It was just a mission statement.

Hello Book Lovers!

Welcome back to my author's blog newsletter, Happy DETours!

I have some big news! I'm officially a business! That's right, my status as an author has entered the next stage. A full blown business. I have just formed my book business: Jennifer Conklin Author, LLC. You'll start seeing my new brand and logo on all my promotional materials and on my website. You will also see my new tagline that I feel embodies my authorship and books: Your next happy book Detour!

Having an LLC means a couple things. One, my books have sold well, that my accountant, lawyer and insurance gurus all said it was time to make it official. That in itself is good news. Second, EEEKK! Paperwork, regulations, and deadlines.

When I started my writing journey, it was a way for me to get all the stories that had been building up in my head a way to escape through the written page. When I began sharing my stories with others I thought that was the hardest part of being an author. Knowing people would be reading my most innermost thoughts and imagination.

But it wasn't. The hardest part has been learning all the regulations, forms, requirements and deadlines for an official business. At times, it has been very overwhelming. Thankfully, I have a team of professionals that have guided me through this daunting process but it did make me question, How did I get here?

The phrase "It was just a mission statement." ~Jerry McGuire, ran through my head over and over. When I decided to sit down and write the stories I had drafted in my mind, it was more of an exercise of commitment, not necessarily the end goal of becoming a published author. And since my journey was almost the start of a new year, it became a resolution of sorts. I had given myself one year to write a book, (I was being practical since I was working full time) but knowing deep down it would never happen. Statistics show that many new year resolutions are dropped by the second Friday in January, called Quitter's Day. And if you made it past Quitter's Day, another poll showed that most resolutions were finally abandoned by April.

But that didn't happen to me. I accomplished my goal and actually finished early. By Thanksgiving, a whole month before my year mark. No one was more shocked than me that I had written not only my debut YA novel but my entire debut children's book series as well. My family was pretty shocked too since I NEVER told anyone about my new year's resolution to write a book. I surprised my entire family with the manuscripts that Thanksgiving weekend.

As I published my debut books, my author journey expanded with events, awards, signings, articles, business collaborations and going wide with publication. And the opportunities kept coming. I want to keep writing books, reach more readers and grow my authorship so that meant it was time to make it a business. Officially. The business side can be very dry but it's necessary for growth.

It did make me think back to that first night of earnest writing and not really knowing where it would take me. Writing a book was just my new year's resolution. My mission statement, of sorts. I couldn't have known then that being an author would be the next chapter in my life's story. That my writing would grow, nourish my soul and spark my joy again.

I truly believe, that these unexpected detours in life, can be the exact path you were supposed to take all along. I have found my happy detour and I can't wait to see where the path takes me!

I hope you find your happy detour in life, in business, in love and in a book!

Happy DETours,

Jenn