Made It Moment: Nancy Naigle
Nancy Naigle’s Made It Moment is so vivid, I could see the action on the screen–there really is a screen in her Moment–and feel the prick of tears on her eyes. It’s one I think we all have probably dreamed about, envisioned, at more than one point. May the same thing come to many–and may Nancy’s be the first of many such for her!
The cool thing about “made-it” moments is that you can have a bunch of them in your lifetime, and my advice is to embrace each and every one of them.
SWEET TEA AND SECRETS is my debut novel and it’s available right now in trade paperback and e-formats. This book is the first of several that tie to the small fictional town of Adams Grove. The day I was contacted by Turquoise Morning Press with a contract was thrilling. A made-it moment for sure, but let me tell you, seeing the cover of SWEET TEA AND SECRETS begin to pop up on the websites was no comparison to that day.
I’d expected that my book would be available on its release date of May 2nd, but I was shopping on amazon.com on April 30th (like I do on so many Saturday mornings) and I’m not even sure what made me type my name into the search bar, but I did, and there it was. Spring-time green and cheerful, my cover stared me in the face from the amazon site. I could hardly breathe as the tears tickled my nose and filled my eyes. Of course, then I pinged my best coolio writer chick friend online to share the excitement. She was just as excited as I was…that’s how friends are J
I’d dreamed of this for years, and worked tirelessly for it, but holding my book in my hands and then seeing it on a booksellers website still felt like a surprise.
Every tweet, every facebook mention, every note about the release of SWEET TEA AND SECRETS has been so sweet—better than the finest chocolate.
I appreciate you sharing my “made-it” moment and hope you’ll find a little escape from the hectic day-to-day for a few hours in Adams Grove.
Hugs and high 5s.
Nancy
Nancy Naigle writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense. After spending most of her life on the Virginia coast, she and her husband left Tidewater for greener pastures a little further inland in Southampton County. They now live on a 76 acre goat farm where Nancy spends every spare moment working on her next book.
Do you know the Virginia state motto? If you answered VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS, you’re right! Perfect for someone who writes love stories, don’t you think?
What a wonderful story. I just recently spent a week getting my son’s book ready for Createspace, and got the first proof copy last week. Just holding the physical book in your hands after so much labor is indeed a sweet moment, so I can definitely relate to Nancy’s feelings.
Comment by Shirley Hicks — June 21, 2011 @ 9:31 am
Nice story. Good luck.
Arthur
Comment by Arthur Levine — June 21, 2011 @ 11:08 am
Wow, what a great story! Small town suspence romance? That is amazingly original! How cool it must’ve been to see your cover just sitting there in front of you on amazon. Awesome!
Comment by Savvy — June 21, 2011 @ 11:34 am
I’m looking forward to reading it because the cover looks so delicious!!
Comment by Judy — June 21, 2011 @ 12:24 pm
What a great made it moment. I wish you all the “sweetest” success with your debut novel!
Comment by Johanna — June 21, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
Hey everyone. Sorry I’m so late to the party. I’m traveling on business this week. Thanks for dropping by.
Congratulation, Shirley. Oh yes! What a feeling! I’m thrilled to hear you and your son are working together. My mother and I are really close, too. She’s with me every step of the way. We’ve spent hours and hours making adorable bookmarks and little tea bag gifts for my first booksignings
Best wishes.
Nancy
Comment by Nancy Naigle — June 21, 2011 @ 5:49 pm
Thank you Arthur!
Oh, Savvy, I have to admit I still feel the tickle in my eyes and get that little chill like I might cry when I see that book cover online. It feel doesn’t feel real.
Hugs ya’ll
Nancy
Comment by Nancy Naigle — June 21, 2011 @ 5:51 pm
Thank you, Johanna, it’s truly a dream come true and I’m loving every moment.
Judy, you know authors generally have very little input on covers so I feel like about the luckiest girl in the world. Both the SWEET TEA AND SECRETS and my November release, OUT OF FOCUS, are beautiful
STAS has such a fresh cover that screams southern 
Refreshing on a hot summer day.
Comment by Nancy Naigle — June 21, 2011 @ 5:57 pm
I can’t wait to read your story. It is on my TBR pile. I’ve seen the great reviews! I’m so happy for you.
Comment by Ciara Knight — June 21, 2011 @ 6:02 pm
A lovely story and a great book (Yes, I read it!). So nice to have those “Made It” moments. (My own publishing Made It moment took ten years, but it was just as sweet.)
Comment by Suzanne Barrett — June 21, 2011 @ 6:07 pm
I love your book. I love your cover. I have been looking at it online for some time now. The other day, the physical book arrived. I was a visceral experience–the feel, the look, the smell of paper. It’s like having a little piece of Adams Grove in your hands. Get to work, I want more! Shanon
Comment by Shanon Grey — June 21, 2011 @ 6:26 pm
Hi Nan!
Coolio writer chick friends are the best to share ‘made-it’ moments with. I am so thrilled for everyone of them that you are experiencing and wish you countless more–all well-deserved!
Super-squeeze hugs,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy March — June 21, 2011 @ 6:27 pm
I don’t think that sense of excitement does away, Nancy. Not for me anyway. I’m so happy for you and the success this book is already having. It’s fab-u-lous~
Bobbye
Comment by Bobbye Terry — June 21, 2011 @ 7:48 pm
How exciting. Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing. Totally brightened my day.
Comment by Ey Wade — June 21, 2011 @ 8:33 pm
Great story and I can’t wait to read your book.
Comment by Janie Emaus — June 21, 2011 @ 9:01 pm
One of my Made It Moments just happened a few minutes ago. I saw my newspaper editor’s column about the writing I’ve been doing and about the suspense novel I’ve just finished with Nancy Naigle! He mentions both of us in the article and it felt wonderful. I’ve been the interviewer for articles for years and you really feel you’ve “arrived” when you’re on the other end of the interview. Three cheers to Nancy for writing such a great book (Sweet Tea and Secrets) and here’s to working with such a wonderful writer and friend on our joint book, inkBLOT.
I love Sweet Tea and Secrets!
Comment by Phyllis Johnson — June 21, 2011 @ 9:35 pm
Hugs and love ya’ll. It’s sharing these time with friends like all of you that make these sweet moments … the very best.
Thank you for sharing this special moment.
Are we lucky, or what!!
Jenny—I want to play at your house again!! All the cool folks show up.
Hugs~
Comment by Nancy Naigle — June 21, 2011 @ 10:26 pm
You have brought many of them here, Nance, and I am so glad to get to meet you all and read your terrific comments! I knew Nancy’s Moment was special–and her book as well!!
Comment by jenny — June 21, 2011 @ 10:28 pm
I could see this as real as if it was in front of me. What a wonderful moment for you, Nancy. I hope you have so many more. I just finished my first ms and I’m longing for the day when I get to have my own Made it Moment.
Comment by Karyne — June 22, 2011 @ 11:12 am
What a great made it moment, Nancy. I absolutely love the cover and can’t wait to get an opportunity to read my copy.
Comment by Christina Wolfer — June 22, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Nancy, I am new to Jenny’s blog and just saw this. I am a native of the Shenandoah Valley of VA and although I’m long gone from the Blue Ridge, I’m looking forward to reading your book. Love the title and the cover! Congrats on your made-it-moment; may this be the beginning of many more.
Comment by Eloise Hill — June 25, 2011 @ 2:35 pm