THE SLOW AND STEADY ROAD TO SUCCESS

Writing a book may be a challenge for some, but it has come easily to me. That's just the beginning. The real challenge is in getting the book published and marketed.

I began writing books six years ago and have completed thirteen so far. Two of them are self-published. This has meant that I've had to do all the marketing myself along with the help of a brilliant author's assistant. That's an expense which I've had to incur. It would be so much better if I had a publisher who would stand behind my books and bear that expense.

I have just finished a new book which is about a couple who go through three lifetimes together. I've written more than a hundred letters to agents, hoping to get picked up by one. I've had to face one rejection letter after another, trying to keep the faith that the right one will come along. That has been a challenge in and of itself. There is a ninety-eight percent rejection rate by agents who are queried by potential authors.

The thing is, most traditional publishers require that submissions be made by agents. That makes it of the paramount importance that I obtain one if I am going to achieve the success I believe I deserve. Over and over, I have had to affirm, the right one will come along.

I have discovered that affirmation is the key to me in achieving success within any arena in my life. It's an effective means of positivity that many people do not think to use. It has resulted in positive results within my life. I strongly advocate that any person use it in any capacity to achieve the same sort of results within his or her life.

The important thing is to never give up. As the saying goes, persistence pays off. I am grateful that two agents are currently reviewing my manuscript. That, in and of itself, is a step in the right direction. Agents will not look at manuscripts that are sent unsolicited. If they like the query letter that you send them, they will ask for additional materials. To be asked to review an entire manuscript shows that they are really interested in a project.

Yes, it has been a long way in coming. I have learned many lessons along the way. One important lesson has been to never give up hope. Even more important has been to practice affirmations that lead to faith. I do have faith in myself as a successful and profitable author. Writing my books has just been the first step, but I have had to start somewhere.

One of the rewards I've experienced as a result of my self-published books has been my readers' reviews. Most of them have been rated at five out of five stars. That affirms what I believe. I have written quality books that speak to people and those people love them.

My first book is “The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.” It's a hilarious religious and social satire about a nun who loves her bourbon and her cigarettes. It also contains many spiritual messages.

Misadventures was followed up by the sequel, “Babes in Bucksnort.” Once again, my favorite nun spins outrageous tales about the residents of Bucksnort, Wisconsin. The Reverend Mother is a reformed prostitute. The convent's chef is a gay cowboy. There is also a nasty prude and busybody who is always digging in the dirt. She finds plenty of that to dish up among the other residents of the Snortlands.
Come and see for yourself. You will take a joyride that tickles your funny bone until it aches. You may purchase my books through Amazon.com.

Keep your eyes open. There will be plenty more books in the series to come. You will also want to look for my latest book which is called “Intertwined Loves.” That's the project that is currently being considered by agents. It will be a ways to come before it's published, but I have faith today.

Nothing is impossible.

Dreams do come true if you but believe.

They have for me.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

REACHING FOR RECOVERY (Putting Down the Drink) Part 7

I had studied classical piano through my teens. My piano mentor's memorial service had been scheduled at my hometown church three days after having become sober. I really wanted to attend, but I was feeling very insecure about going. I was still going through withdrawal from alcohol and I was very shaky - emotionally and physically.

That Saturday morning, I left home for a twelve-step meeting, not knowing if I had the courage to go to that service. When I turned on the ignition of my car, the radio station was broadcasting the very Mozart piano sonata I had played for my teacher on my last visit to her. That spiritual connection gave me the strength to attend; but, not before I attended yet another AA meeting in my hometown just prior to theservice.

I sat with my mother during the service. At one point in the service, I called out from the congregation to the pastor, asking if it would be possible to say a few words. I was later given that opportunity.

I approached the pulpit and I spoke of my spiritual connection to my teacher when I had heard that Mozart sonata on the radio that morning. I spoke of how it gave me the strength to attend even though I felt like I was a “basket case.” I also mentioned that I was in early recovery in a twelve-step program. That action opened the door to an important new friendship for me with the very man of whom I had been terrified as a child, thinking he was gay.

That man was my piano mentor's intimate friend. He guessed who I was when I had gotten up to speak. He'd known me since I'd been ten. The seeming coincidence was that he'd recently found out I was gay from another kindred spirit. That person was the elderly gay man who happened to be sitting with Mom and me. He hadn't heard anything about me since the time I got married and he hadn't seen me since I was a teen. Aside from both of us having studied under our mentor, we now had two other common bonds. We were both gay and he, too, was a recovering alcoholic.

After the service, he sought me out and he invited me to a reception he was holding in his home. He also introduced me to a lesbian friend of his who happened to have been one of my junior high school teachers. That night, he took us both to the symphony. Then I invited them back to my disheveled home for a gourmet dinner, serving it around two in the morning! My life was still unmanageable, but I was starting to experience some very spiritual connections. God was about to do for me what I could not do for myself.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

THE JOURNEY TO SANITY - Part 4

The strangest things began to happen. As I was driving, I felt like Snow White. The birds would fly in the direction that they seemed to want me to go. One day, the birds took me to a little hamlet called Cherry Valley. There, I came upon an old parsonage that was up for sale. I decided that I would leave my life behind and buy it, turning it into a bed and breakfast inn. That's when things became truly strange.


When I arrived, a priest seemed to float down the street as he approached me. Then he said, “I'm glad you've finally arrived!” With that said, he gave me a kiss and slid his tongue down my throat. By that time, nothing struck me as unusual. Life was unfolding in the most peculiar ways.

I kept encountering that priest as I traveled around the nearby countryside. Eventually, he walked by the parsonage again and I asked him if he thought the house was holy. He gave me an odd look and I responded by saying, “Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.” He scampered back up the street like a scared bunny rabbit.

I had reason to be concerned about the house. One of the rooms gave off the strangest vibrations. On subsequent visits, items within the abandoned house continued to be moved around throughout the rooms. I later learned from the town waitress that the man who had previously lived there practiced black magic and performed sacrifices there. Now, I was scared.

Fortunately, the purchase offer was not accepted. As I came out of mania, a tremendous depression kicked in. This happened around the same time that my only sister was pronounced terminally ill. The next year would become an extreme challenge. I became grateful when I was finally diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Medicine was prescribed that finally brought me into a place of more stability.

Sadly, my sister passed away and I tried to carry on the best I could. I numbed myself with my sexual addiction and continued to practice that behavior for another twelve years. That's when I was finally confronted by my partner who had been previously unaware that the addiction was still thriving. He gave me an ultimatum – either go to couple's therapy with him or he would leave me after twenty-two years.

When we got to therapy, I realized that I needed to work on the sexual addiction. I subsequently returned to Sex Addicts Anonymous where I was able to achieve a measure of sexual sobriety. Unfortunately, the addiction had taken a toll on the relationship. What's more, I began to destabilize as I was headed into another mania. I was the one who ended the relationship and began to make multiple major life changes. This would only invite a mania that made the last one pale in comparison.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui