April 12, 2007, was the dinner celebration of my working on the Open Heart/Heart Transplant team at a renowned heart center in Cleveland for 25 years. Actually, it's more than 25 years, I took time off to go to graduate school o get my Master's in Philosophy ... they docked my time for that.

I chose not to go to the free and glorious dinner because they are giving me a watch for 25 years of service. A watch. A gold-plated watch (Swatch?) for 25 years of service. Oh yeah, they, the powers that be, will say some words (a script I was told to write) about what a good employee I am. Gee, I'll miss the standing ovation.

I could not go. I had Dickensian visions of hard-looking, grimy people (well, actually just me) toiling for a company, and the payoff of a 'watch' continually swirling in my head (sometimes the imagination is a dangerous thing!). So, I stayed at home and worked all day on the computer on my ever-spreading gluteus doing marketing and rewrites for my forthcoming book.

Instead, I went to work and did a thirteen and a half hour night shift. My colleagues at work could not understand why I did not want to take part in such a celebration. They repeatedly reminded me of how 'good' the dinner was going to be. And, I should go for that reason alone!

I, as a result of finishing my first book have such a sense of purpose and accomplishment (although no new gold plated watch!) I am going to make The New York Times Bestseller List and sell MILLIONS of books! I think that day in and day out. Kinda like a totally possessed, crazy person would. But, I am not crazy! Just passionate (do crazy people think they are passionate?) My goal is to 'take out' J.K.Rowling, in the spirit of fun of course, and dollars!

I know how this type of conviction may sound to others...maybe you right now. I AM REALLY PUTTING MYSELF ON THE LINE HERE. This time in my life calls for placing myself and my belief in myself completely out there! (PLEASE CATCH ME) I am totally inspired by Miranda July's marketing campaign for her book(mirandajuly.com) Truthfully, I am envious too. Her sales pitch is so simple and so-to-the-point. Of course, I wish I had thought of it! Then I remember a quote by Hugh Mcleod of gapingvoid.com fame, "Don't judge your insides, by someone elses outside." That helped me!

I am me and I will find the vehicle that suits my campaign, just as you will for your individual enterprise. I have faith... and remember I am obsessed...right now, wait, or is that possessed? Whatever, I am consumed with a passion for this book and it's birth (so to speak) that I have not had since childhood!

I think I can come up with something outrageous to market and promote my baby... but it will not be simple. Nothing with me is simple. My publicity and marketing campaign is just this shy of me setting myself on fire to get the book the attention it so deserves! I promised myself that perhaps that kind of publicity would not be constructive! Back to the 25 year award dinner. I hear I missed an awfully good chicken dinner and a delightful dessert. DAMN!