DISCLAIMER: THE 30-DAY BOOK CHALLENGE IS CREATED BY PROFESSIONAL BOOK NERDS. I’M MERELY RESPONDING TO THEIR PROMPTS FOR MY OWN WRITING CHALLENGE.

If the book you created with your own hands does not make you cry happy tears, you’re out of your mind and you have a heart of stone- I don’t make the rules.

The movie Begin Again inspired me to self-publish my first novel. As the content of To be Continued was primarily focused on what I wanted to write as opposed to what the general readers wanted to read, I didn’t think I needed a rejection from agents nor publishers that early.

I worked on this novel for quiet some time and being spurred by NaNoWriMo in 2015, I finally got to see the fruit of my labor. Personally and professionally speaking, I don’t think it’s my best work and I’m not saying this to sound humble. I’m proud of my first novel but as an amateur writer, I know I can still do better.

Seeing my name printed on the spine of my book gave me the good chills. It might not be as great as seeing it in a library or a physical store. However, I am taking what I can get. That I can google my Pen-name and novel sustains me and will continue to do so until I write a better one. If the pandemic has proven something, it’s the fact that digital presence is more sustainable.

The reviews of my novel leavelittle to be desired. They were disheartening in the beginning but as a book reviewer myself, I somehow understand the trade.

I do believe that Azalea, Vim and Jasmine will continue to haunt and inspire me. I still reread my work and critique parts I could have done better but there were sparks of genius here and there that make me go, “So I did write this?”