When I announced that I was releasing my book on August 7th, some who know me may have questioned the date. The fact is, it’s generally a pretty shitty day. One that I, given a choice, would rather spend wrapped like a burrito in bed, doing my best to ignore the rest of the world. This year, however, I wanted to do something different. Something that would make it a better day.

My mother was always one of my biggest supporters in life – no matter what. She was always there for me. That ended 20 years ago when Al Qaeda targeted the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. I’m told that she helped save lives, right up to the last moment before everything went to hell. And honestly, that’s exactly the sort of person that she was, so it’s not surprising to me in the slightest. But the gods themselves know how much I miss her and that each year that goes by, doesn’t really change that. Hence, me adopting my queen of the blanket burritos persona, at least once a year.

But this year, when I realized where things with the book were in relation to being completed and when I might actually be able to get everything ready for publishing – it was hard to miss how close it was to the date. I’d used said day as a moment of significance in the book as well, so it was really impossible resist taking a much needed chance to make a positive change.

And so, I dedicate the release of my debut novel, In Plain Sight, to my mother. Who never got a chance to read it, but absolutely would have loved it nonetheless. She was an avid reader, and among other things, instilled her love of reading in me as well. I would not have made it far in life without her, and the gaping void that was left with her passing has been really hard to fill. Not that I expect it ever will be, but at the very least, I can do this one thing to make things just a little better.

Anyway… thank you for allowing me to be a bit maudlin for a moment. I will post again a bit later today after the book goes live. For now I leave you with a poem from Simple Musings (which to be honest, is mostly filled with angsty poetry from my younger days, but there’s a few, like this one, that were written for my mom, as well)…

 Forever Gone

A tearing hole
So deep inside
A pain so real
I just can’t hide

A gaping void
Within my heart
Losing you
Tears me apart

The silent tears
I shed each night
A silent rage
I have to fight

A light so bright
That now is dark
I long to see
One tiny spark

As memories fade
My heart clings on
Knowing that you
Forever are gone