Last Spring, I had an unexpected visitor. To my surprise, I noticed an old bulb bulging, one that bloomed the previous December. One that I had promptly forgotten about post the Holidays after I had moved the small pot that it was in to the garage.
“Hmmm, maybe it might like a little water?” was my thought. 
Over the next few weeks, I offered it a drink now and then and moved it to a window ledge for full southern exposure. To my surprise, and delight, it gulped up whatever I thought to put in the dish. And surprise, growth began. Soon, I found myself daily checking out what my unexpected surprise was yielding.
Two weeks later, two stems stood 14 inches tall. I was in awe at the resurrected Amaryllis coming back to life. And then, it burst out in its glory.
Like a new mother, I proudly showed off my unexpected surprise to anyone who came into my
home. And now, I’m telling all of you about it.
If you are like me, when I’ve gotten a Christmas Amaryllis, I’ve always thought of it as a one-trick flower. No more. It’s done with its glorious blooming, bulb and all shrinking to the forgotten bulb that someone how I had kept in a pot for over a year—forgotten. For whatever reason, the little bulb that could became the big bulb that would, deciding it was no shrinking flower.
The Holidays are coming. I always love them but I have to confess that I know that there is an “if” hanging out there, somewhere. There hasn’t been a time that something odd, unusual, weird and definitely unexpected doesn’t pop up. This year, my family is concerned about my youngest daughter who done the something odd, unusual, weird and definitely unexpected with her health. Always vibrant and healthy, that something odd, unusual, weird and definitely unexpected landed this past summer. It’s been touch and go at times and I know that I could have grandkids and granddogs moving in again at a drop of a hat. It’s the unexpected. It’s life with all it’s ugly warts. But, it doesn’t keep me from going. Do I get all I want done, done? Nope. Does my day run out too soon? Yep.
Which brings me to “we” authors. We are surrounded with unexpected AND possibilities … possibilities that need to be given a little nurturing and care so that they can come full circle and bloom. Sometimes our efforts seem to go nowhere—we scratch our heads and kick ourselves in the tush thinking/saying … what was I thinking to go down this rabbit hole …? For me and my family, I believe that my daughter will start blooming once again.
The marathon of authoring and publishing that you are in takes time for success. Expect the unexpected along the way. Just like the Amaryllis.
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow .
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching … call in to Judith’s Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 … have your questions ready–there’s a full hour to ask and listen.