Slow Down Summer
Welcome to Summer!
Since our last blog entry, I’ve celebrated my 60th birthday, vacationed in the Philippines, traveled for work to New York and Toronto (more than once), received the award of my life, spoken at a Youth Leadership Conference and finished my latest book!
Needless to say, I am so ready for an uneventful summer.
Visiting my sister and seeing all of my family after eight years was a huge wake up call for me. The fact that I had set aside that part of my life while focusing on life and career in the U.S., made me realize just how quickly the years had flown by. Seeing my family, their way of life, the way of life that I left behind 30 years ago, filled me with pride to be part of that legacy. It’s funny how you don’t really know that you miss them until you see them, and then you miss them even more. While my sister is still slowly recovering from her illness, we’re counting on the promises we’ve made to each other. Mainly to stay healthy so that we can see each other again (her current health situation restricts her from long haul flights).
It took us ten days to get over our jetlag once we arrived back home. I was happy to be home, to see our baby Izzy and to get back to the job I love so much. But even as life settled back into normalcy, I found that my perspectives had changed. I love this point in my life, the people that are in it and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. There is no longer any pressure to succeed, to be liked, to conform to situations that do not reflect my beliefs and my values.
The doors are opening and I’m running right through them!
For some reason, when you don’t try too hard, the universe finds a way to find you. All you have to do is be confident in the investments you’ve made, the work you’ve accomplished and the relationships you’ve nurtured. When I looked around the room (okay, restaurant) at all those present for my 60th birthday celebration, I saw the people who have been with me throughout my life’s journey. Someone joked that it was the Anna Gomez Eras Tour. I had bosses and colleagues from every life changing point in my career. I had friends and relatives who had supported me and loved me and my family throughout all the years. These are the same people who have opened doors and are still opening doors for me and my family.
These are wondrous opportunities and I’ll have more to tell you soon.
In the meantime, I’d like to end this post with more information regarding my new book, Somewhere Along the Way. I can’t wait to share the story of Charlotte and Graham with you! It was back in April 2023 when my agent received a note from an editor from Rakuten Kobo. She mentioned coming across my portfolio of books, and wanting to speak to me about being a Kobo Original Author. I had no idea what selling only my eBook rights meant, or how writing this book exclusively for them would work. But this has turned out to be such a wonderful experience for me. The team at Kobo has been very flexible and accommodating. They were aware and understanding of my full time career, and gave me the choice to choose a pub date that would work for me. The editor they found for me is top notch (from Pan McMillan) and the cover artist they commissioned has created this one-of-a-kind cover that concisely depicts our story.
Despite being given over a year to write this book, I was unable to begin writing Somewhere until the 2023 Christmas break due to all my work obligations. My first DRAFT submission was due to my editor, Joyce (you never hand in a manuscript without at least a first edit) on April 1st. I am shocked that I met that deadline. This book was written in four months (16 weekends!) and I am so very proud of it.
And so, here we are.
Somewhere Along the Way has a Cover Reveal on July 18.
And releases on September 24, 2024.
Before then, we will have many promotions, interviews and Arcs to give away. I hope you give this book (and Kobo) a chance. I know you are all Kindle readers, but the Kobo app can be downloaded on your phone as well. I will also be releasing the Paperback shortly after the eBook release. But for now, I hope you all preorder the eBook.
In the meantime, here’s wishing you a slow and restful summer, filled with sunshine and beaches and lots of summer reads.
Thank you for listening and for all your support. Stay tuned for many more exciting updates!
xo