Hanging with the Divas

Here I am hanging with the women from Reading Divas. These women have been reading and discussing books for over 10 years. I had so much fun with these ladies as we discussed my book. I have to say that it was a joy meeting each of them. They had so many questions for me about the book. They also shared with me how much they enjoyed reading the book. They shared parts of the book that made them cry and parts of the book the made them laugh. It was a wonderful time. Some even shared stories about themselves growing up and some of the issues they had growing up.One woman in the group is working on writting a book as well.

 At the end of the question and answer time they gave me Tulips I loved them I had just seen some and the store and was concerning to buy some. A wonderfu surprise. They gave me a gift that I just wasn't expecting at all. They send a donation to Vista Maria in my honor. I was so thrilled to hear that. I could almost cry. They loved the book so much that they were willingly to help support an agency that continues to help young ladies grow into loving, powerful and caring women. That was just awesome. They also gave me money to help purchase more books to sell. What a wonderful caring and loving women. Thanks ladies for having me come I had a wonderful time.
I should also say that an old friend Paulette Horton approached me earlier this month telling me that a school would like to purchase 500 books. This was so unexpecting and bought me to tears. I thought I was so happy when I sold 60 books I couldn't believe my ears when she said 500. There were some disappointment when they asked if I would be willing to change my cover. This I couldn't agree with because this title and cover came to me from the Holy Spirit and I truly belive that. There is no way I would change that. It also keep me close to Rhodia, my sister because it was her that made the cover. The women in the group even told me that the cover was just perfect and they didn't know anything about the offer. I also gave the book to a young lady and she came to me and told me that the book cover and title was really right on. She told me that its just what life feels like to her that the title really points out just what she feels. It stays the same.

I'm looking forward to selling those 500 books.

smile

Moving forward. The book In Between My Tears is moving forward. I received an email yesterday from a woman that's an volunteer at Vista Maria. I was so happy and surprised by this email I wasn't expecting it and didn't know the woman. She was writing to request the book, In Between My Tears as a possible book for the girls at Vista Maria for the group that have formed with the girls "Vista Maria Reads". I love it! I know while I was there I spent hours reading. The girls would tease me about all ways holding onto a book. It was the words and life experiences that helped me moved forward with my life. I thought if they could do it then I could do it. I can make my life worth living. I was so thrilled when she mentioned in her email that they would like to consider using my book for the girls to read. When she said that that my book was recommend to her as a book that would be of inspiration for the girls. I was so happy I was seeing my dream come true my goal of inspiring young woman maybe coming true. I thought of the day the nurse at work had come to me about a young lady that she had given the book to tell her that she had never read a complete book before but she couldn't put my book down. She said she loved it and had read it over again. I wrote a book that a was the first for someone and she couldn't put it down. All I could think of were the books that I had held onto not able to put it down because it had me gripped I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Hearing the nurse tell me that was music to my ears. Now reading that someone had recommended my book and that she would like to use it at Vista Maria the place that the book is really all about.

This is the dream that I had dreamed for over 30 years. When I left Vista Maria I had dreamed that I would write about that time there. It wasn't easy living there I didn't understand why I was there. I thought I was being punished for just being me, Kim Kelsey. The young ladies that I spent those days, hours, minutes and weeks helped me to be the young woman I thought I could be. They cheered me on, they cried with me, they laughed with me and they encouraged me. I wanted to tell that story. I felt loved for the very first time while I was there and I wanted to share with others that experience. When I walked out that gate and looked back I knew then that I was going to write my book.

It took over forty years to make that dream come true. It took years of writing and throwing it away. Writing and throwing it away until I was told that I could do this that I could make my dream come true. The day Marilyn my writer coach said to me " Kim you are a wonderful writer." When she told me that I was ready to write the book. Those six months working with her was a joy the words came out like a water fountain I could see each experience as if I was there again. I saw the girls that were my family and I wrote it as if we were laughing, talking and sharing our thoughts all over again. I wanted to help someone else that was confused just as I was. I wrote my story to inspire someone else.

Reading those words in that email was like receiving a birthday gift that I always wanted. I'm so looking forward to hearing her thoughts about my book. In Between My Tears is moving forward.

Can I Dream Come True?

This is a question I probably shouldn't be asking right now seeing how so many have already read the book, In Between My Tears and shared that they really enjoyed it. My dream of just writing it has come true. I walked around all my adult life wanting to write my story. I tired on several occasions to write it and ending up throwing it in the trash angry and frustrated over the results. When I finally finished the book I could have danced all day. The many nights I cried about it no money wondering how could I publish a book then just taking that leap of faith and asking others and just putting what little money I had to make it happen. I wanted this book and didn't want my dream to end.

Yesterday, I had breakfast with an old friend. We'll say her name is Sandy, cute name. She has a church and I've been attending her church. I so enjoy  hearing their sermons on moving forward with your dreams. I shared with her that I had fulfilled a dream of writing my book she purchased it. I was so happy that she would do that. I didn't think she would read it only because she's so busy. She read it or some of it and told me she loved it. My heart of course leaped for joy. Then she said "Kim this book should be a movie." This I have heard from several people. She tells me that we have to do something somebody has to read this book and make it a movie. At breakfast yesterday she shares with me a story that had my heart leaping with joy.
"Kim I have good news for you. I was out of town and with several ministers and one have a publishing company. He asked me for my book and my husbands book. I tell thanks I'll be sure to send you my book but I have one book you have to have." She begin to tell him about my book. He wants one right away. Now you know I almost fainted thank God I was sitting down at the time.

My dream has come true again. I know he will love the book because so many have already shared with me that they really like the book. Sandy tells me that he's able to get the book out to more people than I could ever do on my own. The dream is growing. I want the book to encourage so many more people especially young women. Sandy keeps saying this is going to be a movie. The dream can come true.

Selling Books

My book In Between My Tears selling it online has been a challenge. I'v also found it challenging to get it publish online with amazon. I have to say even with all the challenges I'm writing it has been a joy just knowing that its completed. I love the title it just came to me like a light flash one day. When it came it gave me chills because I could feel the power of it when it came to me. Knowing that through out my young life at the time I went through a lot but in between all those dark days there were days that were filled with laughter, learning and joy. That's why I had to use that title. Many people are moved by it and I have to smile when their heads go back because I know they can relate.  In all of my disappointment of the book I'm so glad that I wrote it.

Writing My Book

I stepped out and wrote my story a story that had been boiling inside of me for years. I wrote it over and over then balling up the paper and throwing it away. When I wrote the book the words came back like words from a monologue in a play. I was so excited that the stories that had ran through me for years were finally written on paper and bond in a book. The stories were sad, funny and thrilling. Some memories were comforting and others were not but they were stories that lived in my head for many years.
I never dreamed that I would be able to write a book and people would really enjoy reading it. I've gotten calls from people telling me how much they have enjoyed reading the book. Two older people told me "when I should have been reading the Bible I was reading your book." I never imagined that it would be such a good read. I wanted to honor the wonderful people that crossed my path while at Vista Maria I wanted to share how much love I'd recieved while living with them. I think about those days very often and how much I grew and learned so much from those young ladies. Those girls had shared so much with me all their fears, saddness, dreams and hopes with me. It was like having a big pajama party everyday. I learned that people worship differently and more about a faith I knew nothing about. Writing my book was so much fun to go back and revisit all the people that touched my life so deeply. I learned about a race of people that I thought didn't care about me as an African American. I had the expeience to work at a job that would be my future. All of this I told in my book.
To learn that people who read it found it to be so inspirational was such a joy to me. One woman wrote and told me that she put my book on her book shelf right next to The Help and Anne Frank these are music to an author's ears. Me, Kim Kelsey, an author such a dream come true putting words on paper that told my story of staff and young ladies that help create me.You gotta get the book.

 

To Write Or Not To Write That Is The Question

I've always loved reading as a little girl I would spend hours in my room reading a good book. I remember learning how to read the joy it bought me to be able to put letters together and form words. It was so cool. My sister and I share the same room and she loved drawing she would spend hours drawing and I could read. When I was a teenager I had a desire to write maybe it came from all those days when I was younger reading wanting to write just seemed natural.

I was so overjoyed when my book In Between My Tears was finished and I finally had it published. The tears filled my eyes when I held that book in my hands and looked at it with the cover I dreamed of and the title that came to me and the colors that ran through my mind constantly. The beauty of it was that cover that my sister drew the picture of the shadow of a girl with a tear drop from her face. Seeing us come full circle Rhodia's drawing with my words.

The few books that I printed was loved by so many people. Most emailed or called and asked when will be my next book. I was amazed by their comment and happy that I was able to make my dream come true. Now I'm back at square one trying to convince myself to write again just as I did with my first book. My sister worked on her joy for drawing as much as she could even in her last days having a pencil and pad near by when ever she could mustard up enough to put the pencil to the paper her hand filled with pain she would still try to draw. She tried to live her passion to create and to draw. I would try very hard to begin to write again.  My sister was so in her joy doing what she did she didn't have to it sold and many people didn't have to see it or buy she just drew. My goal now is to continue to write.

The answer is to write

She Did It Again

On April 13, 2013, the show Bag Lady returned to the stage and moved the audience to laughter, tears and joy. The Red Hatters came to see the performance and all enjoyed the show.

I enjoyed performing the Bag Lady show for over sixty people on April 13. Many approached me after the show with their stories  of emotions they too had stuffed inside their bags over the years. There was a former superviser in the audience and several people from church came to the show as well. This is the fourth year I've performed this show and each time I perform it I'm so blessed by the warm wishes from everyone after the show. Many say that I've inspired them the truth is they inspire me. I'm not sure when I'll do the show agian just grateful every time I do. Several brought the book "In Between My Tears too. I'm amazed at how I've gone from selling keychain bags to now selling my own book this is such a great experience.