It's Spring! by OUCHcharley

I’ve been walking on air all week–and it ain’t over yet!

So many people have blessed me with invitations to do guest posts and interviews long before my blog tour dates. Joy Tamsin David put my guest post, “Love Never Fails,” on her Edgy Inspirational Romance blog,  Kelly Klepfer interviewed me for Novel Journey, and Bethany Jean reviewed Give the Lady a Ride on My Saviour My King. Those who left comments on the sites were so encouraging and enthusiastic about my book, I was brought to tears. I never expected such a positive reaction! Yes, I’d hoped, but . . . wow. I’m just overwhelmed. People are so kind!

Next up–tomorrow, in fact–is my debut party. Let me tell ya, I’m nervous. I sent out several invitations, not including the blanket one at the church, and MSB posted an invitation at work. Of everyone I’ve invited, I’ve received five positive responses and over a dozen negatives. Even several family members declined. (Ouch.)

That’s what I get for not realizing this week is spring break. Of course, the positive-negative count doesn’t include everyone invited, I still have a ton of folks who haven’t RSVP’ed at all. So, I’ll either have spent a ton of money to sign five books, or I’m going to be swamped, not have enough food, and wind up ordering pizza. At least I have a back up plan.

In the midst of everything this week, Mom gave me a scare. She was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, akin to the Crohn’s Disease that I have, and we’ve been battling to bring it under control. Often, UC causes some blood-loss, and since she has trouble keeping her red blood cell count up anyway, this has been particularly nerve-wracking. Last week as I drove to visit her, she called and said, “The doctor says I need a blood transfusion.” Ack! So much can go wrong, and it always scares me when she has to endure a transfusion, but between the two units she got and the IV iron drip she received the following day, she felt better.

Until this week, when her temperature shot up, blood loss occurred again–with the accompanying weakness, dizziness, and fatigue. As I was preparing my mail-out for the reviewers, she called and warned me that she may have to go to the hospital again.

Praise God, the doctor did the ol’ “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” routine–except he said Tylenol–and it worked. Apparently she just had a bug, or at worst and more probably, a “Prednisone withdrawal.” She’s been fine since.

And my sanity is holding on by a thread!

What a week.

Hey, just a reminder: If you’re a member of Goodreads, check out my giveaway there. I’m holding a drawing to give two books away to two lucky winners! Aside from that, in two weeks, I’ll draw a name from among those who join my authors page on Facebook (search Give the Lady a Ride) and from anyone who comments on my author page on Amazon.com. Winners will receive a $10 gift certificate to either Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble!