Hello, friends! Happy New Year to all of you!
 
I, for one, am especially pumped about 2018.
 
Why?
 
Because this is the year I will self-publish my debut nonfiction book: “Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife: I’m Throwing Your Damn Pager into the Ocean”.
 
And let me tell ya, this thing, this passion project of mine, has been a long time coming. 

I started writing “Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife” in 2013 while I was working full-time as a Corporate Communications Manager. It was something I did on weeknights and weekends whenever I could muster the energy and inspiration.
 
Then, life decided to throw me a few more curve balls – namely, pregnancy and motherhood.
 
I didn’t work on the book for a whole YEAR.
 
It wasn’t until my daughter was 15 months old and started part-time day care that I was finally able to turn my attention to my book once again.
 
In less than six months, I finished the first draft. I was elated. I had written a BOOK! 

To keep things moving, I strategically planned to attend the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference, which forced me to quickly write my nonfiction book proposal, create and hone my elevator pitch, and research potential literary agents to represent my book.
 
At the conference last February, I pitched my book to several literary agents in person, and received three requests for my manuscript and book proposal, a huge win.
 
I also started tackling a necessity for today’s authors: building an ‘author platform’, or online presence for readers. Most of 2017 was spent in pursuit of this challenging endeavor.
 
I am thrilled to report that I now have nearly 10,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and my email subscribers (and growing). 

The one thing I was not able to accomplish in 2017 was to contract with a literary agent to represent my work, with the goal of securing a traditional publishing contract. I did have conversations with a few individuals and some positive feedback, but nothing more materialized. I could sit around and moan and whine about it all day, but I won’t.
 
Instead, I’m taking matters into my own hands: I’m self-publishing my memoir in 2018.
 
Have I done this before? Kinda.
 
I mean, I did publish this book, 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved, so I have some experience. 

But taking charge of the complete book production, launch and marketing strategy for a full-length memoir? Nope, haven’t done it yet.
 
Here’s the thing: I’m not worried. I’m beyond-words excited.
 
What I don’t know how to do now I will figure out. I will ask for help when I need it. And I will remember that if something doesn’t seem just a tad bit scary, it’s probably not worth doing.
 
Why, exactly, have I decided to self-publish?
 
Because the very thought of it fills me with joy, honestly. And I want other medical couples out there to know that they can and will get through the training years and the difficult times.
 
So, that’s the big news for 2018. 

Want to get involved?
 
I will be recruiting an exclusive launch team to help me spread the word about “Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife”. These folks will get to read the book before everyone else, will score a free copy, and will be privy to and part of the action behind the scenes of a real live book launch.
 
More on this soon – watch this blog for details.
 
What challenges are YOU taking on this year? Cheers to possibility! 

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
It's Here! Get My Free E-Book: 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks and more
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference) 
Physician Family guest blog: Does Match Day dictate your destiny? A surgeon’s wife weighs in
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: A word to mothers who aspire to have a surgeon-in-law
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: No, I don’t want no scrubs
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: For the love of Danskos
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: The other shoe

I am happy to announce that my new e-book, 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved: Plug and Play Ideas From a Seasoned Corporate Communications Manager, is now available in a number of digital formats! 

Here's the skinny on the book: 

Even the savviest office workers struggle with awkward, sticky and downright tricky business emails. How do I politely tell a colleague that their request isn’t my job? What do I say when I’m behind schedule or over budget? What if I hate working with that person? 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved has all these answers, and more, from an experienced Corporate Communications Manager (yours truly).   

Cool! Where can I find it? 

Grab a FREE copy of my e-book on these platforms:
​Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Apple iBooks
Kobo
Smashwords
Blio

Yup, I'm an Amazon author! Dream come true! Feel free to check out my Amazon author page. 

One more quick thing before you go. 

If you want the downloadable, printable version of this e-book to stash in your desk (in case of communications emergency), click here. It's exclusively available to my weekly email subscribers. 

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
Business Email Etiquette: 50 Things You Should Never Say in a Work Email
Vacation fun: 44 things you only do when you're on vacation or holiday
On The Write Life: 34 Ways to Stay Busy (and Productive) While You Wait for Your Book Release
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
On The Write Life: Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Article on The Write Life: Think Like a Journalist to Improve Your Writing (Trench Coat Optional!)
How to be the perfect friend: a guide for the ladies
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference) 
The write stuff: An author’s favorite books and authors 
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices 
All about writing: writing 'til it hurts

This week I am super excited to share my latest project. I have written my first e-book, and I can’t wait to put it out into the digital world!
 
The best part: it will be completely free on all digital platforms. Woop!
 
I expect to release the book next month (August 2017), and will share updates on this blog and on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
 
So, what’s this e-book all about?
 
Here is a preview of what’s to come. 

Free E-Book Preview
100 of your Toughest Business Emails: Solved
Plug and Play Ideas from a Seasoned Corporate Communications Manager
 
Introduction
Email. We live and breathe it at work. Most of us can’t get away from it. The average office worker receives 121 emails per day.
 
Our increasingly global economy also means that we work across time zones. When those time zones don’t match up, we often rely on email to get work done.
 
As a former Corporate Communications Manager for a fast-paced IT consulting company, I know firsthand the power of words to help or hinder.
 
I spent nearly six years ghost writing for executives and coming up with innumerable ways to say things that people might not like.
 
This experience bestowed upon me an unexpected gift: the ability to conjure up a tactful way of saying just about anything, usually on the fly.
 
Yet, most of us in the business world don’t have a Corporate Communications Manager we can run to when we’re not quite sure how to word an email.
 
That is why I have created this book.
 
I want to help you smooth over your email language while still making your point.
 
I want to provide you with an easy reference guide for whenever you’re stumped on what to say.
 
And, finally, I want to help you avoid some of the inevitable drama that goes hand in hand with business communications.
 
It’s important to note that much of the language found in this book relies on references and colloquialisms most familiar to American readers. When dealing with an international audience, please consider your reader’s likely familiarity with the language you choose.
 
With my plug and play templates, you, too, can master even the toughest of business emails.  
 
Let’s dive in!

A few juicy tidbits that you can look forward to in the book

That’s his/her job
He/she is the expert on…
He/she is the right person for…
He/she is best suited to…
He/she has firsthand knowledge of…
He/she is your go-to person for…
He/she is your best bet for...

I disagree
I disagree (sometimes it’s perfectly appropriate to say!)
I beg to differ
I don’t agree
I’m not so sure about that…
Not necessarily
I don’t see it that way
I see it differently
I have a different perspective
I have an opposing view

I don’t have time
I’m overcommitted
I don’t have the bandwidth
I’m stretched too thin
I’m afraid I’m not available to…
If I had more availability, I would be happy to…
My time is limited
I can’t dedicate the time
I’m pressed for time
I wish I could help
I wish I had more time
My schedule is full

Here is your 1,000th reminder
As I mentioned before…
As we discussed previously…
Per my previous email…
Per our recent conversation…
As you know…
Since our last discussion…
As previously agreed...

​Over my dead body!
I’d prefer if we didn’t
Let’s think of some alternatives
Let’s brainstorm some ideas
I would rather not
It wouldn’t be my first choice
It’s not my favorite idea
I’m not a huge fan
Let’s take a different direction

Cheers to acing those business emails, and more to come very soon!

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
On The Write Life: Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Article on The Write Life: Think Like a Journalist to Improve Your Writing (Trench Coat Optional!)
How to be the perfect friend: a guide for the ladies
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference) 
The write stuff: An author’s favorite books and authors 
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices 
All about writing: writing 'til it hurts

I designed this graphic today as a mock-up book cover and back page combination. I get so excited looking at it! It's starting to feel very real!

I'll be taking this little number with me to the San Francisco Writers Conference in February, where I'll be learning more of my illustrious craft and all about the publishing industry, meeting with professionals, and pitching my book to literary agents.

Wish me luck, friends! 

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
Physician Family guest blog: Does Match Day dictate your destiny? A surgeon’s wife weighs in
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: A word to mothers who aspire to have a surgeon-in-law
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: No, I don’t want no scrubs
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: For the love of Danskos
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: The other shoe
Date night: 60 fun and unique date ideas for the young at heart
Parenting: A no-fuss guide to your toddler’s birthday party for Pinterest-fatigued parents
Parenting: You know you’re a mom (of young children) when…

Hello, readers! I am super excited to announce the launch of my new author page on Facebook, here: 
https://www.facebook.com/authormegansharma/

This is for my recently written book, "When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: A Surgeon's Wife Tells It Like It Is". I am currently working toward traditional publication. 

On the author page I'll share book and blog news and updates, industry latest in the world of medicine, writing tips, fun photos, book sneak peaks, and opportunities to win prizes. You won't want to miss it!

Give it a "like" today, and thanks for your support!
​

​Oh, you moms out there (I now count myself a member of your prestigious ranks, so I can say that). You want the very best for your children. And I mean the very best. We’re talking champagne wishes and caviar dreams, ya’ll. And who could blame us?
 
Maybe you, like my amazing in-laws, decided to leave everything behind in your early thirties so that your five-year-old son and future children would have a better life in a country thousands of miles from where your ancestors were born.
 
Perhaps you quit a lucrative corporate job to stay home with your sweet baby girl. That’s what I did.
 
Or maybe you saved your pennies to send each of your kids to college debt free. That is a very special gift.
 
We want it all for our offspring, simply put. And we want them to find the right person to share their lives with.
 
We pray that our daughters will meet and marry a man who is loving, kind, patient, funny, good looking, and smart. Definitely not “The Bachelor”. Oh, god, no. Someone who has his s*** together, essentially.
 
If you think “Dr. Prince Charming” has a nice ring to it, you’re probably not alone. Just think of all the free medical advice! How should I treat a migraine? Do I need to be taking supplements? What shall I do about these warts? Oh, what fun!
 
I’m here to offer a bit of a reality check to mothers who aspire to have a surgeon-in-law (SIL):

• If you imagined getting out of those regular mammograms and colonoscopies, think again. Your SIL is going to make sure you get those done, come hell or high water.
• You’re going to have the safest grandbabies ever!
• You will get free medical advice, but it will sometimes irritate your darling SIL (especially if you constantly ask questions outside of his or her area of expertise).
• More than likely, your child and their family will be moving in order to advance your SIL’s career. Possibly more than once, and possibly for good.
• Your SIL will likely know more about your health status than you will. He/she can read between the lines.

 
My mom loves her SIL dearly and I’m sure she would carry the banner for other moms out there who want to join the club.
 
The club is pretty cool. The club comes with a free lifetime subscription to Men’s Health and Family Circle. Just kidding.