When I blinked away the mist in my eyes and looked up, Mrs. Arthur was holding up a certificate.
The National High School Newspaper Association awards “Best Advice Column” to the WAHS Ledger.
I stared at her. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” she said. “You earned it.” She wrapped me in a hug. “Stay in touch.”
I promised her I would.
As I walked out of her office, holding the best gifts I’d ever gotten, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Bob Stoops bobblehead and how much I was like him.
The advice column—Nora—had ripped me in half and made me into something even better than I ever could have imagined.
***
To read more quirky romance for the young at heart, download Fabio vs. the Friend Zone by Kelsie Stelting.
Also by Kelsie Stelting
The Pen Pal Romance Series
Dear Adam
Coming soon
Fabio vs. the Friend Zone
Sincerely Cinderella
The Texas Star Series
Lonesome Skye: Book One
Becoming Skye: Book Two
Loving Skye: Book Three
Always Anika
Abi and the Boy Next Door
YA Contemporary Romance Anthology
The Art of Taking Chances
The Texas Sun Series
All the Things He Left Behind
Unfair Catch: Savannah’s Story 1
Anything But Yes: Savannah’s Story 2
Nonfiction
Raising the West
Acknowledgments
I probably don’t say thank you enough, so I’m glad every book has a section where I can spell out the names of everyone who’s helped me along the way. Dear Adam couldn’t have made it into the world without help from the family, friends, and professionals who have supported me either in my career as a writer or on this project specifically.
I’m thankful to God for giving me the talent, the skills, the need to put words on paper.
My husband, for being a constant source of support, laughter, and unexpected/unconventional romance.
My parents, for telling me I could be anything I dreamed.
My siblings, for being my best friends and advocates.
The YA chicks, for their expert advice and friendship.
My editor, Tricia Harden, for taking such care with my stories and making the effort to truly know my characters.
Jenny with Seedlings for her expert, beautiful cover design.
Everyone I encountered at the Oklahoma Capitol, for their kind stewardship and willingness to answer my questions, no matter how strange.
Each of my advanced readers, for their love of literature and taking the time to support my work.
The members of my Readers Club for their friendship. Interacting with them day to day is a joy.
Finally, I’m thankful for you, the reader. Thank you for taking the time to share my world. I promise I worked to make it as wonderful as possible. You deserve only the very best.
Author’s Note
Almost two years ago now, I was sitting on the couch in my living room, crying, talking on the phone with my husband, and telling him that I needed to stop writing and go to nursing school. I remember saying, “There’s such a need in mental health nursing, and me struggling as a writer isn’t helping anyone.”
Being the wonderful man that he is, he offered me his full support with whatever I decided to choose. Because ultimately, it was my choice.
After we hung up, I set my phone down beside me, pulled out my computer, and tried to get lost in my Facebook newsfeed. Almost immediately, I got a message from someone I hadn’t heard from in eight years. She told me that she loved my writing and that it reminded her of John Green’s style. At the very end, she said, keep writing.
I read the message again and began crying. What she didn’t know was that in the cubicle at my job in data entry, I had a sticky note that said, “John Green used to work as a typist.”
I don’t know how, but that message reached me right at one of the biggest crossroads in my life. I’m so thankful to that friend, and to God, who I believe gave her that push to message me, right when I needed it.
I knew all of the shoulds in my life. I graduated summa cum laude with an honors degree. I had a heart for people and knew I could do well in school. There were people out there who could use me as a nurse. That was my should.
But my calling?
That was telling stories.
What I hadn’t realized was that I could help people just as much through my writing, as well as myself. I needed storytelling to get me through times harder than I ever could have imagined, and it’s helped readers do the same. Writing has brought me so many friends and opportunities I never would have otherwise known.
I think Emerick and I struggled with the same thing. Duty to others vs. the frivolous natures of our dreams. What we both forgot is that sometimes, the person we need to help is ourselves. Serving others does nothing if we do it without joy and passion—if we do it from a place of “should” rather than “must.”
The only problem? Sometimes choosing must is scary. It might look crazy to those around you. And sometimes it’s reckless, because it requires a leap of faith. With writing, I had to jump and trust that I would find my readers, my place in the writing community.
Must doesn’t mean you lose all practicality and concern for others. It means you become the best, most fulfilled version of yourself, so you have more to give.
You might be choosing between should and must yourself. If you are, I hope you’ll have the courage to face whatever lies ahead and give the best of yourself to others. You deserve it.
About the Author
Kelsie Stelting grew up in the middle of nowhere (also known as western Kansas). Her rural upbringing taught her how to get her hands dirty and work hard for what she believes in. Plus, not having neighbors in a 10-mile radius as a child and traveling the world as an adult made her develop a pretty active imagination. Kelsie loves writing honest fiction that readers can vacation in, as well as traveling, volunteering, ice cream, loving on her family, and soaking up just a little too much sun wherever she can find it.
To connect with Kelsie, email her at [email protected] or visit her on social media. She loves hearing from readers!
Dear Adam (The Pen Pal Romance Series) Page 17
