School starting, my first mother/daughter column, a national magazine book review, a 99 cent sale for 18 Things , and my birthday . . . everything is coming up roses this week 🙂 Let me tell you that there were many times I was severely depressed during my growing up years. My 14yo daughter started high school this week (at my old stomping ground where I met hubs when I was 14!), and as he reminisced about those years with her, I realized I hardly remembered any of my own experiences. I think my subconscious just decided to shelter me by forgetting. But I do remember HOW I felt in my darkest hours, like each day would bring more troubles than I could deal with. So this week I’m incredible happy and thankful because as I’m turning thirty-five (which I view as the midway point in life . . . the Bible only promises us seventy years, eighty with a little trouble, so obey your parents!), it dawned on me that my life is way more than I ever dreamed possible. I have two jobs I LOVE (teaching middle school writing & being an author), a husband who has stayed married to me for 16 years and counting even though I’m sure I got the better end of the deal, and two wonderful daughters. Speaking of which . . .
My teenage daughter has lowered her standards and agreed to do a weekly column with me on my publisher’s website. We’ll review movies, books, music, and fashion. You get both of our perspectives, the Jedi and the Padawan. Check out our first post here, a review for the Ninja Turtles movie.
Also, 18 Things was reviewed in the Sept/Oct issue of Stone Soup magazine, written by my daughter! If you have a child 13yo or younger who loves to read, they may want to subscribe and/or submit to this magazine. As a book reviewer, they pay the child $40 and send them two free copies of the magazine.
And in other 18 Things news, the Kindle ecopy will go on sale for only 99 cents tomorrow and Friday (regular price $4.99). I do hope you’ll download it if you haven’t done so already. And if you have, would you mind posting a tweet or Facebook status to help me spread the word? Last time it went on sale in February, it almost broke into the top 100 on all of Amazon (#114–sooo close!!!!). It’s on my bucket list to make it to the top 100, and it’d be about as sweet as it can get if I’m able to cross this one off during my birthday week!
Will you help me have the Sweetest Birthday Ever?!
Here’s a sample tweet or FB post:
For a #YA novel packed with love & adventure grab 18 Things @jamiemayres while it’s only #99cents #Kindle Aug 21-22 http://amzn.to/1taMzMD
What about you? Has joy greeted you this week? If not, I pray faith would make you whole again and that you could grab hold of each happy moment this life gives. ❤
Jamie Ayres 
Life is good! 🙂 Happy Birthday!
Thank you! Are you subbing this year?
Congratulations on the national review, happy on the birthday, fabulous on the mother/daughter column, and yes, you are living the life! So happy for you all around!
Happy Happy Happy 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy birthday! Although thirty-five is NOT halfway. I refuse to believe it.
Hope you break the top one hundred. I know the feeling – so close!
I remember, Alex! You were sooo close, too!!
Happy birthday! And I agree with Alex on the 35 part 😉 I’ll spread the word and cross my fingers for you.
Thanks for your help ❤
Happy Birthday and good luck on making the top 100. It’s neat your daughter is doing a column with you.
I have to get my bonding years in before she leaves the nest 😦
Happy birthday and congratulations on all the lovely things going on in your life – you deserve it 🙂
Aww, thanks!!
Happy, happy birthday! Your cake looks delicious. 🙂
I think those first years of high school are difficult for everyone. You’re such a great mom, though, I bet your daughter will just sail right through. How cool that she gets to review her mom’s book!
She’s loving it so far, fingers crossed it stays that way 🙂 🙂
Many, many congratulations and happy birthday! ❤ So proud of you and all you've accomplished. This post really moved me and let me remember how much I have to be thankful for. Wishing you even better days in the future. 🙂
Thanks, Cheryl! So much of life is out of our control, but we can always control our attitude and our responses to the ‘bad’ stuff, which I’ve found usually turns into good stuff anyway.
That is an exciting week. Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Kristina!!
Glad to hear things are going so well! 🙂 Happy Birthday!
How exciting! Working with the kiddo. Mine would never agree, so you’re one lucky mom! Best of luck with the sale…I’ll add a shout out this Friday if it’s still on sale.
Happy birthday. So many wonderful things are happening at once. I have a copy of your book. 🙂