Jennifer Lyon


Friday, September 11th, 2015
My Mom’s Gift To Me

I’m feeling a little sentimental here :-) If you haven’t heard, Her Temporary Hero hit the USA Today List this week at #108

# 108

this week

Debuted: September 10 2015

Former beauty queen Becky Holmes and her baby are on the run and wealthy Logan Knight can help; second in series

 

It’s pretty awesome especially since Her Temporary Hero has been out for over a year.  Once, hitting a list only happened during the first week or two of release, then the book was dead.  But now, if all the stars line up–and it’s a combination of having the right book, pure luck and a ton of strategy — then it can happen.

I’m thrilled! It’s my first time on the list. But you know what really surprised me? The second I found out Her Temporary Hero hit the list, my one huge regret was that my mom wasn’t here to see this. My mom was a very realistic woman who fully understood  life can be unfair and we have to work damn just to survive. But she believed in me and my dream from the moment I told her I wanted to write a book. She would give me money for my birthday so I could buy research books. Wizard and I had three kids and lived on a very tight budget, but Mom would do things like that. (FYI, so did Wizard. He’d set aside money we couldn’t afford so I could pay writing expenses or go to a class.)

Back to my mom — unfortunately, was very sick by the time I first sold.  In fact, when the editor called to offer me my first contract, I missed the call because I was in the emergency room with my mom. But that didn’t stop her from telling everyone — doctors, nurses, x-ray technicians, and in one case–the paramedics I’d called after she passed out, that her daughter was a published author. Even at the very end when I sat at the foot of her bed as she struggled to breathe, she asked me if I was ready to handle success. She believed in me that much.

Sadly, she passed away before my first book came out so she never got to hold it in her hands.

So when I got the email that I’d hit the list, all I could think of was I wanted to tell Mom that her belief in me was validated. But last night I woke up at 3am and realized something. My mom left me with a tremendous gift that lives on — she believed. Sometimes all we need is someone to believe in us.

And that’s what I wanted to share with all of you. I believe in YOU. It won’t be easy, my friends. But if we believe in each other, we can do this! Keep building our dreams one step, and one day, at a time.

10 comments to “My Mom’s Gift To Me”

  1. Silver James
    September 11th, 2015 at 8:12 am · Link

    I hope your mom and my dad are sitting somewhere chatting about us over cups of coffee. He was my biggest believer, followed closely by Lawyer Guy, and I miss him every day and with every small success, I look up and say, “Hey, Daddy. I did it, just like you said I would.” He taught me the importance of imagination. He taught me to remember my dreams. And he believed in me. I’m so happy your mother did the same for you.

    And huge congrats on hitting the list. I’m so freaking proud and happy for you!!!!!



  2. Roz Heiko
    September 11th, 2015 at 8:33 am · Link

    How beautiful to honor her memory in this way. And to believe in yourself. Yeah, what a journey that is! I am grateful every day for the love & support from dear ones in my life.
    You deserve every accolade.



  3. B.E. Sanderson
    September 11th, 2015 at 8:33 am · Link

    :hugs:

    I believe in you, too. And I knew the day would come when you would be on the bestseller lists (should’ve been sooner, imo). Thanks for being here and cheering me on all these years. It means the world to me.



  4. Jenn
    September 11th, 2015 at 11:15 am · Link

    Silver, thank you! I love the image of my mom and your dad talking about us. Oh the stories they could tell…

    I love how much your dad believed in you. Imagination is something too easily damaged or killed in a child. And love truly is priceless. Your dad is proud of you!



  5. Jenn
    September 11th, 2015 at 11:21 am · Link

    Roz, oh thank you! It sounds like we’ve both been lucky. But we are also wise enough to recognize the true gifts in our lives. Like friends here on the blog :-) Hope you have a great weekend!



  6. Jenn
    September 11th, 2015 at 11:28 am · Link

    B.E., thank you! I enjoy talking to authors/readers so it’s really not a huge thing for me to do it. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned too. I want all of us to fulfill our definition of success. You, and everyone else here on the blog, do the same for me!

    Have a great weekend!



  7. Viki S.
    September 11th, 2015 at 11:42 am · Link

    This post is such a beautiful, emotional tribute and memorial to your mom. My guess is she was holding a copy of your first publication with immense pride, you just couldn’t see her. What a blessing :).

    Congratulations on all the great news the past couple days. You must be on cloud nine. Are you and Wizard going to celebrate with a nice glass of wine?

    I hope you have a great weekend :).



  8. Jenn
    September 11th, 2015 at 2:36 pm · Link

    Viki, thanks. I’m not usually this sentimental/emotional about my mom — she was very ill toward the end so I was at peace with letting her go. This, however, just made me miss her a lot.

    Thanks on the news. We didn’t really celebrate, but we had a glass of wine :-)

    Hope you have a great weekend too!



  9. Doreen Burke
    September 12th, 2015 at 10:47 am · Link

    I feel your pain Jenn, losing my mother was the worst and hardest thing to ever happen to me. I still find myself talking to her and asking her for her great wisdom. As long as you keep your mother in your heart she will always be proud of you and know everything that you’ve accomplish.

    Congratulations again for making it on the list. I love your books and am sure HER TEMPORARY HERO won’t be the only book of yours to hit that list.

    Keep writing and your fans will keep reading. :-D



  10. Jenn
    September 12th, 2015 at 1:25 pm · Link

    Doreen, thank you so much! I really believe our moms are with us too. It’s amazing how much influence they continue to have over our lives.

    Hope you’re having a great weekend!



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