Millions of Moments — Brave Tutu

My dedication for Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates: A Picture Book Parody for Adults reads:

“I dedicate this first book to my team of family and friends. Writing and dating are not solitary sports. No matter the score, you’ve loved me, listened through heartache, cheered fiercely, and kept me laughing. Thank you for believing in me.

For all those going on awful, awkward, no fun, truly bad dates— know you are not alone. I hope this book keeps you laughing.”

Many of you, I hope, will read these words and feel seen. As supporters of Brave Tutu, I’ve felt your support as you encouraged me to keep writing bravely and pursue power in small moments.

I’m the Brave Tutu boss, so I call the shots. *haha* Therefore, I hope you will forgive me when I break format for this post. Readers know, I like to zoom in on one particular moment and glean delight and strength. I can’t provide a SINGLE circumstance in this piece because this dream come true for me was built on what feels like a million moments.

The moment(s) when:

This treasured childhood gift is also under the Simon & Schuster umbrella!

The Easter Bunny gave me If You Were A Writer by Joan Lowery Nixon at age 8 (it still remains a mystery how he KNEW).
My third grade teacher, Mrs. Lauderdale, encouraged me to lean into my creativity and write the TRUE story of the Three Little Pigs. I presented mine as “Rebecca Rodriguez” the (then) news anchor for KVUE-TV, coffee mug and all.
In my freshman year English class at Mingus Union High School, Mr. Fredlake insisted we free-write in our journal without lifting our pens off the page, worrying about typos, or letting the inner critic interfere with brainstorming.
I declared myself a Communications major at Grand Canyon University so I could take the most writing classes available; and I fell in love with creative nonfiction taught by Ms. Spiegel and Mr. Gottry.
I channeled Rose from Titanic, and I walked onto the gangway of my first big job as Social Hostess for Carnival Cruise Line’s Fascination. The size of the ship astounded me and I knew I was stepping into something big, something that gave me the courage to ask myself what I would do if I “could not fail”?
I answered by writing.
Surrounded by brick buildings with white columns, I walked the green grounds of Hollins University and believed I would become an author. I absorbed the incredible teachings and visited fireflies in “the quad.” Their warm glow mirrored my hope to have my words out in the world.
Sundays at St. John’s Episcopal Church I walked alongside youth as they explored their faith journeys, and I’ve never felt so honored. I cried as I stepped away from that job to stay the course with my writing career and I still miss those kids (now young adults).
I averaged two meals a day as I freelanced and made money with my words. Empowered. Hungry.
For six weeks, I got to eat my weight in empanadas and develop true friendships when Argentina embraced me as a writer alongside our Group Study Exchange team made possible by Rotary District 7570 of the Shenandoah Valley
Starbucks welcomed me onto their team. Daily, my hair smelled of coffee and my knees ached from standing—I loved it. They offered me community, insurance, space to create, and a bridge back to Texas.
Austin embraced me with access to weekly queso and a writing community, arguably one of the best in the country.
I accepted an invitation from the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators inviting me to the Texas Library Association Conference. Surrounded by literature, I said yes to DLB Books and worked for them until…
I opened a Facebook message alerting me of a job that “had me written all over it” at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. I worried that an 8-5 job would stifle my writing, but when I said yes to the Texas Center for the Book, I was immersed in the world of literature and thrived as I pursued publication.
Bethany Hegedus invited me to join her inaugural Write. Submit. Support Class at The Writing Barn and I finally had the accountability and community to intentionally get my work in front of editors and agents.
My hope shot through my ears as I opened emails and stung with tears after reading passes form publishing professionals, too many to count.
The “yes” came from my agent Natalie Lakosil, who believed in my words and wanted to champion them via Bradford Literary Agency.
Those dates, during many of these life seasons, left me feeling like I could laugh or cry.
I did both, and I wrote this book.

Photo by Alexandra Diaz Photography: AKD

Often, the emotions that came with rejections mirrored the disappointments of dating. Airplane conversations summarize the struggle: I’m a writer. “Oh are you published?” No not yet. “Oh, well are you married.” No not yet. #Awkward

I wrote the book I wanted other singles to read and know they are not alone. I knew writers would catch Alex’s symbolism— putting yourself out there, over and over and over again—learning and growing and not giving up. I hoped everyone would connect with what it means to #SelfValiDATE when faced with uncontrollable circumstances.

If you took a moment to read about these moments, I thank you. Readers like you have given me strength as I’ve examined moments and sought to give them power. I’d love to know a time you’ve bravely stepped forward. When have you been got smacked down and just kept getting back up?

Whatever your heart longs for, know that you are not alone in putting yourself out there. Maybe, just maybe, love at first sight exists and some authors get picked up after one try. Maybe. For me, my happily ever after continues as I believe in myself, lean on others and offer my gifts to the world with vulnerability.

It’s not one moment that made my “dream come true,” and my dreaming continues.

Remember,

Your Brave Tutu (You’re brave, too-too!)

-Take courage in delight. Discover power in small moments.

Thanks for visiting my author website at www.rebekahmanley.com to order my book, check out my online book tour and sign up for updates. I’d love to send you a signed book plate. Feel free to check out any of my past and future book events.