Behind the Scenes of My Book Launch Journey

Hey there beautiful souls!

I know it's been a while since my last update (February feels like ages ago!), but what a whirlwind these past months have been! I'm beyond excited to finally share the amazing journey of my memoir launch with all of you.

Reading at my book launch

First, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible response to my book. Opening up about my chronic pain journey wasn't easy, but your messages about how my story has touched your lives make every vulnerable moment worth it. This book was truly a labor of love – not just mine, but from everyone who supported me along the way.

Behind every author is an amazing support team, and mine deserves all the spotlight! My husband of 20 years has been my rock through this entire process, picking up the slack on my high-pain days and never once complaining. My boys (19 and 16 now – how did that happen so fast?!) showed such patience and understanding when "mom's book" took center stage for a while. Their hugs and encouraging words kept me going on the toughest days.

The launch day itself was a beautiful chaos! Between managing my energy levels (fellow spoonies, you know what I'm talking about!), greeting guests, and trying to take in every precious moment, it was a day I'll never forget. There was a point when I looked around the room at all the smiling faces and just felt overwhelmed with joy – finding those moments of joy despite chronic pain is exactly what my book is all about.

Speaking of joy, I've also been blessed with some amazing podcast episodes! I had the wonderful Lia Valencia Key as a guest on my podcast recently. Her energy is so infectious, and we had such a meaningful conversation about finding light in dark moments. For those who missed it, I've linked for Spotify here or Applepodcast 

Special guest Lia Valencia Key

I've also released a few solo podcast episodes in March and early April about finding joy and expressing my gratitude for the book launch. In one episode, I even had the courage to ask for help – something that's not always easy but so important on this journey. These conversations felt like sitting down with friends over coffee, and I hope they bring you comfort if you're going through your own health challenges.

What I've learned through this entire process is that even with Trigeminal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, and my recent chronic Lyme diagnosis, there's always a way forward when you have the right people in your corner. Sometimes that means taking breaks when my body demands it, other times it means dancing through the pain (yes, I still make time for my Latin dancing – it feeds my soul!).

To each of you who purchased the book, shared it on social media, left reviews, or sent me your personal stories – thank you from the bottom of my heart. This journey wouldn't be meaningful without you walking alongside me.

What's next? I'm planning some live events (pushing through that nervousness!), more podcast episodes, and continuing to build this beautiful community of warriors. If there's anything specific you'd like me to cover in future posts or episodes, please drop a comment below!

Until next time, remember to find your joy each and every day, no matter how small.

With gratitude and love,

Michele Roys

P.S. Don't forget to check out the podcast links here! And if you haven't grabbed your copy of my memoir yet, I've included that link here too!