I added a milestone to my calendar this month by attending my first solo event in support of Enduring the Waves. I spoke to the members of Breen’s Seasonal Book Club on Saturday, February 10, 2024 and enjoyed every moment of my time with them. It was wild to see people walking on the street of my hometown carrying my novel in their hands. “They have MY book!” I yelled to my sister-in-law as we searched for a coveted parking spot near The Little Point Bookshop, where the club meeting was held. 

After meeting club members at their December brunch, where some purchased signed copies of Enduring the Waves directly from me, I knew they were collectively interested in the book. And the waves of serendipity rolled through the February meeting as I connected with several teachers from different schools, some of whom worked with people I knew or had also worked with at some point.

I appreciated the thoughtful questions asked by some members after I shared a bit of the novel’s backstory with images taken during my own Ireland adventures to provide visuals of places that they read about in Enduring.  I am comforted when readers share with me they found Enduring to be healing, especially from readers I don’t know. I ultimately wrote Enduring to heal myself without ever thinking it would heal others, and yet it has.

It maynot make a best seller list, and some might not consider it to be worthy of promotion because I am largely unknown as a writer right now, but because my novel helped to heal many, it is a success in my eyes.

And it’s a damn good story. 

I went through countless folders of images from my Ireland trips on my hard drives to find the right pictures to share with the book club, and emotion suddenly swept over me. 

I did that, dammit! 

I followed the signs and went to a foreign country with nothing other than courage and a sense of adventure, and a trusted traveling companion along for the ride. Eight years later after my first true mission from the universe in 2016, I know some reasons I was there, with writing Enduring the Waves the most prominent.

The future of the path I am currently walking is foggy, but I know in my heart I am being led to something wonderful that involves words and light. I trust it despite not being able to see my feet moving forward or the final destination. Like Kelly (Enduring’s main character), I am riding all of life’s waves and enjoying every moment.

Thank you to those who have purchased and/or read Enduring the Waves ! If you haven’t, I guarantee you’ll make at least one connection to Kelly’s story. Click on the book cover above for ordering links and more, including a Reader’s Guide (kind of like a study guide for the book, should you be interested in a deeper relationship with it).

Please reach out to me via email (jillocone@gmail.com) if you are interested in having me speak or present at your next book club or community group meeting. I’m happy to meet you!

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m so glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“”Enduring the Waves” Surf into the Hands of Readers” was posted on jillocone.com on February 21, 2024. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2024, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact Jill with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries using any of the links below.