One year and one week ago I sat in the living room on a cold Saturday morning and read through the entity of KDP’s (Kindle Direct Publishing) terms of service. One year and one week ago I talked with my dad and decided on Annie Louise Twitchell as the name I would publish under. One year and one week ago today I opened a KDP account.
One year ago today I uploaded the cover file:
One year ago today I struggled over the acknowledgements, how to express what I felt and what I wanted to say. I’d never felt that something was so important.
One year ago today I uploaded the finalized manuscript.
One year from tomorrow, January 28th, my first book was published on Amazon Kindle.
The Christmas Ladder is a little tiny story; it’s about 10 pages long. It’s a true story, mostly. It’s based on a story from my great-grandmother’s childhood. To celebrate my first book baby’s birthday, I’ve listed it for free on Amazon on the 27th, 28th, and 29th.
It’s been a long year. It seems impossible that it’s been a whole year already, but at the same time I can’t believe it’s only been a year. I’m standing on the edge of 21, almost teetering, waited with bated breath. I don’t know what I’m waiting for.
This past year has been full of pain and grief and anger and hurt and depression. It’s been full of anxiety and fear. It’s been full of hope and love and joy and the kind of laughter that explodes into a million glittering echoes because there’s nothing else for it to do. It’s been full of growth and change and healing.
I’ve moved mountains, I think, at least for myself.
I’m so thankful for this last year.
-Annie