Imperfections

by Shaniel Watson

  This is for you, my readers. I hope this brightens your day and inspires you to do something different. Something that makes you smile. My life is not near perfect, but I was inspired by my imperfections to do something different in my life by writing this book. Drawing emotions from my imperfect life and from others made these imperfect characters come to life.

  Thank you for taking the time to read Cat and Nick's story. I hope you enjoyed reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it and seeing where their complicated relationship with love would take them.

  If you did, please leave a comment at your place of purchase so others can discover Imperfections, it would be greatly appreciated. Even if the twist and turns of Cat and Nicks relationship frustrated you, comments are still welcomed because that means you're fired up and have strong feelings about what you've read, and that's still a good thing. That means I have inspired you in some tiny way. That's the thing about inspiration; you never know where it's going to come from and when it's going to hit, sometimes, it's from imperfections. :)

  Thank You

  Author Bio

  Shaniel Watson lives in New York and is a full-time working mother of two beautiful little girls. She enjoys going to amusement parks and eating ice cream on warm summer days with her kids. You can find her reading or writing with her headphones on, music at full blast, on lunch breaks at her day job, on weekends, and late into the night while everyone else is sleeping.

  Visit me on Facebook and like my page at www.facebook.com/authorshanielwatson

  Sign up for my mailing list on Facebook to receive my newsletters on upcoming events, new releases and the first chapter of Imperfections (Come to Light)

  You can contact me at shanielwatson1@gmail.com

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks once again to my family and friends who supported and encouraged me to write this book and to get it out. When I started my writing and self-publishing journey, like many others, I didn't have any idea how much work and time I would have to dedicate to writing, marketing, and self-publishing.

  One Sunday morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table, eating breakfast with my youngest daughter and thinking how I couldn't find a book with the type of story I wanted to read. My daughter, who was in kindergarten at the time, said something that could only come from a five-year-old, and it made me smile. At that moment, I said to myself, "I should write a children's book about the things she says and does." Then I thought if I could do that, then I'm going to write a book I would want to read. Cat and Nick's story started off slightly different from what I thought it was going to be. Like life, Imperfections took a few twists and turns I hadn't expected.

  Thanks to Marie and everyone on her self-publishing loop for sharing their invaluable advice and experiences. I wrote this in a virtual course I took with Marie Force; I think it describes perfectly what I was going through. "As a new writer, it's hard to know where to connect with other authors, especially when you want to ask someone a question who has been where I am, in the beginning of writing and promoting your book. It's hit or miss because you're doing everything by yourself, things you've never done before. It can be a little scary and your always unsure of yourself and if you're doing things right." There were times I couldn't stop writing, then there was one month I couldn't write anything. There were times I doubted myself and doubted if my story was any good. There were times I thought about stopping, but I couldn't stop until I finished telling these characters' story because even when I doubted myself, with all my mistakes as a newbie writer, I believed in the story. When they were happy, I was happy; when they were sad, I was sad; when they were angry, I was angry with them.

  Nikki and Andrea, thank you for being the first two people to read my story, mistakes and all, and give me your honest opinions. The passion that Nick, Kate, Jay, and Mrs. Reed elicited from you made me feel like a writer, like yes, they get it. Nia and Kyeara, thank you for being patient with me when I was writing and I couldn't play games with you and give you my undivided attention. And I'm sorry I was disturbing your sleep late at night with all my typing, Nia.

  Thank you to E-book Formatting Fairies for getting me a great editor on such short notice when I was in desperate need of one. The fairies were fast and professional. Thanks, Rahab, at iloveliveread.com for doing a great job of copy editing and proofreading Imperfections and writing me a fantastic detailed editorial letter. Imperfections (Come to Light) is coming your way; you're going to laugh, be heartbroken again, and fall in love with Nick, Cat and their families.

  Sarah Hanson at Okay Creations, thank you for designing a cover I absolutely love. You did a wonderful job. You gave me exactly what I wanted: a beautiful, standout cover that's a little different from what I've seen.

  Amy Eye at The Eyes for Editing, I knew you would do an amazing job formatting and doing the interior design for Imperfections. I've learned that when you're self-publishing, you speak to no one and you spend a lot of time emailing back and forth with the people you're working with. I had a question for you and you knew the answer was going to be long so you called me to give me the answer to my question and you were, and still are, the only person's voice I've heard from the time I started writing this book. I knew I wanted to work with you after that conversation and that you would do an amazing job, thank you.