Packing Peanuts IV: Success

Today's Packing Peanuts have more to do with others than with me, because something I love is when people I know succeed in doing things they’ve been working hard to do. Things that are hugely daunting but likewise immensely inspiring.

Things like this.

And things like this.

And working through this realization.

And then there’s Brandon Ax who has been pushing to get his YA novel Elemental published for quite awhile, and now it’s happening. April 20 is the release date. I can almost taste the excitement, the nervousness, the pride. All the things there are just no words for.

Someday I hope to be there too, but meanwhile, my packing peanuts have something to do with the idea that successes, both the small ones and the big, can be attained by real people. This seems like such a large idea I can hardly wrap my brain around it because... Because? Well, because then perhaps I can succeed too. 

Someday. 

When in doubt, these are just a few people I know who are proof. Who inspires you and why?

Below are Ax’s cover and excerpt:

link to original here

“Hello pretty,” the dark man said in a haunting voice that chilled to the bone.
          My voice shook as I formed the words, “Who are you?” It felt stupid, but nothing had come to mind. I managed to get my foot back on the step.
          He stepped from the pole and said, “Me? I’m no one. You though? You are something special, in fact you’re so special I have a feeling I'd like to take you home with me.”
          I turned and ran knowing it wouldn't be fast enough. I felt him grab my shirt from behind and push me to the metal stairs below. I kicked out and struggled to pull myself from his hold. A gust of wind rushed past me, it blew my hair wildly and I was free.
          Not waiting to see what happened I scrambled up the steps and quickly unlocked the door. Slamming it behind me I slid down with the cold white wood to my back. My breath came in quick gasp, I felt my whole body shaking. What was that, why did he let go? I quickly stood up peering through the peephole in the door. No one was outside. Putting my ear to the wood I tried to listen for any sound that would lead me to believe he was still out there.
          After a few seconds I backed away from the door and sat in one of the chairs by the table. I had just calmed my thundering heartbeat when the handle of the door started to twist. I scrambled for anything I could find to defend myself with, settling on a picture frame that was on the wall next to me. As the door opened I drew back ready to swing with every ounce of my strength.