2013 will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s the year we stepped out of our box and became RIley Mackenzie.
The learning curve was steep, the stress caused nervous stomach, and the belly laughter physically hurt to the point of silly tears. But we wouldn’t change one single thing!!! We wanted to share a few of our favorite memories.. and say Thank You. Because you made it happen and we will forever be grateful! Happy New Year!
Love, RM
1. Becoming Riley Mackenzie--- we knew we needed a pen name (because 2 unknown authors seemed worse than one and our combined name sounded horrendous- hehe!) What’s more perfect than using your favorite names in the world?!?
2. Deliriously typing “THE END” after barricading ourselves in a hotel room for an all-nighter (and maybe a bottle of wine!) only to realize (AFTER WE SENT IT TO OUR BETAS) that it really said, “The F&%#& END FINALLY!!!”
3. The day we emailed our raw/unedited book to our betas. No one else had read a single word (not even our husbands). Talk about a WE CHANGED OUR MINDS moment!! Followed 2 weeks later by a HAPPY DANCE IN THE LIVING ROOM moment when our first beta responded... she LIKED it!!
4. Spilling the beans to our families and closest friends. You would have thought we said, “I’m pregnant. Can you pass the turnips?” Truly classic.
5. The day it felt real, when we finally stopped tormenting our cover designer because she nailed our vision!
6. Let’s not forget the day we had to leave the beach (the place where Chase&Lili were born) in search of wi-fi. Because real authors send their editors their final manuscripts from Dunkin Donuts?!?!? While waiting in line to fill ice coffees orders for the family still at the beach! Yep- True story!!!
7. Following through on our promise to ourselves when we hit publish by celebrating Chase style, at the NYC restaurant we wrote about. Paperbacks in our hands and new Louboutins on our feet.
8. Our real life Chase Coltons’ trumping our release day celebration with a surprise trip to Vegas.
9. Then sitting in the airport terminal (a day after BA's release) and reading our very FIRST review... 5 STARS!!! Even better, it was from a blogger in AUSTRALIA! We definitely tormented innocent bystanders with our screams (in unison) and foolish dancing. (pretty sure our husbands went for coffee at that point).
10. Setting up a blog tour (with NO idea what that was) and having over 100 bloggers sign up and having most WANT to read our book! Crazy!!
11. Reading reviews from countries we had to Google (literally!!). Our little story reached places we never imagined possible.
12. Making a world of new friends that share our passion for great love stories. Authors, editors, bloggers and readers. Awesome!!
13. Being inspired to start again!! Chase & Lili will always be our first loves, but much like having a second child, it took all but a second to realize our heart’s capacity to love another is endless. We look forward to spending the beginning of 2014 falling in love all over… with Asher!
Cheers to 2014!