It's been a few days since my last blog but I'll make it up on this one.
It's been a few days since I got to blog. I've been so sick for the past three weeks. Three weeks ago, I'm pretty sure I ended up getting sick from my granddaughter. She was staying the night at my house when she came down with a fever and a few days later I ended up with a fever as well and the sickness lasted for two long miserable weeks. I finally got to feeling better and came down with a horrible stomach bug. It was awful. The worst part was my bones aching non-stop and freezing to death not being able to get warm. So all of this was happening to me during the launch of my very first book to be published. I feel so much better today. Still a little achy in my bones and chilly feeling, but I don't feel like I'm going to pass out every time I stand up anymore.
My book was finally published on April 7th, 2025. And I'm going to complain for a minute on my book publisher. Don't get me wrong. I'm VERY blessed for this achievement in my life and also very blessed that my book is published. BUT since day 1 that I have been working with my publisher it's been nothing but an absolute nightmare. They have falsely advertised to me, lied to me and messed up so many things. It's been a very exhausting 7 months, "on top of keeping my sobriety in check". The first two book managers I was working with upped and quit the company after working with them each separately for only a couple of months each and then I got my third book manager. Which I have to say, my third book manager has been great. I was upset today, because a customer had ordered a book from me on Amazon and when it arrived at her house, it's the size of an actual coloring book. Now what kind of author's books have you ever read that were the size of a coloring book? Come on, Publishing Company "Do Better"! I went to my Amazon publishing page to try and change the size of my book myself, but they told me that once my book is published that the book size can't be changed. So here I am advertising a book that means everything in the world to me and advertising it, and it doesn't even fit on a bookshelf, but rather find laying in the bottom of a toy box!
Anyway, so I emailed my book manager two times today plus I texted the lady who put the actual information into my Amazon account for the book size. Guess what? I heard absolutely nothing back from them. It's completely different when they were wanting money. Then they don't leave you alone. All I know is that if it's not fixed, I will get an attorney. I'm just tired of being lied to and this has almost cost $2000 so far. If you ever get a book published, PLEASE PLEASE do your research! Yes I did a lot of research, but instead went with this company because they were "cheaper" haha than everyone else was supposed to be. No they were more expensive.
So anyway, it's been a very stressful three weeks. I do want to thank my sister. She has been so much help to me the past week. She has prayed for me and also given me some very amazing scriptures and prayers to read over my home and over myself. Thank you sis, I love you so much! I have some pretty amazing books to read over the next few weeks that are going to give me so much more strength and faith.
We got to take my granddaughter to get her birthday present today and she picked out roller skates. These roller skates actually turn into roller blades when she's ready for the next step, but so far today, she's been practicing skating in my house on the carpets and wood floors LOL. Hey, I'm nana. anything pretty much goes in this house unless they are being rude or disrespectful. Jemma is always so kind and loving though. She might get a little attitude sometimes, but that's usually because she's tired. I can't believe she will be 7 tomorrow. She was born on Friday the 13th. And it's very strange because you would think that my youngest granddaughter would have been born on Friday the 13th instead because she's the really mean one haha. But I love them all so much and I'm so blessed to see them almost everyday!
Tomorrow will be an amazing day because I get to take Jemma to church with us and then go to her Taylor Swift birthday party!
So here is a picture of her with her new skates, and Happy 7th Birthday sweet Jemma. Nana Chelle loves you so much!
See you all Monday!
xoxoxo Michelle Neal
