This is for reals...

This is Leah.

This is me.

This is the book I wrote for Leah.

Two years ago my cousin Leah graduated from high school, and was getting ready to head off to college in Utah. We spent a week together that summer. During that week I took every opportunity to impart my wisdom regarding roommates, classes, finances, boys etc...Leah decided that it was way too much to remember so she asked me to write it all down. I really did have a lot to say, mainly because I remembered how I was when I was her age. I thought I knew everything I needed to know to be on my own, but in reality I knew very little. I found myself being totally unprepared for what living on my own required. Even though I had a loving mom who offered her two cents, I didn't want to hear it from her.

With that in mind I decided to write Leah a letter. One Saturday I locked myself in my room for a couple of hours and prayerfully composed a letter. It didn't take long to realize that I had more than a letter. I had a book! It took a few more weeks to complete and then I typed it up, printed it off and gave it to her. As that year went by I watched Leah have different experiences that made me want to add to the book. The more I wrote, the more I realized that I had something that had the potential of helping many girls, not just Leah. So I spent the next year tweaking it here and there until I decided it was done. And now....it is done.

I'm still finding this all so strange. I never thought of myself as a writer. I never in a million years thought that I would publish a book, but here I am with a book and a blog about my book. It has been quite the journey, in fact I'm still trying to navigate my way. I have moments where I doubt myself and feel completely out of my comfort zone. In those moments of insecurity I want to just crawl back into my shell and forget about all this publishing business. But it is in those moments that I feel the spirit pushing me on. And so here I am taking it to the next level.

I created this blog to give me the chance to tell the whole story behind the book. Not just the writing of it, but my life experience that inspired each and every page. I want this blog to be a place where people can leave comments and ask questions. I am really excited to talk to people who have actually read my book. I'm also looking forward to being able to talk to people who just want to know more about it. I want to hear from all of you! So here I am. Here is my book. Now talk to me!

*It's important to note that although the title indicates it is an "LDS girl's guide", this book would be helpful to any Christian girl.