Today is my birthday. I gave myself a special present this year: I published my
first book. As I edited and formatted this book, I kept this date in
mind as a deadline. I didn’t think of it as a birthday present at first, but I
knew I wanted to have it completed before I started the next year of my life.
When I began this journey to publishing, I did so in secret.
I wrote between the hours of 5 and 7 in the morning. I didn’t even tell my
husband. He thought I had insomnia. I waited until the halfway point to tell
him what I was working on.
Since I completed None
But You last September, others
have found out as I waded through the waters of editing and publishing. I am happy to have such a supportive group of
family and friends, even when I participated in last November’s Nanowrimo and
starting writing many more hours than I had before.
I think everything is ready to speed up for me now. I have a
short story and a novella going through final edits, and I am beginning the
illustrations for a children’s yoga book. But first, I am going to spend today
just enjoying my birthday present.
Shaleen Kapil’s first novel, None But You, is available in
e-book formats: Kindle and Smashwords. The print version will be available at the end of July. None
But You is a contemporary romance with lovable and often humorous characters.

