Invest in Yourself
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For the past four years, I've been chasing a dream, and anyone who has ever gone after what they want in life knows that making your dreams come true takes hard work, patience, help from others, and an incredible commitment to invest in your best asset-- you! Simply wanting something for yourself, thinking about it, and wishing it would just happen are all a huge waste of time unless you eventually take action. That's why I didn't waste a single moment getting that first novel down on paper after retiring from a thirty-six-year career in education. That one book led to a lot more, and I'm still going strong.
For me, writing is not a hobby or a passing fad. It's a passion I can't control. It's a fire I keep burning because as hard as it all is, it's worth the disappointment, the tears, and the struggle of starting over-- which I've done, TWICE. But with each reinvention of myself, I've grown, gotten better, learned more, and gotten tougher. And most of all, I've reinforced my belief that investing in myself is the only way to stop chasing those dreams and finally catch them.
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I've said it many times: Writing is big business. If all I had to do was get the stories out of my head, life would be grand. Writers don't really get the luxury of just writing. Indie authors take on many other jobs when putting a book out. And if they are anything like me, they learned quickly that finding a team of trusted professionals is well worth the time, energy, and money. My point-- if I couldn't do it, I found someone who could because quitting was not an option. Whether you are your own jack of all trades or found that trusted team, either way, there's a lot of time spent putting a book together that has nothing to do with the actual writing. But I take the bad with the good, and I've realized that investing in my dreams is the hardest job I've ever had and also the most rewarding.
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Finally, my journey has been filled with two kinds of people. I've been extremely fortunate to had had a small but exceptionally loyal group of what I call Super Fans. You have lifted me in trying times, supported every book, every event, every endeavor, and you have kept me strong in some of the most defeating circumstances, and I THANK YOU! Most of all, you helped me survive the other group-- the one full of people who think I should have quit a long time ago. The group full of people who somehow feel threatened by my dream-- the ones who let me down when I needed them the most.
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My dad taught me, "You are who you think you are." I honestly don't think I would have lasted this long pursuing my dreams without this philosophy. I can still see his big brown eyes-- the most intense eyes I've ever known-- look into mine and remind me exactly who I was. I still live by those words, and I am certain that any success I have is grounded in their purpose.
Marcy's Blog
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October 28, 2026
Last night I was a guest on the "Dollar Beer Podcast" with Nic Freno and Jim Ashby at Sliders in Mt. Zion. I talked about Mon Bijou and the Beverly Hills Gifting Lounge for the first time. It was a cool experience. I hope to go back on with my first Mon Bijou samples for a little Focus Group.
I had a Zoom call with Chelsey, one of my perfumers and we created the bottle, prints, cap, sprayer, and box for Mon Bijou. It is perfect!!!
Maia, the perfumer who is actually working on the fragrance emailed me with an update. Three sample scents should be mailed out by the end of the week.
Things are moving right along.
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October 26, 2026
My Author Spotlight at Ink & Imprint in Lincoln, Illinois, went well last weekend. My books are now on their shelves!!
The serial novel I plan to post as a FREE Epub file on this site is coming along nicely. Part I will hit the Black Friday post deadline!
Waiting on my perfumer to email and say she has sample scents finished for Mon Bijou. That will blow my mind. If I understood her correctly, I should get the word this week.
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October 20, 2026
I've had some extra free time the last couple of days, but I've still been busy. This website still takes an hour or so a day, at least. I'm dedicated to regularly changing and adding content to keep it fresh and to get noticed by Google :)
I packaged up the exclusive bundle deals of the Mon Bijou Series for Shop On Main in Decatur, IL, and delivered them yesterday. I've also been making bookmarks as extra giveaways for my book event at Ink & Imprint in Lincoln, IL, on Saturday, 10/24.
Today I boxed up a bundle of books for a new bookstore, The Secret Bookstore, in Moline, IL, opening next month. I'm extremely excited for their opening and honored to have my books on their shelves.
I continue working on my writing, particularly a new novel that will be available for download on this website soon. Because "soon" means something different to everyone, my target release is Black Friday. But don't hold me to that date. Anything can happen.
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October 16, 2026
I finally announced my HUGE project--the creation of an actual Mon Bijou fragrance. The ideas I've been storing in a notebook for months are now in the hands of professionals. I'll keep you posted.
I've taken a little break from sales events while I've been waiting for copies of Liars & Thieves and Players & Thieves to arrive. Tomorrow is the day! I have a solo author event at Ink & Imprint in Lincoln, IL, next Saturday. Looking forward to it.
I've spent countless hours designing this website. Part of my rebranding includes an all-new look and a matching website. I'm not good with this tech stuff, so it's taking me a while. But I am putting building this website into the category of one of those things I did all by my damn self, and because of that---I LOVE IT!
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