Today is our one year in publication, and boy, oh boy, it was an amazing roller-coaster ride. If you are following my writing journey, Revenge Mistaken is my first self-published novel. It was solely intended to be a private reading, but God has a different plan and he made me an author. I couldn’t ask for more. Celebrate with me this milestone!!!
I appreciate everyone who worked at Friesenpress. My writing career as a self-published author wouldn’t be possible without them. They answered all my questions and worked tirelessly with me to produce a beautiful novel. Until our next writing journey. Thank you!
Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day, so after my hair appointment, I headed to our local library to see if my book was there. I had never seen my work in a library before. I searched the shelves in the adult fiction section after searching for my book on the computer, but I was unable to locate it there. I approached a library assistant and asked where I could find Revenge Mistaken. I told her who I was. She then advised me to check the New and Hot Bestsellers section if it isn’t in the adult fiction part. According to her, the other copy was just returned last night and is possibly still in the sorting room. Then I went to the New and Hot Bestsellers section, and lo and behold, it was there. I couldn’t explain how I felt about seeing my book among other books. The first thing I noticed was how thin my book was. But I know my story is big. It was easy reading, maybe five to six hours reading time.
Embrace our uniqueness
There are times in our lives when we are unable to express how we feel or how to embrace them, but we are aware that every day we have the opportunity to do just that. We are the ones who will give life its uniqueness because life is so strong. As for me, I always put forth a lot of effort to get what I want in this world. I made an effort to appreciate the many surprises that life had in store for me. Let’s nurture and enrich life because it is beautiful. Accept change and delight in the unexpected.
Summer is nearly at its end, and I am prepared to embrace autumn, my favorite season. Some people feel fall is the start of withering leaves, cold weather, and lots of rain in Vancouver, but I always thought autumn was the start of reflection and reevaluating my life journey. As the leaves turn vibrant shades Read more
Available at Steveston Bookstore, Steveston Village, Richmond Selling a book by an indie or self-published author is challenging. Most of the books sold were online or at webstores. I contacted local bookstores in Vancouver and Richmond for my 2022 book, “Revenge Mistaken,” but most had no room for it. On April 16, 2025, the release Read more
While on a turbulent flight to Vancouver for a business endeavour, Camrea Ricen hits her head and falls into a coma. When she wakes up weeks later, she learns that a fellow passenger, Marces Cadeon, claimed to be her fiancé and stayed by her side the entire time. Feeling an unexplainable connection to her and… Read more
When Jeanette sent me these pictures from her vacation in the Philippines, I was both astonished and overwhelmed. The color of the sky and the front book cover merged together flawlessly. She seemed to be having a wonderful time at the lovely El Nido resort. She had that glow that only warm weather could give her, and I could sense how the gentleness of the wind and a little heat from the sun kissed her skin. You wanted to stay there forever because of its serenity,
This is one of the best images illustrating “revenge mistaken.”
Every time I see my book in my reader’s hands while they are on their adventure journey, I feel honored and humbled. They motivate me to write better and increase my knowledge so that I can create the best tale I can share with the world.
I am thankful that I have family and friends who are always there for me and help promote my book.
To Jeanette: thank you for sharing your day in paradise.
Let us begin 2023 with the second batch of signed copies for the Philippines. Over the weekend, I gave myself time to sign the pre-ordered books for my family and friends in Manila, Philippines. As a first-time self-published author, promoting my book to be included in the mainstream is really difficult. I contacted twenty local bookstores, but only a handful replied to my email, and only one was interested in hosting me for a book signing inside their bookstore. But I’m not complaining; I have to work hard to reach my personal goal of having my book on the shelves of every bookstore.
When? I have no idea, but I am keeping my faith that one day we could see Revenge Mistaken inside every bookstore. For now, I am reaching out to my network and their networks. One book sale at a time, rather than quitting in the middle of everything.
I hope I can find a bookstore owner in the Philippines who I can ask to host a book launch. As a Filipina author, I hope my Kababayan will be proud to see one of their own published a book in Canada.
Again, my book is a fiction romance, not my own story.
Let me share with you this moment as I reflect on this incredible year as we say goodbye to 2022 and joyfully welcome 2023, even though there is still some doubt over the future of COVID, etc. I’m glad that our lives are beginning to return to some semblance of normalcy. During this pandemic, I experienced anxiety, which gave me the strength to fight my fear and transform the worst situation into a beautiful learning opportunity by realizing that I still had something to offer and contribute with the world. During the first month of the pandemic, I became lost and returned to that blackhole. However, I made it through and had a chance to start over.
This year, 2022, I received more than I ever expected. I virtually met a lot of friends who helped me through the challenging world of writing. I enjoyed the emotional ups and downs while I awaited the release of my first book. My life was forever changed when Revenge Mistaken was publicly available. I don’t believe I will ever publish a book that is available in a library or online.
The joy and fear that this experience gave me made me realize that whatever age we’re at, we have the power to make our own mark in this world. Embrace everything we have at the moment and make a choice that will make us happy and content. Before, I was skeptical that I could do better because I felt that I was at the end of my life. I felt that I was done, that I’d had enough of this lifetime. But I was wrong because God gave me a gift, and I still have a purpose to shine and embrace the beauty of life.
So for 2023, I will live my life one day at a time and enjoy the moment. I chose to make my life better and discard the negative energy that is being fed to me by my surroundings. I chose to focus my energy on the “he,” “she,” and “it” that will keep me smiling and never fear what is to come.
As my friend wished me, “May you be stronger, kinder, and more faithful no matter what 2023 brings.”
I will make this my mantra for the new year.
May all of us be blessed with a brighter 2023 and a prosperous new year to all of us!
Jennifer Osuna Ausa 