Thank You

The past few years have been very challenging for me. I’ve faced a lot of hardships, failures, and disappointments as well as health issues and circumstances that brought me to my knees. In the midst of all these things, I was required to write a short story about hope. Hope? How could I possibly write about hope and encouragement when I’m flat on my face begging for something that even resembles good fortune? Yet, I did. Somewhere along the way, I learned an important lesson and I did my best to convey that lesson in my contribution to Light in the Darkness.

Light in the Darkness is a personal success for me. It was not only something active that kept my mind off the things troubling me, but it was a chance to think sincerely on hope and what it truly meant. It’s very easy to slip into self-pity mode when you’re hurting. It’s inevitable that you’ll find yourself in a spiral of despair when you’re most vulnerable. It does NOT have to own you. I’ve learned that sometimes the best way to get through your own hard times is to find someone else who is also suffering and help them to the best of your ability. 

I sincerely hope the stories found in this book help others find their source of strength in hope. Even before its birth, it has already helped one.

Light in the Darkness is a project built by many. Each one contributed something that made this book possible.

I’d like to personally thank SK Whiteside and Ivy Media & Press for providing editing, formatting, and both ebook and print publication of Light in the Darkness. Without your resources, our project wouldn’t have the potential to reach the audiences that will now see it. We are all glad you were able to take on our project and help in our mission to provide encouraging stories of hope and to give financial donations to charity.

I’d like to thank Karlan Sick and the Literacy for Incarcerated Teens. Your charity organization has provided thousands of books and countless inspiring author speakers to the troubled youth of New York. It was your initiative of providing support to incarcerated teens that compelled us to produce stories based on hope, encouragement, and morality. I hope that every donation we’re able to make through profits will help advance your mission.

I’d like to thank our team of authors who provided outstanding stories. Some of these authors stepped out of their comfort zones to write in a genre with which they were unfamiliar. The time and dedication put forth in creating these stories has been phenomenal and true works of art. Thank you Em Pil, Casey L. Bond, Candy Crum, Carlyle Lasbuchagne, Timothy L. Frasier, JP Gibbs, Dennis Tyler, Elizabeth Loraine, Will Overby, DJ Shaw, and Stacie Wilson. Your commitment to excellence in writing is outstanding and your ability to come together as a united group has been inspiring.

I’d like to thank our cover designer, Airicka Phoenix, for providing moving cover art that fit the theme of the stories perfectly. Your artistic vision and the options you provided the group for cover art were superb.

I’d like to thank Emily Piland for co-establishing the project with me. We brought together a great team! Also, for her endless promotions and merchandise crafting. Your key chains for giveaways and sales are amazing. I am truly blessed to know you.

I’d like to thank Casey L. Bond for a number of things including mass promotion and support. Thank you for organizing such a huge cover reveal day and also collecting giveaway items for the release party. You have mad organization and google doc skills, girl. 

I’d like to thank the bloggers who supported us in our cover reveal. Word of mouth is the most effective technique of marketing and you’ve done an amazing job helping to spread the word. This thank you is for:

Paisley Reader
worlds away book blog & My personal author blog
Books Mystify
DJ Shaw
WS Momma Readers Nook
Hush Hush Revealings
Comfortablyread
We Do Write
Pinky's Favorite Reads
Escape Reality with Books
Jess's Book Blog
I Heart YA Books
Hardcover Therapy
A Book Addict's Delight
Out There Reviews & Stuff
Rusty's Reading
Jill Prand
Love Bites and Silk
Love Us Some Books
Nocturnal Predators Reviews
Dreaming Awake
The Book Beacon
Reviewing With Our Mom
Words Turn Me On
Tia Bach, Author
Fairiechick's Fantasy Book Reader
Swoon Worthy Books
Lustful Literature
Tantalizing Reviews
Lady Amber's Reviews
Niccis book blog
Reading Past My Bedtime
Love, Lust & all the Pages in Between
The Boyfriend Bookmark
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
Sammie's Book Blog
Whispered Thoughts
mustreadbooksordie
Yesterday & Tomorrow's Reads
Ms. Me28
Hooked On Books Forever
paranormal book club ( PBC)
Mommy's Late Night Book-up
Lynley Wayne
Eye Candy Bookstore
Loco Mundo Literario
Indy Book Fairy
4bookwormsunited2014

The First Five Pages

I’d also like to thank Amber Garza of LadyAmbers Reviews for donating a full three-hour hosted online release party. Your efforts in promoting authors and their work is heart-stopping. I think I speak on behalf of everyone who has benefited from your services when I say that we are all truly blessed to have your love of sharing great stories on our side.

I’d like to thank all the authors who stepped up to support our release by donating giveaway items for the release day party.

I’d like to thank everyone who attended our online release day party. Bringing Light in the Darkness into the world was a celebrated event and we were overjoyed to have so many of you sharing those moments with us.

I’d like to thank Chelsea Rafferty and Kristina Gehring for their ongoing love and support for DJ Shaw and our project. Your encouragement has been fundamental.

I’d like to thank Kelly Bryson for her ongoing love and support for Emily Piland and our project. Your help in crafting merchandise for giveaways and sale was unmatched.

This project has been a collection of donations. Every story, every blog post, every event, every merchandise item made, every encouraging word was a piece in a giant puzzle that was put together beautifully. Of all the book projects I have produced, Light in the Darkness has been the most amazing. I truly hope at least one story helps you through whatever challenges you are facing. I really hope that our project, Light in the Darkness, will be just that for you.