Day of Hope #97
Wednesday January 13 – Day of Hope #97
Goal: Get my manuscript ready for the public
Quote: “What’s the best part about writing a book? Finishing it.” - Unknown
On this day of hope, I checked into the Hilton Garden Inn in Eagle, Idaho. I stayed from the 12th through the 14th. I was on a mission: to dive deep into my book edits. My gal pal Idgie had sent me all her edits, and she did such an amazing job. I spent three full days working on entering her edits and getting everything ready for one of the most exciting milestones yet, my very first book circle.
A handful of my closest friends will gather in a circle at the end of January and read my manuscript for the very first time. Just thinking about it gives me chills! I even had the hotel front desk show me all the larger Suites, and I picked the perfect one. It’s going to be amazing.
During the last three days at the hotel, I wrapped up the last few chapters and finished my new vision board. This year’s board was centered around the book, getting it polished and published. On the vision board there was a section for self-care, health, and relaxation, and one for hope. Not just for me, but for the people this book is meant to reach. I filled it with highways, quotes, and reminders of passion, because the whole book is built around that highway theme.
I completed the edits, and next are the many rounds of manuscripts that officially began.
Bonus Entry
First Book Circle for A Day of Hope
We stayed at the same hotel I stayed at for my day of Hope. We were there from the 29th through the 31st. And yes, I picked the 31st because it’s 13 backwards, of course.
My amazing sister came to Boise on Thursday, January 28th, and we spent the whole day together. Just the two of us, talking for hours, catching up on her life, and celebrating the self-healing work she had been doing. Watching her grow was such a gift. The next morning, we grabbed breakfast, swung by the grocery store, and then stopped at the spa to double-check all the reservations for the weekend were ready.
One of the girl’s husbands had gone all out and stocked a cooler with every kind of drink imaginable, plus snacks. He even dropped it off early so everything would be waiting when the girls arrived. I had a few Bloody Mary’s and a cranberry-vodka seltzer that hit the spot. By late afternoon Friday, everyone started rolling in, and by 5:00 or 6:00pm, we were gathering, laughing, sipping, and then heading next door to Bardenay restaurant for dinner.
That’s when the nerves set in. Back at the hotel, it was time to start reading my book. My book. My manuscript that I had poured myself into. I was so nervous I had to remind myself to just breathe. These women are my closest circle of friends, and their opinions matter so much to me. And now, here we were, sitting in a circle, actually reading it. Not dreaming about it. Not imagining it. Living it.
I raced through those first chapters, nerves pushing me too fast, but I kept going. No more rearview mirror, I had to move forward and put my story out there. And I did.
The best part? They loved it. The feedback was incredible, and the number one comment was: “I felt like you were talking directly to me.” Best compliment ever and exactly the goal I had in mind. We made it through half the book that night.
Saturday morning, we had breakfast at The Griddle and then headed over to Two Rivers Spa for an all-afternoon escape. Some of the girls had never done a full spa day before, and it was so fun watching them enjoy every minute. Afterward, we grabbed salads from Porterhouse and went back to the hotel for round two of reading and finishing the book.
For the second reading, each friend took turns reading chapters out loud. It was perfect, because I could actually listen to the words and the message instead of racing through them. I saved the final chapter to read out loud myself, and when I closed it, we celebrated with more girl time, something we all desperately needed in the middle of an exhausting pandemic.
Before heading home, everyone took copies of the manuscript with them to finish reading and mark up with edits. We met again in a month so they could share their feedback.
It was an amazing weekend filled with laughter, friendship, and love. I’m beyond grateful for this circle of women who encourage me and cheer me on. Next, it will be time to pull together all their edits and dive into the next draft.
My lesson of hope: Every time I wanted to quit and didn’t have led me to this point. The struggles were real, but following my dream, courage, and not giving up, carried me through. I know there will be more challenges ahead, but today I paused to celebrate the moment. I didn’t give up on myself, and that alone deserves recognition.
