{SQT} Don’t forget these things!

Who knows the best way to launch a book? If it requires following a plan to the letter and showing your face on social media 50 times a day – not me!!! I’ve waited so long to get to this point, I want to enjoy it and not worry about whether or not I’m “doing it right” but, it’s in my very DNA to stress out about not meeting self-inflicted goals.

Even though my official launch date is October 8, Amazon is already shipping my book, and of course, the Kindle version has been available for a couple of weeks now. People are sharing pictures online and I’m getting some wonderful messages. Thank you everyone. I feel so blessed to not only have the opportunity to share my story, but to do so in a way that can genuinely help parents struggling after the diagnosis of their child.

In you kindness, please, please, please, leave a review on Amazon or share the book on social media. It’s the best advertisement I can get, especially since the rate at which I’m sending out press releases is embarrassingly slow.

Now just a few updates and reminders! First, I decided to open up my live Q&A session to any, and everyone, no need to preorder. Join me on my Facebook page on Thursday, October 7th at 8 p.m. EST. If I think I can swing it, I will be live on Instagram at the same time trying my best to look into two cameras at once. I will read some bits from the book and obviously answer questions. I look forward to chatting with y’all!

Next, I extended the deadline for the Better Than OK cocktail and recipe contest. You now have until October 4th to submit your cocktails and recipes that turned out better than okay! And I get more time to try making everything myself!

My book release party is now officially going to be an Oktoberfest. If you’ve read my book, you know there is a pretty poignant moment that happens at an Oktoberfest. Giving my book party this same theme really brings my journey full circle (and gives me a reason to play polkas and serve pretzels.) Besides, once I mentioned the idea to Tony, the event budget magically increased! Please buy tickets by October 4th so I know how much beer and pretzels to have on hand. And if anyone has a dirndl I can borrow, contact me so we can get that overnighted, please and thank you.

The giveaway basket is growing! Next week on my book’s official launch date, you’ll have a chance to win not only a signed copy of my book but:

• An 8×10 “I knew you..” print from Brass & Mint.
• A signed copy of Marian Consecration for Families With Small Children
• A copy of Fulton Sheen And The Very Bad Week
• A signed copy of Awakening At Lourdes; How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored Our Faith

Lastly, I had a fun evening Thursday night when I attended a local fundraiser for Good Counsel Homes. Liv Harrison was speaking and Good Counsel is such a great cause, it was a no brainer. Plus the venue is fantastic. I was blown away by just the appetizers. (As I consumed wedge after wedge of fancy cheese, it was obvious to everyone that it was the first time I’d been out in awhile.) Liv, of course, gave a super awesome and inspiring speech and I even had the pleasure of meeting one of the founders of Good Counsel, Christopher Bell. (The other founder is the late Father Benedict Groeschel, who I’ve also met.#namedropping) The best part of the evening was when one of the mothers who’d been helped by Good Counsel told her story. Although the number of women and babies helped (and saved) by Good Counsel is small compared to the number of abortions performed each day in our state, it’s still encouraging to hear from the women who made the courageous choice to keep their child when they had no help and support, and to see how Good Counsel stepped in and helped them overcome all the odds and become successful mothers.

How was your week? Write it down then link it up below. Be sure to include a link back to this post so your readers can find the rest of the Quick Takes. I look forward to reading your posts!