Welcome to EJ’s real, crazy, emotional, probably too honest journey. She is an everyday girl in this everyday world trying to keep her head above water. Within the pages of this book you will learn about the things that have broken EJ down and the steps she is taking to build back up. You will see, that this story is written in a unique, general, conversational voice, which was her choice. She wants you to be able to picture yourself in her shoes, relate her trials and tribulations to yours and see that you too can find your happiness. Even if you don’t realize this yet, every single one of us possesses things inside of ourselves that we didn’t know were there. It took EJ’s life taking a crazy right turn and dumping her at the lowest possible point before she could see the strength within herself. We are not defined by what we do, we are defined by the choices we make. EJ decided when she put pen to paper that she wanted her choices to start defining her as strong, confident, secure and above all else, happy. So, who am EJ? How about who she was – a self-loathing shell who put everyone else’s happiness before her own. Herein lies a story about finding that happiness and all of the ups and downs along the way. See who EJ was and who she is trying to become and maybe, somewhere in there, you will find out a little about yourself too.
Her latest book is the self-help, Your Crossroads. Your Choice.
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About the Book:
Welcome to my diary, my journey, as I tripped and crawled through the darkest time in my life- when I witnessed people that I held incredibly close to me shatter my very existence with their words and actions. The things within this book spine are extremely raw and exceptionally real. You and I are going to get very close, the details in this book, although oddly general, are incredibly specific. Yes, I realize what I just said and as you read my words you will see what I mean. As you silently gasp and mentally bitch slap me, please be kind because my story is just that – my story. It is not any more or less special than yours. In fact the only difference between our stories are the choices we made at each of the crossroads in our lives. For most of my life the choices I made were not based on my happiness but on everyone else’s. This book describes what I have experienced in my journey to finding my happiness and hopefully never letting it go. Sadly, it took me thirty six years to find the strength I need to detoxify my life and self-view and find someone who is worthy of my awesomeness. Thirty six years to shatter the negative foundation I had built shatter the ultimate representative I created to hide behind and begin the process of building a new foundation. Only this foundation will be built on strength, confidence and above all, happiness. So take a minute or thirty and sit with my story for a while. You never know what you might find out.
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How did you come up with the idea for your book?
My initial reaction is to say that unfortunately, it is based on actual events that occurred in my life. But in actuality it is not unfortunate. I am a stronger person after going through what I did. I am hoping my story will inspire other people to have confidence in themselves and their choices and not repeat my tragic tale.
Can you tell us what your book is about?
Sure! My book weaves the tale of woe that I went through in order to become happy with my true self. I couldn’t believe some of the things that were happening in my life at the time, like an open marriage, and felt like writing it down would make it more real. I began to outline the story and work through my decision to get a divorce after eight years of marriage, two children, a dog and a house. This book is written as if you and I were sitting having a drink and I was telling you the craziest most “Jerry Springer-esque” story known to man! For most of my life the choices I made were not based on my happiness but on everyone else’s. This book describes what I have experienced in my journey to finding my happiness and hopefully never letting it go. Sadly, it took me thirty six years to find the strength I need to detoxify my life and self view and find someone who is worthy of my awesomeness. Thirty six years to shatter the negative foundation I had built shatter the ultimate representative I created to hide behind and begin the process of building a new foundation. Only this foundation will be built on strength, confidence and above all, happiness.
Can you give us an excerpt?
Quasi Logic Behind Totally Illogical Thoughts
I challenge anyone to argue with the following oh so utterly simplistic, almost ridiculously too easy to be real, truth. Here it is, people, be ready for your mind to be blown! Every choice has an opposite choice. And these choices come at a crossroads. A crossroads you are in control of. So go ahead, try and come up with a reason to argue that what I speak isn’t the absolute truth. I’ll wait. Come back when you realize you can’t think of a single one. Please don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I enjoy being right; I just know it’s hard to argue with such an insanely logical and straightforward truth. You see my readers, my new friends, it will hurt less if you accept this to be so. Everything in our world has two opposing choices, and these choices sit at our own personal crossroads, forcing us to embrace either the right or the wrong, the easy or the hard, the light or the dark. Throughout this book, you will see how I am working through this arduous journey with you by my side, priding myself on being a woman of logic and facts, but let’s be clear: I also believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and unicorns!
What can I say, it gives me intense pleasure to know that while you read this book you are going to be kept on the edge of your seat! There will be sexy steamy bits, utterly hopeless bits, raw emotional bits, hilariously funny bits, and pathetic whiny bits. But I promise, if you stick with me, at the end of it all, there will be mostly strong, empowered, utterly-confident bits. But who knows, right? This is honestly an introduction to my journey of self-discovery not directed simply at you but at me as well. Welcome aboard my crazy train, I hope you enjoy the ride!
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would that be?
Become obsessed. Eat, drink, breathe, sleep, dream, even poop writing! Words should be colliding all around you. Oh and always carry a notebook you never know when genius strikes. And if it strikes just as you are about to fall asleep get up! No matter how hard you try, you will not remember what you thought of the next morning. Trust me.
What would you say is one of your interesting writing quirks?
I write as if I am talking directly to the person who is reading my material. It is an odd voice but it works for my platform.
Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?
I have given the first chapter and in some instances the entire book to a few people and have gotten very positive feedback! Everyone seems to be able to relate to something I talk about which is what matters most to me.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
I seem to be unable to shake the passive voice. Which makes it tough to get some green readability and SEO scores but I am trying hard everyday and making progress!
What has been the best accomplishment?
The best accomplishment is having the courage to have my book published. This is a very personal story so it is hard not to take reviews to heart.
Do you Google yourself?
I do! I am a middle school teacher so I try to make sure that I am aware of what is out there. I also create “memes” from my book quotes and when you Google my name, they come up which is pretty cool.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I currently have three in the hopper – a teenage version of this book, a fictional book centered around my sister’s experience working on an organic farm in Argentina and the sequel to this book.
Do you have anything specific that you would like to say to your readers?
I hope that my story resonates with you. It was written to empower my readers who are standing at a crossroads in their lives. If my story can give you the strength and confidence you need to find happiness in your choices then well, that’s just the cherry on my sundae. Your crossroads. Your choice.
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