Today, at the 7th Annual Vegas Valley Book Festival

I was ridiculously excited and nervous. Things went wrong. I kept adjusting my books & flyers because they had to be perfect. Yes, I was in "anal retentive" mode.

I had the most books there as far as number of books we've all actually written. The next closest was a middle-aged man who had 4.

I had one woman come up, a fellow local author, actually. She offered to help. She said that her own survivorhood was something that God was putting in the forefront of her mind. She also said that God told her that she needed to help others. She fully believes that my presence there was to provide a means for her to do that.

I had one woman comment on how great my titles are. Several people commented on the beauty of of all my covers.

I was passed by often. Some people would at least respond when I smiled & said "hi" to them. Others walked past. Several flyers were taken, but not enough to make a real dent in the 115 that I had printed. One woman seemed like she wanted to buy, but then she asked about ordering on-line. She, too, took a flyer.

I saw a woman with an older child come in. She was wearing sunglassses, but they couldn't hide the black eyes underneath. I greeted her when she first came in, she responded, and then browsed through everyone else.

She later returned, and as she was looking at my books, she began to understand what my books were about. She took off her glasses, and displayed her bruises to me. She told me they were inflected last Saturday. We talked briefly. I told her to take as many flyers as she needs, that I was willing and able to help in any way. She began to cry. She thanked me.

Several people had actually thanked me throughout the day, but hers meant the most.

I befriended a few of my fellow authors. We exchanged numbers & e-mails. I also met a fellow author, survivor and chronic Lymie! She was my other big blessing of the day. We just connected. She gave me a copy of her book, and I mine. We'll be in a Lyme support group together, and I know we'll also be talking on survivor issues as well.

I had ZERO sales. None. Not one red penny. Every book, save the one I gave the Lymie, that I brought with me came home with me. And ya know what? I don't care. This day couldn't have gone better. Money's nice, sure. But holding strangers' hands while they cry with me & thank me; raising awareness and education; building more on-line traffic to rapehelp.org; and allowing survivors the opportunity to shop safely and discreetly from home are what today was all about. I'm not here for money, numbers or glory. I CONNECTED with people I never would have met had I not had this opportunity. I don't care if my book sales don't make the New York Times Best Seller List. I do this for PEOPLE. I do this for each and every one of you, for each and every one of those people I met today. I may not get fame and glory by typical US standards, but the connections I made today were a glory far greater than that!