Happy Hallow's Eve

and happy anniversary to my book's publishing

photo courtesy of Pixabay

First, I want to welcome my new subscribers, both free and paid. I’m thrilled you have found your way here. I hope my newsletter becomes one of your favorite weekly haunts. 

I’m celebrating a few milestones this week. Halloween marks one year since my book Lessons of a Wayward Yogini was published. It’s been a year of personal growth, pushing me at times out of my comfort zone. But for the most part, as I sift through the photos on my phone, they tell the story of a year spent having a great time celebrating a bucket-list accomplishment. 

Speaking of comfort zones, or lack thereof, I’m doing my first book reading on Thursday, November 3rd, at our local Rosa-Lucca Estates tasting room in our little town of Cool. It will include a happy hour featuring Rosa-Lucca’s delicious wine selections, cheese appetizers, a lite-fare Italian dinner (made by Chef Rickie), and chocolates paired with Rosa-Lucca’s newest Port.

Chef Rickie with his long-standing sous-chef Joseph and his cooking hat available at Bevyandbrine

It is a reservation-only affair with white table linen. In the word of my newest Substack buddy Alex Dobrenko¹ who writes Both are True

whoaaa— 

That says it all. Truthfully, we just need to know how much food to make and how many books to bring. But I like the way “whoaaa” sounds, and I’m stickin’ with it.

While I will appear calm and modest, hopefully put together, this will be me beneath that composed exterior welcoming my guests (hopefully more than six of them.)

“Welcome, you must be here for my book reading?” Thanks, Mom, for taking this photo.

Joking aside, I am extremely appreciative that Mickey, the owner of Rosa-Lucca Estates has offered me this exciting experience. I’ve written about her before, that post here. I am blessed to know her.

This week also marks three months on Substack, which is an endeavor I began to 

1. Promote my book, and 

2. See if I can earn a bit of money in the hopes of completely retiring to spend the remainder of my senior years writing. 

My mom lived to be 99, so I might need a lot of subscribers, especially the paying kind. Luckily writing the newsletter has become one of my favorite pastimes, and whether or not I ever sell a book here, I’m staying. 

Many of my readers have already read my book, but if you haven’t and are interested, I will be discounting the book 10% in November for anyone who might want to give it a read or gift it for the holidays. If you want to read reviews before purchasing, there are a number on my website here and on Amazon. An autographed book must be purchased on my website.

And to celebrate three months on Substack, if you’re on the fence considering whether to upgrade to my newsletter with a paid subscription, I will be offering 10% off the paid subscription yearly rates through November as well. I would offer it on a monthly subscriptions but that is not available at this point on Substack.

It’s my birthday month, and I do love a celebration. I also love surprises… oh, never mind, that was just a little reminder for Rickie. 

Here are a few behind the scenes photos of me trying to work through this whole new thing of selling myself. The first two are me on the phone with my agent, clearly things seem to be looking up. The last photo is one of me speaking with my accountant. She’s not quite sure about the Substack earnings if I live to be 99. I have my doll to lean on in hard times.

I actually remember that chair.

Lastly, I need to push paid subscriptions, but only every now and then, like public radio or PBS. This email is my first subscription drive. I’ll try to keep them fun enough to read, even if you are already a paid subscriber. My upgrade buttons will always be in the feed, but I’ll be keeping them to a minimum of one or two per post. Feel free to send me feedback about what works and what doesn’t.

Huge thanks to all my readers, and thanks for letting me work through this whole thing about selling me to you.

Send a positive thought my way next Thursday. 

1. Alex Dobrenko produces Both are True, a very funny newsletter about life as a new father among other subjects, a unique comedian who writes from the heart.