Today is one of those days that I will forever remember. December 1, 2013 marks so many milestones in my life that to put one above the other is completely impossible. There are two very important ones that I want to talk about.

Family is something extremely important to me. Most people don’t know, and they don’t ever assume, that someone doesn’t really have family. Sure, I have family, meaning I have aunts and uncles and cousins and at least one grandparent who is still alive, but they all live over a thousand miles from me. I am literally all on my own in the great state of Texas.

My mother and I moved to what I call my hometown in 2001, and it was about two years later that we met one family in particular. Ever since then, they are my family. We have holiday meals when them, and when I come home, that’s who I stay with. They are the family that I was never able to have. I never lived close enough in order to have them.

On Wednesday, I flew halfway across the country—which is no easy feat—to meet up with my family. I was able to spend Thanksgiving with them, but that’s not why I was there. Today is why I was there. Today I became an official part of the family. My very good friend had twins on July 18, and she asked me to be their godmother. I couldn’t have been more honored and blessed.

I’m charged with raising them in Christ and teaching them about Christianity and Scripture, about the church and about God’s love. I’m going to take that even further. I’m going to teach them about interreligious dialogue, about conversing with the other and about finding one’s self in someone that can’t possibly be related to. I’m going to teach them how to be independent and strong, how to strive for their dreams and to work hard and play harder. I’m going to teach them to love above all else and to love those who are in need.

Today my twin godsons were baptized in the name of God, Son, and Holy Spirit—and I couldn’t be happier to finally be a part of the family.

The second amazing thing about today is that my second novel, Dying Embers, is being released. I had never planned on writing this book until I was completely done with Forever Burn. I couldn’t let the characters go and there were still aspects of their story that needed to be told.

I felt so compelled by these characters and their stories that I just had to continue writing them. I finished the novel itself in thirteen days and the majority of the editing over the next six weeks. It was something that I was amazed even with myself—I don’t think I’ll ever write a book that quickly again.

This novel represents something that I worked hard to achieve, something that I dreamed and worked toward, and something that I want my godsons to see as representative of something they can do.

So please take the time to check out Dying Embers and order yourself a copy. I appreciate any and all reviews so long as they aren’t bashing. So if you love it, write an amazing review. If you don’t like it, tell me why. Only good reviews never help an author improve and never help them to keep their head on straight in the line of possible fame. =P

 Dying Embers Blog Page (includes blurb and buy links)