Lift Your Glass!

As the third book in my Secrets of a Lab Rat series goes out into the world, I am thinking about the people who are, as the cliché goes, the wind beneath my wings. I spend a fair amount of time talking with students, encouraging them to pursue their goals with the three P’s: patience, passion, and persistence. I tell them the only difference between a writer and an author is one of them is published. This is, of course, a bit idealistic even as it’s simplistic. Not everyone who writes should be published (some would say not everyone who’s published should be writing, but we’ll leave that for another time). Still, I think it’s crucial that kids know each of them has a voice in this world. What I sometimes forget to tell them is something I tend to take for granted: the importance of surrounding yourself with caring, positive people. I am fortunate to have the best parents a girl could ask for. My mom and dad have never failed to support me (and when I say never, I am not exaggerating)—not when I announced in college I was going into the lucrative career of TV journalism (I made $12,000 a year at my first  job), not when I decided to become a freelance writer (hardly a steady paycheck), and not when I told them I was going to write children’s books. If they had any doubts, which I’m sure they did, they kept quiet. And for that I will always be grateful. I have an incredible husband, who won my heart 29 years ago when he said if all he did for the rest of forever was be with me, his would be a life well spent. He meant it. This is a man who is not threatened by what I achieve, but revels in it. And finally, I am so appreciative of the relatives, friends, colleagues, and professionals, who have come alongside to encourage me. My wise and wonderful agent, Rosemary Stimola (who can make me laugh so hard things shoot out my nose), and my smart, sassy editor, Liesa Abrams, lift my writing even as they lift my heart. So raise a glass to the nurturers in your life; the ones who inject joy into your soul, the ones who believe in you even when doubt yourself. They are ever-present reminders that you have a voice. And your voice matters.