My Author Launch - A Night I'll Never Forget

I'm still not entirely sure I've processed it.

On June 9, 2026, I held my first-ever author launch event for Peckers: The Pact.

Even typing that sentence feels strange.

For years, I was an avid reader who eagerly attended events to meet the authors I admired.

I never really stopped to imagine that one day I'd be the one sitting at the front of the room.

But there I was.

A published author.

Preparing moments before my Author Talk & Book Launch.

Honestly, I spent most of the day alternating between excitement and terror.

Would anyone show up?

Would the technology work?

Would I forget how to speak in complete sentences?

Would I trip over my own feet?

All legitimate concerns.

Thankfully, none of those disasters occurred.

Instead, I got to spend the evening surrounded by some truly wonderful people.

The event was hosted by the amazing Anna Marie Bolet, who absolutely knocked it out of the park. She kept the conversation flowing, made everyone feel welcome, and somehow managed to make the entire evening feel less like a formal author event and more like a gathering of friends talking about books.

With Hostess, Anna Marie Bolet!

One of my favorite moments came before we ever discussed Peckers: The Pact.

Anna Marie led a discussion asking guests what a fantasy-themed restaurant designed specifically with women in mind might look like. The answers were funny, creative, thoughtful, and occasionally a little chaotic—which, honestly, fits the spirit of The Peckers Series perfectly.

Listening to everyone share ideas reminded me of something important: stories don't truly belong to the author once they're out in the world. Readers bring their own experiences, perspectives, and imaginations with them, and that's where the magic happens.

When it came time for the reading, I was nervous.

Not standing-up-in-front-of-a-crowd nervous.

More like reading-my-own-words-out-loud-while-people-actually-listen nervous.

Those are two completely different levels of vulnerable.

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Fortunately, the audience was incredibly kind. They laughed in the right places, asked thoughtful questions, and made me feel like maybe—just maybe—I belonged there.

The Q&A was another highlight. I loved talking about the characters, the writing process, the journey to publication, and what comes next. Any excuse to talk about Jenny, Sierra, Roxie, and Martha is usually a good excuse.

Then came what was probably the most unique part of the evening: #PassThePact.

Instead of simply giving away a book, we created a traveling copy of Peckers: The Pact.

Guests gathered in a circle while we passed the book around like a giant game of hot potato. When the music stopped, the person holding the book became the very first Guardian of the Pact.

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Inside the book are instructions inviting each Guardian to read it, sign their name, city, and date, share their experience online using #PassThePact, and then pass it along to someone else.

My hope is that this single copy of the book develops a story of its own.

Maybe it stays in Jacksonville.

Maybe it ends up in another state.

Maybe it travels across the country.

I have absolutely no idea.

And I love that.

The evening wrapped up with photos, conversations, hugs, and more support than I know how to adequately thank people for.

I'm especially excited to see the photographs from Elizabeth Anne Photography. Beth Lietzke spent the evening capturing moments I'll never get to experience for the first time again, and I can't wait to see them through her eyes.

With Beth Lietzke, photographer.

Most importantly, thank you.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

Thank you to everyone who bought a book.

Thank you to everyone who shared a post, sent a message, left a review, cheered me on, or simply believed I could do this.

The truth is that the road to becoming a published author wasn't nearly as straightforward as I'd imagined when I was younger. There were detours. Health issues. Doubts. Plenty of moments when it would have been easier to quit.

But on June 9, I sat in a library surrounded by people who were there because they wanted to celebrate a story I wrote.

That's a memory I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

And the best part?

We're just getting started.

Peckers: The Pact is available on Kindle & Amazon.

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