Real You: Happy New Year book news and woman power

I hope you're having a great start to 2014! So far, I've been enjoying my family, recovering from food poisoning (a pickle, of all things), and trying to get back in the writing saddle. The end of 2013 left me a bit adrift, from the writing standpoint. But, I should have some good news to announce shortly! In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know that IndieReader gave ALL THE DIFFERENCE  a great review on their site, calling it "a quick and sexy mystery, a challenge to unravel, and proves there’s nothing humdrum about the ‘burbs." See the whole review here. I wasn't expecting the review and it reinvigorated me, the same way that five-star Amazon reviews can. It's odd, but us writers are such a sensitive lot. A tiny bit of applause goes a long way.

My debut novel, HERE, HOME, HOPE, was an Amazon bestseller over the holidays and was selected to be part of the price match program. If you buy the paperback version, the eBook is free. And HHH is part of Amazon's New Year, New You promotion which is exciting. Only books with a positive, life-change type message were selected and I'm honored that HHH is one of them. And, for a limited time this January, HHH will be 99 cents for your eReader so if you're looking for a way to kick off your New Year with a New You (although I always say Real You because that's what we are all shooting for, right?), please give HERE, HOME, HOPE a try.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my first baby, book-wise that is. Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs continues to make a difference in women's lives and for me, there is nothing more gratifying. Hearing from women entrepreneurs across the country about how they've started a new business, or are reinventing their existing business because of what they read in RYI is amazing. I'm touched and celebrate your stories of success. But we still have a long way to go, together.

And speaking of women helping other women, have you seen the documentary Miss Representation? Or heard of the Representation Project? This group's mission is to expose the powerful gender stereotypes that limit girls and women from achieving their full potential in our society. I have taken the pledge and encourage you to do likewise. Once you make yourself more aware of who controls the media, and the messages we are bombarded with daily, I bet you'll want to get involved, too.

So I guess my New Year's wish is that we all keep working toward a world where equality - in politics, in business, in the media - everywhere - is a given. Where women have an equal chance of creating (and being taken seriously) books, movies and television. Because with more female creators come more complex, interesting female characters. All of my amazing author friends already are doing this. And we need you to join us.

As Marian Wright Edelman aptly said: "You can't be what you can't see."

Real You: Let's talk Turkey

I'm just about two weeks into my whirlwind Book Tour for HERE, HOME, HOPE so I thought it would be a great time to blog about the exciting adventures on the road.

So far, stops have included: Malibu, West Hollywood, Capitola, Piedmont, Sacramento - and tonight, San Francisco.

Here's what I've learned so far: 1. You can never guage how many people will show up at a book tour stop, nor can you tell if those who show up will buy the book. BUT, you will meet fun, new friends. 2. Turkeys are wild in Sacramento. Yes, in the neighborhoods, gobbling and the like. And they're huge. And they scare me. 3. Bill The Oyster Man from Santa Cruz has a huge heart and more stories about oyster and catfish farming than anyone on the planet. True. 4. It doesn't matter how many announcements the community relations person at the bookstore makes over the loud speaker just before your booksigning, only people there to see you will come over. The rest of the shoppers will glare at you. 5. The Santa Monica Barnes & Noble is huge, with a very large, very important looking author presentation room. (scary!) 6. The Summer Kitchen Bake Shop in Berkley is considering placing HERE, HOME, HOPE on display next to Kelly Corrigan's LIFT. I believe it's meant to be as I need a reason to go there and eat some more amazing food. 7. If you serve wine at a book signing party, the questions get much more interesting. 8. Bookstores and book people rock. It's a great community. 9. While on a book tour, I feel compelled to explain my 2 star review on Amazon.com, even though it is my only one. It is haunting me, clearly. My publicist tells me to stop it, but I cannot. 10. The hours before a book signing provide many angst-ridden moments; the hours after, fond memories for a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone I've met along the way so far. A special thank you to: Room at the Beach, Chevalier's Books, Barnes & Noble Santa Monica, Capitola Book Cafe, Barnes & Noble, Arden Fair in Sacramento and Book Passage, Ferry Building San Francisco. Next week, the HERE, HOME, HOPE book tour heads to Dayton and Columbus, Ohio, where I'll bring you more highlights from the road. And if I'm in your neighborhood, please come on by and let's talk about books!

Real You: Resilience

     The most important aspect of the writing life, to me, is resilience. You know it, if you’re a writer. Resilience isn’t a trait that is taught, it’s learned. It’s the inner drive that allows us to bounce back, to recover from adversity – whether it’s our first rejection or our latest. Because we know as writers that to do this thing, this craft and this job we love, we must be buoyant. We must keep hope floating, even in the face of all the facts.  And the facts are daunting. The journey from a completed manuscript to actually holding a published book in your hands can be a long and frustrating one. We’ve all heard of the overnight success stories. But that’s why we’ve all heard of them. For most of us, it will be a journey of perseverance, of heartache and ultimately, with enough resilience, success.

My story isn’t unique. I’ve dreamed of writing a novel since I can remember articulating a career. When our teacher in 3^rd grade told the class to write to a person who has the job you would like to have someday, I wrote to Robert McCloskey of Make Wake for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal fame. I explained how much I wanted to be a writer, like him, and how much I enjoyed his stories. He wrote back and told me, thanks, but he was an illustrator. Undaunted, I kept the dream alive.

Fast-forward to my life today. I’m a mom of four teens who just became a consultant for the real estate company I co-founded with my husband. For the first time, ever, I had a moment to stop and reflect on what I’d dreamed of since so long ago. Sure, I’d tried to pursue my writing dreams along the way. I’d even been honored with two different agents through the years, but somehow nothing clicked.  We’d get close, those agents and I, to the big acceptance, the “yes” from New York. But ultimately, a no would come my way and I’d put my hopes and my manuscripts back in the drawer. But I didn’t give up.

Was it because I didn’t have confidence to pursue this career of a novelist with single-minded focus? Perhaps, but most of us don’t have the luxury of simply writing full time. Was it because my writing wasn’t ready, my craft was still developing? I don’t think you ever stop growing, so I could have used that excuse to give up. I don’t have the answers to those questions. But I do know I continued to write. I continued to take online masters classes and attend writers’ conferences when I could. I remained convinced this was my calling, that someday a novel of mine would be published.

Don’t get me wrong. I had a great career as a journalist and later in marketing and finally, ironically, in what has become the most resilient of all industries, real estate. If you want a non-literary example of survivors, of buoyancy, sit down and talk to your favorite real estate agent who is still working in today’s market.  I found the inspiration for my first book by working with these amazing entrepreneurs.  In what is to me truly ironic, I pitched the nonfiction proposal for REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs (Wiley|08) to a single literary agent and just one publisher, both of whom responded the next day with a yes.

That type of overnight yes didn’t happen for my novel, obviously.

Available May 1, 2011 

So when the yes did come last year, when the dream began to become reality, you better believe it was that much more exciting. This is the dream. This is what I’ve been bouncing back in hopes of. The advance reader copies of HERE, HOME, HOPE arrived on my doorstep in a brown cardboard box just before Christmas. My hands were shaking as I cut open the package and reached inside. As I picked up the ARC, I held the realization of a lifetime of dreams, of work, of springing back. Was it worth it, continuing to ignore the facts, the odds stacked against me? Of course. Now it is. But when I look back at the very long and exhausting road that most of us must take from our dreams of writing a novel to the reality of holding a published book in our hands, I know resilience is the reason I made it through.

 And, just as I know that this character trait is what worked for me, what allowed me to finally be able to say that I am now a published novelist, the ability to spring back can and will work for you, too. No matter your field, but especially in this one. Resilience is learned by those who make it: you don’t need it if you give up. So keep bouncing.

This column appeared the The Sacramento Book Review, a great place for book lovers.

Real You: That's what friends are for!

So, here I am, on the campaign trail so to speak. Promoting an about to be released debut novel feels like a long solo trek sometimes but just when I begin to think all is lost and lonely, something fabulous comes along! In this particular case, in the form of a profile on the blog of the amazing Beth Hoffman, author of the equally amazing novel Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. To be a guest on a New York Times Bestselling novelists blog is - well - a dream come true. I'm still pinching myself! Here's the link.

And yes, Beth is as nice and real as she seems. Amazing.

Goodreads HERE, HOME, HOPE Giveaway ends April 30th!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Here, Home, Hope

by Kaira Rouda

Giveaway ends April 30, 2011.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

If not now, when?

That's what I decided when I embarked on this new fiction writing career. If not now, when? Sure, I could continue to dream about becoming a published novelist. That was one of my favorite escapes, actually, wandering through a wonderful bookstore and admiring all of the titles on the New Fiction shelf. I kept thinking, well, sure, someday that could be me. But I'll tell you what. That someday would never have come about unless I decided to go for it. As in everything in life - making your dreams come true ultimately is up to you. How about you? What are you putting off? If you're waiting for the perfect moment to pursue your passions, you'll be waiting forever. There really is no time like the present. It starts with believing in yourself and your dreams. If your dream is to become an entrepreneur, get started today. You don't need to quit your day job immediately, but you need to start moving toward your dream. Research. Interview women already successful in the field of your dreams.

    What inspires you? What is missing in your life? Is your dream to write and be published? Start now. Sign up for classes. Carry a journal. Take action to begin to make your dreams come true.

Start now on the path to becoming who you truly are. Believe in yourself. The money will follow. If you start today, start to move forward, you are on your way to a miracle. Your own reinvention.

If not now, when?

Note: if you need inspiration to get going, my book Real You Incorporated may be just the ticket. If you'd like to support my dream, please preorder HERE, HOME, HOPE! Thank you!!