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THE SECRET FOUND ME…
Submitted by: Mary Ellen Wellbaum
Fort Worth, TexasI am happily married to an amazing man and I have four awesome boys. I teach violin at a Fine Arts school and a private preparatory school as well as in my home studio. My first love is writing and I am publishing an amazing story at present.
An elderly man in my parish was talking to my husband at their weekly poker game, asking if he knew of a writer to tell his story. It was a story of blind faith, paying it forward. My husband suggested me. I was so excited because I had wanted to write a story, but fiction was not really working for me and this story was amazing and true.
After several years of interviewing and working to finish my book, I was beginning the process of publishing it. It was daunting, to say the least. I began to picture my book on stands “for fun.” My husband happened to be at a Christmas sing-along at my youngest child’s school. He heard a woman talking about a conference in New York City, a publishing conference. He brought the info to me and I applied on-line with my query letter… got into the conference. I had no money to pay for it but I got in. I was so excited.
I began to think of myself going and being published. My husband and I checked on flights “for fun” and found a round trip ticket for $284. He bought it. I felt so excited. He said I should ask if anyone in the family would be interested in investing in me if I took this trip. My mother jumped on board and paid for my expenses/accommodation. My parents on my husband’s side gave me a check, but it wasn’t quite enough for me to go. When we visited at Christmas, we were so excited so much had worked out. I had paid $200 out of my savings (all of it) for the first portion of the conference fee. My husband paid the second portion. We had one to go. Also, that Christmas, out of the blue, my husband’s grandmother gave him a check for $1,000. He said “this is meant for you” and paid for the rest of the trip.
In the mean time, I had been listening to audio books because I have so much to do for my four boys I rarely get to read. I was learning so much about writing from these books and one day I purchased a book on CD. When I came home, there was an extra book included by accident. I opened the sleeve and it was THE SECRET. I had seen the Oprah Show and had been intrigued by THE SECRET, wanted to read it, but I didn’t really know the details of the book.
I set the extra CDs aside and intended to return it to the store and explain the mistake.
Several months later, I am about to take my trip to NYC and attend the conference. I am so excited I can hardly stand it, but I became overwhelmed when I realized I had never been to NYC, never been on my own in any big city… I was scared. I called my friend best friend Kristy and I told her I knew it was silly, but I was terrified. What was I thinking, going out of town, borrowing money to do it when I could barely keep up with feeding my family… four boys! She heard my anxiousness and immediately said, “Go to the bookstore and buy this book, it’s called The Secret!” I remembered having it and told her she would never believe this, but “I have it.” She was like, what? I was so shocked because I hadn’t remembered to return it. I HAD IT IN MY ROOM. I ran in there and got it. It was the day before my trip. I listened to it every day before and on my trip!!! It opened a whole new world for me. I realized that I had been doing some of what The Secret was saying, but when I would get to the part where things were happening, I would panic and think I was crazy for thinking like this, pulling negative back into my life.
While in NYC, I had several authors tell me no one would be interested in my book, not to expect anything. In response, I went back to my room and listened to The Secret. Three editors told me no when I pitched to them and this discouraged me, but with The Secret I would re-voice their comments.
On the last day, I pitched my final editor and he was one of the toughest at the conference. No one in my group expected to be asked for pages. I was asked for 50 pages. This editor was in charge of a division of Random House. He said my pages “hummed with energy” and were “intriguing.” My teacher said he never compliments or falsely encourages so I was stoked. I came home and now I am on my path to publishing this amazing story. I have NO DOUBT that I will.
I am excited every time I sit down to write and I have already begun my second book, getting it ready for publication. I realize my adventure in publishing is still in progress, but I cannot WAIT to see what happens next! I have my $10 million check on my refrigerator and my What I am Thankful for on it as well. My son saw the check this morning. He immediately jumped up and down and said, “Does Dad know?” I can’t wait for him to see it. The JOY of feeling so good inside is amazing. I listen to The Secret on CD every day in my car… I can’t wait to see what unfolds! Each time I hear something new I can do to keep MY SECRET going. I am sooooooo GRATEFUL to every person who bought THE SECRET to me. Mary Ellen Wellbaum.