You may (or may not) have noticed that I quit posting here some time ago.  The time (and patience) it took me to make a blog post was more than I had.  Even as I've tried to post this update, I've lost it twice, reaffirming my decision to break up with Blogger.

I tried Tumblr for a bit, but it's just not the same.  I'll keep that piece of internet real estate along with this blog, but they will likely not be very active because I really wanted a place to talk to you, share things with you, and interact that was integrated with my website (http://www.jbmcgee.com) so you wouldn't have to track me down in so many places.  Thus, I have a new blog that can be found on my NEW website!  Let's talk a bit about that...

The most important thing about that website is on the home page.  It's called a newsletter sign up.  Many of you know that social media has changed the way you receive your information.  It was never a good idea, as a business owner, to allow a third party to control how you and I communicate.  A newsletter ensures that you receive information from me.  You can choose to not open the email, delete it, or open it, instead of Facebook deciding if it's worthy enough to be "served" in your news feed.  Please make sure you've subscribed.  I promise I don't send emails out often enough to annoy you.  If you find me annoying at any time, there is always a handy unsubscribe button at the bottom of every email.

Next, there are individual book pages now that feature samples on Wattpad (you don't even have to leave the site to read), the Spotify playlist for each book, the trailer, words of praise, and me reading you a popular quote from each book (I usually choose these from Amazon - the ones that were highlighted the most).

That new shiny blog has something special too.  It features an excerpt from a new (and completed) short story that will be featured exclusively in the Pink Shades of Words Anthology.  You won't want to miss this book.  It features exclusive new content from so many of your favorites.  I'll include a list at the end of this post.  It will be available February through June.  The best part is that all proceeds are donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Walk.

Lastly, I'm really excited about Tsu.co/jbmcgee and the opportunity to be able to interact with more people.  Rather than Tsu.co being a public company and having to answer to stockholders like Facebook, they have allowed their users to be the stockholders, sharing 90% of the revenue with the content creators.  I hope you'll join me there.

Please consider signing up to spread the word about Pink Shades of Words (if you're a blogger - and even if you're not a blogger, we'd appreciate you helping to spread the word when the time comes)

Pink Shades of Words anthology cover reveal sign ups are now up!

Cover Reveal Blog Sign Up
http://bit.ly/1w2DhEi

Blog Tour Blog Sign Up
http://bit.ly/1vC7udD

The anthology contains new/never published before contributions from:

Pamela Ann Author
Chloe Barlow
Author Ruth Cardello
Claire Contreras
Gretchen de la O
Kimi Flores
Jenn Foor
Angela Graham
SE Hall
Jade C. Jamison
Sloan Johnson
Vi Keeland
Shayne McClendon
JB McGee
Nicole Andrews Moore
Liv Morris
Tess Oliver
Penny Reid
Julie Richman
Tess Oliver
Melanie Shawn
Hilary Storm
Jessica Sorensen

And because it's always better to give than receive...and reading this short story should be rewarded...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See you on the flip side...

Bookworm Bettie's: Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway ~ Destination to be Dete...: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Apple * Smashwords The Traveler Series Premise Emmy London is a pr...

Stories and Swag!: Cover Reveal: Destination to be Determined by JB M...: Add to your shelf! Life has never been easy for Emmy London.  Raised in foster homes, she learned to never get too comfor...

So tonight I was looking at my author Facebook page.  I noticed I'd been tagged in someone's post.  I wasn't sure who the person was.  It wasn't a name I recognized.  So I looked at the post.  I thought it was interesting she'd chosen my words to include with her post.

I decided to Google the quote to see if it was in other places.  It wasn't one of the more popular quotes from Skipping Stones.  In fact, I read it a couple of times and wondered if I had really written it.  After I read it in context it all came flooding back to me.  The scene, the words, the meanings.

In my search on Google, I came across a post called 365 Quotes to Motivate You in 2014.  It was on a realtor association's website.  I thought it was odd that a realtor's association would have compiled this list, and even more odd they would have included little old me.

I didn't believe it at first.  I used the find tool to quickly find my name.  I thought for sure that maybe there was someone with a first name as J.B. and maybe somewhere later there was a McGee.  You know, sometimes they do that on Google.

No.  It was actually J.B. McGee.  The quote was one I immediately recognized as my own.  It was sitting pretty in the #1 spot under the heading FAMILY.  Above me, there was a quote in the other category by Lyndon B. Johnson and Oprah Winfrey.  Below me, there were quotes from Princess Diana, Walt Disney Barbara Bush, and Michael J. Fox.



So I went back to Google.  I kept looking in the search results and noticed that the title was actually 365 Quotes to Inspire You in 2014.  It was originally written by Dave Kerpen, a New York Times Bestselling author and social media guru.  It was featured on Inc.com.

I am so honored that my words inspired someone enough to share them.  Then to share them in such a list of people that I not only have looked up to my entire life, but aspire to be a fraction of what they are or were.

It's funny this was the quote chosen, though.  I was really sick before Christmas.  I was worried we wouldn't make it "home."

I remember telling my mom that I didn't care about anything more in the world than being with my family on Christmas day.  That was all I wanted, my wish.  Luckily, we made it.

Christmas morning, I found a lump in my breast and my side.  I'm having some tests run next week and hope to know more.  Things are pretty scary right now for me.  My day yesterday consisted of two hours at the diagnostic women's center having mammograms and ultrasounds (I'm only 33).  Today consisted of going to see my genetics doctor for a second opinion, then scheduling an MRI and more ultrasounds and a nice stick to get blood drawn.

SO when I came home and saw this post, it was a reminder of what's important.  My own words inspiring me.  My own words touching my heart.  Here's the story how I came up with the quote.

When I was writing Skipping Stones, I kept talking about going home or I'd say back home.  My husband, Chad, would laugh and say, "We are home."

I agreed, but I told him that Aiken was also home.

He told me I should pick a place to call home - that after 3 years - I should be used to this being our new home.

That's when I realized it.  Home isn't where we live.  It's not a physical place.  It's not really Aiken.  It's not Buford, GA.  Home is where my family resides.  Some of my family lives here, and some lives there.  Whenever I'm at either place, my heart...my soul...is at home.

I'm thankful I got to go home - that the morning I found these pesky lumps (I'd rather have had coal) - I was able to hug my mom and dry my tears on her shirt.  That she was able to tell me I was lucky - that everything but cancer runs in our family.  I was able to get a hug from my sister, who reassured me, as well.

My dad reminded me that our family is lumpy, but in the good way.

My grandmother's smile, her hug, the feeling of her fingers tickling my back - that's medication that only home can offer.

This is turning into a bit of a novel, but I suppose I needed to write again.  I hope you have a blessed 2014.

Thank you for making 2013 one of the best years of my life.

Happy New Year!