Reaching this point feels like success: I have a published book out in the world for others to read. Somehow, in the chaos of motherhood, I carved out the time to achieve this goal—much like I once dedicated hours to train for my Chicago marathons. I’ve always had countless stories in the works, but starting with a children’s book and one of my favorite short stories felt like a strong beginning. Really, starting anywhere—somewhere—was a small victory. Much like marathon training, I didn’t fully know what the publishing process would entail.