After the Signing, What I’ll Remember Most

There are moments in life that you picture so many times in your head that when they finally happen, they almost feel surreal!!

My book signing was definitely one of those moments for me! THANK YOU!!

I walked into Indigo and there was a table set up with a sign saying that I was a local author and I was going to be there for signing.

That sounds simple, but for some reason seeing that hit me harder than I expected.

Right at the entrance there was my own table and my own sign. For a second I just stood there and looked at it, taking it all in.

This thing that started as thoughts in my head, journal pages, therapy sessions, fear, growth, questions, tears, edits, and moments where I almost didn’t keep going had somehow become this.

For five hours I had my own space.

A place where I didn’t have to hide the pieces of myself.

I got to make that little area my own, and I don’t think I realized how meaningful that would feel until I was actually there in the moment.

Before I say anything else, I want to give thanks!!!

Thank you to Indigo.

From the beginning of this process until now they’ve been incredible. They were kind, helpful, encouraging, welcoming, and made something that felt intimidating feel exciting for me instead. They gave me room to set up and connect with people who were interested or had already read my book.

Then people started coming in!

Friends came, family came, athletes came, kids I coach came, parents came, people I’ve known forever came, and people I’d never met before came too.

And honestly, I was so shocked.

I knew that people might stop by, but I didn’t expect that many people to show up and support me. Every time someone walked over to my table it felt surreal all over again.

There were moments throughout the day where I felt emotional looking around because these were people taking time out of their day to come and support something that felt incredibly vulnerable for me to share.

People showed up for me in ways I don’t know if I have words for yet.

I can’t thank everyone enough.

Truly. I am happily overwhelmed and very emotional and grateful!!!

Seeing so many familiar faces, hearing encouragement, getting hugs, having people stay and talk to me and watching people I care about show up reminded me that maybe I never had to carry as much alone as I thought I did.

And I think this is the part I wasn’t fully prepared for.

I wasn’t nervous that nobody would buy a book.

I was nervous to be seen.

I was nervous because this book talks about things that for a long time I didn’t know if I’d ever say out loud or tell anyone. I was nervous because of my diagnosis. I was nervous how people would look at me and treat me knowing I have Dissociative Identity Disorder. I was nervous because coaching and the ninja community matter so much to me and there was a part of me that wondered if people would look at me differently.

I wondered if my openness would make people uncomfortable.

Instead, something completely different happened.

People stayed and talked and asked questions, and shared pieces of themselves. It was amazing!

Over and over people would come to the table and start telling me parts of their own story, things they were carrying, things they’d never really said out loud before, things they’d survived, struggled with, or kept quiet because they thought people wouldn’t understand.

I can’t even fully explain how much that meant to me.

More than once people told me I was brave for being open about my trauma, but standing there listening to people trust me with their own stories didn’t feel like bravery from me. It felt like trust.

And honestly, that was one of the coolest parts of the whole day.

Because it worked.

That was what I hoped this book would do. When I published it, I hoped maybe someone would feel less alone after reading it.

I hoped that it would open and start conversations and that maybe it would challenge stigma.

I hoped maybe someone would see themselves somewhere in the pages and feel understood.

Standing there at that table, hearing those conversations happening around me I realized that was actually happening.

People were talking and connecting, and opening up.

Physically, the day wasn’t easy.

I’ve been dealing with back issues lately and had actually just received cortisone injections the day before the signing. Going into the event I honestly wasn’t sure how I was going to feel or how long I’d comfortably make it through the day.

My back was hurting pretty badly and there were moments where I was trying to smile through the discomfort while shifting around and reminding myself to keep moving. But my heart was so full and it made it easier. Looking back now, I think that part feels symbolic in a way.

This book was written during hard seasons too. It wasn’t created when everything felt perfect or easy.

I wrote it while life was still happening, while healing was still happening, and while I was still figuring things out.

I remember thinking to myself I am surrounded by so much love and support. I don’t think I realized how badly I needed that reminder until I was standing in it.

To everyone who came, thank you.

To everyone who bought a book, stopped to talk, shared a story, checked in, gave encouragement, sent messages, or supported quietly from afar, thank you.

To my husband, thank you for carrying books, helping me set up, and doing all the things behind the scenes that made the day easier.

And to my youngest, thank you for staying and becoming my candid photographer and capturing moments I’ll get to keep forever.

When I started writing Unbroken Echoes, I hoped maybe it would help someone.

What I didn’t expect was realizing that maybe the first step isn’t changing the world it’s just showing up.

And maybe when one person takes a first step, it quietly gives somebody else permission to take theirs too.

If this day taught me anything, it’s that being seen isn’t nearly as scary as believing you have to stay hidden.

—

Kelea Ravyn

Nevermore