Hi everyone!

I know I haven’t posted in a while–which is crazy since I have a new release that I should be promoting the heck out of lol. Speaking of which, have you checked out The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad? I hear it’s a good read if you need to laugh/swoon :).

But back to why I haven’t posted.

It’s all the feels, you guys.

*****Warning: This post is a bit heavy–but there’s brightness at the end. Just skip down to the part after the ******.

There’s been a lot to process. Last week, for the first time, I resigned from one of my jobs. It wasn’t an easy decision. I’m a dance teacher who works with kids, have taught and watched them grow up for several years, and I really do love them. So telling them, making it real, nearly broke my heart.

(And my heart wasn’t whole to begin with, so this was another crack in the foundation.)

People have called me “softhearted,” and though I don’t see it, I do feel things deeply. Always have. I get attached. Loyalty means a lot to me. And in life, I am never the one to leave first.

Anyway, it took a lot to make me want to leave and think that would be the best option. Next week will be my last official class. I’m trying to stay positive, and I’ll still be teaching elsewhere–but man, I will miss the kids.

*****If you’ve been reading for the brightness, here it is.*****

I decided to be like Sadie in TGGGTBB and submitted one of my pieces to a choreography competition that I’ve long wanted to enter! Eep!

Self-doubt and low self-esteem have always held me back. But as I get older, I’ve realized that “winning” doesn’t come from someone else’s opinion.

You don’t need anyone else to validate you.

You can validate yourself.

And you should!

In fact, I wrote a guest post mentioning it on The YA Book Traveler Blog here! 🙂

Seriously, though, it’s taken me so long to understand this. Sadie, my character, got there before I did lol–which I know means it must’ve been inside me all along. But wow, you guys!

You have the power to validate yourself, your dreams and your worth.

Sidenote: There’s basically zero chance my piece will be selected for the final round of competition–but that’s not the point. By entering, by conquering that fear, I feel like I already won.

Hope you are well, and I wish you all the best!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad was #1 on Amazon in one of its categories!!! And it’s next to J.K. Rowling! Woohoo, and thank you so much, bookworms! <3