Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition

I'm happy to share that my most recent publication has hit the shelves! It's called "Joining the Family Business," which is part of the newest edition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection--the Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition, to be exact. (It can be purchased here).

I'm even happier to share how much meaning there is behind this particular contribution. About fifteen years ago, my mom wrote a story for Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul called "Résumé of the Heart." She wrote about her choice to leave the workforce in order to stay home with us kids, and how little value the world seemed to place on her line of work. She shared her epiphany that even though she wasn't exactly racking up credentials on her résumé by staying at home, the blessings of being around for the most important moments of our lives were being recorded on the résumé of her heart.

This past year, I had the rare opportunity to reflect on her story with a story of my own, and let the world know how her words have inspired me. I wrote how her story was "cool and all" back then when I was a careless teenager, but I didn't really understand its significance. Only fifteen years later--with a family of my own--am I realizing how her truth-filled words have worked their way into my own heart and in many ways srcripted my life.

Now both of our stories are published side-by-side in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition. The fact that our names will be forever in print next to each other is pretty much the coolest thing ever to me!

The icing on the cake was the chance to be together when the book was released during my family's recent visit. My mom and I took a trip to the bookstore for a photo op and giggled together like schoolgirls as we passed "our" book in the grocery store book aisle. She's not only given me her unconditional love and support over the years, but passed along her passion for writing as well; to experience such meaningful moments together in person was absolutely priceless.

The beautiful words of "Résumé of the Heart,"
by Kathleen Swartz McQuaig,
echoed in "Joining the Family Business,"
by Megan C. Hjelmstad

Thanks as always to everyone who has shown such incredible support--I'm absolutely thrilled to finally share our special story!