorted but was filled with giddiness. My brother has been one of my biggest supporters and has pushed me hard. Without his constant nagging (uh, I mean encouragement), I don’t think I ever would have gotten this far. I don’t think I’ll ever be in the same category as top authors such as the famous Mr. King, or Judy Blume (whom one reviewer compared my work to), or MaryJanice Davidson, or Jim Butcher, or Brent Carter, or J.K. Rowling…but it is certainly an honor to share my stories and actually have people tell me they enjoy them. When I hear that, it's like they open the door to the lobby of the "Author Skyscraper" and let me linger near the elevators of those brilliant tale-twisters. It is my own little fairy tale beginning to come true.
Now, I’d like to share these fairy tales with all of you. The official Book Launch of Deja Blue (Book 2 of the Ruby Blue Series) will be on Sunday, August 26th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Vicky’s Homemade Ice Cream in Redford, Michigan. I would be honored if you all would join me in a scoop of ice cream and help me celebrate this latest adventure. There will be books for sale and signing, ice cream to eat, prizes to be won, and lots of smiles! I hope to see you there!
“If you want your children to be intelligent,
read them fairy tales.
If you want them to be more intelligent,
read them more fairy tales.”
- Albert Einstein
See? What I'd tell ya? Einstein rocks.
Check out photos of my most recent book signing at Northville’s Next Chapter Bookstore and Bistro.
http://juliecassar.weebly.com/1/post/2012/08/book-signing-at-northvilles-next-chapter.html
TO SEE MORE INFO ABOUT RUBY'S WORLD - Click the link:
http://juliecassar.weebly.com/ruby-blue.html