Save Me From Me (39 page)
I have a friend that I loosely based this story off of. Although, I had to twerk and change up a good bit of things to have it work for my characters and what they were telling me to do, the original framework and concept is from her life. The things that are based off of the stories she had told me, aren’t exact replica’s because there were times I needed to exaggerate them. The toughness that most people are telling me they love about Dani, is my Bobbi. She is a bad mamajama that won’t take crap from anyone. I admire her for that. She’s also been dealt a hard hand in the life department. Like Dani, she did lose her father and it caused her world to crumble around her. But again like Dani, she rose up from the rubble and began to build her life again. That part wasn’t easy as well. I won’t go into all the details of what all parts I picked from her, but she is a very strong willed person. That’s why I had to make Dani so tough. Even though the toughest of us still have our weaknesses.
When I approached her about the idea of writing this book, she was like, “my life is not that interesting to be made into a book, Erika.” I highly disagreed and she was all about me going for it. I talked to her a lot about SMFM as I was writing it. Going over ideas and such. When I told her I was adding the photography aspect into it (I’ll discuss this part next), she told me how she once had a passion for it as well and that when she was younger her father did buy her anything and everything picture-taking related. I thought that was really cool how it worked out that way.
So, I have never dedicated a book to anyone, because all of my previous books just came from random thoughts/fantasies, but Save Me From Me would not have evolved if it wasn’t for Bobbi Jo. Thank you so much for allowing me to base a book off the toughest time in your life and show how sometimes through our weakest times, we are made stronger. Even though you don’t always see it, you are proof!
This second thanks is more of a triple whammy. I’m so thankful for the day Ilsa Madden-Mills and I started chatting. Not only is she an amazing lady who I’m glad to call my friend now, but she also introduced me to the most amazing COVER DUO in the world. Or in my world at least. Ilsa sent me Toski’s way when we were chatting about covers, and I haven’t strayed since. Toski, babe, you are the most sweet genuine person I have ever met. Your passion runs wild, and the proof is in the image. You are the master behind the lens. And you took such a leap of faith on me when we first met and I will forever love your heart. Thanks for always going above and beyond. My covers are so gorgeous, and I look forward to the ones to come. I’m pretty sure I look more forward to the covers than the actual writing the book part lol. I would have never put the photography aspect in SMFM if it wouldn’t have been for the pics from the photo-shoot. It was beautifully perfect and I knew I had to throw it in the book. I owe credit to you for a good bit of the phrases that were used. Such as: sum bish, master baiter, bless her little heart, and you’re your pole away from my bass. Please forgive me if I forgot any! Now, now, now, Mrs. Sommer. The SMFM cover was the first of mine you have done and you blew my friggin mind away. It was amazing basically watching as you did it. You hate the words pretty and cute and only know we have a winner when the ‘f’ word has been included. You keep f’n rocking my socks off, woman! Thanks for letting me jack your baby girls name too :0)
BETA BETA BETA’s!!! What would I do without you?? Well, without Master Shredder aka Emily Lamphear Mitchell, I’d have a pretty depressing, shitty book. It takes some amazing guts to tell an author, who is also your friend that you basically think her book sucks because she needs to change a million things. But you did, and I love you for it. Us authors need to hear that. I can’t see what you see when I’m writing it. To me, it all jives because it was all my ideas. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to make the changes work, but alas, I did. And I thank you for tearing my shit up. Debi Barnes, where would I be without you to listen to me to ramble about all my different ideas, and then to talk myself out of them only moments later? You always say, “why do I feel like I’m not even needed or doing anything” but that’s so far beyond true. You help me way more than you realize. I appreciate you staying on my butt about keeping my weekly goal as well as always being there for me to bounce ideas off of. You helped patch together what I changed helping me make SMFM better. Elle Wilson, I had thought I was in the home stretch and then BAM, I got your notes lol. And what good notes they were. Those particular notes caused me to add an extra 6k. That stuff was needed, but I would have never thought to do it myself. So, thank you for seeing that I totally dropped Adyn and Tyler. You were right, I had. Evette Ashby- It’d be super cool if we were somehow related. Well, our husbands anyways. Thanks for reading SMFM for me and giving me your honest feedback. Thank you for everything else you do for me as well. I’m really glad we’ve become friends. Amber Vaughn and Jennie Wurtz—thank you ladies for your eyes and seeing things that my backwards talking and writing self don’t see. And thanks for the awesome teaser pics, Amber. Carrie Richardson-Horton, Jessica Carter, Danielle Hoover, Michelle Grad & Toski Covey, thank you ladies for taking time to read SMFM and letting me know that you enjoyed it and Holden!
Katie Mac Momma—Not only am I happy to call you SMFM’s editor, I’m also happy to call you my friend. I’ve enjoyed our lil chats here and there that we’ve shared. Thanks for your hard work, and only wanting me to be completely happy with the outcome. I truly am.
Angela McLaurin—Thanks for fitting me in your busy schedule…especially when I couldn’t even give you an exact date, but a time frame lol. I really appreciate you trusting me to stick to it, and not mess anything up on your end.
Eazy E’s, MoFo-er’s, Mari Brown & Juliana Cabrera—Thank you guys for all your mad pimping, encouragement and for just plan having my back during this crazy, fun journey. You will never know how much it means to me.
Thank you to all the bloggers who have read, shared teasers/excerpts/trailers/anything of mine at all, participated in any of my tours or blitzs, and have just been friends with me in general. Your support means the world and I literally mean when I say you guys make my world go round. I only hope our friendship grows as this journey continues.
A huge shout out to Ena Burnett who has continued to go above and beyond for me. Not only is she the baddest blog tour setter upper, she’s an amazing friend whom I adore and love!
To all my readers who have supported me from day one and the new ones to come, thank you! You have no idea what it does for me or any author when you love our characters and our stories. It blows my mind and I only hope to continue writing books that you will enjoy! Thanks for all the love and support!!
If I missed anyone, I’m truly sorry.
I will always thank my best fren, who has been by my side from the beginning. Without her, I would have never started writing. We started this journey together, and it’s been amazing to ride this coaster with her. I love you Nacole Stayton! Thanks for being the best, loyal friend I could ever have!!!
Special thanks again to my gorgeous cover models, Paul and Toski Covey. You truly brought my characters to life!
Being born an
"Army Brat", Erika Ashby has been residing in Oklahoma the last 10 years finally putting an end to the nomad tendencies she had grown accustomed to. She's a happily married woman who has five kids between her and her husband. She has an insane passion for music and embraces her Inner Groupie any chance she has. It wasn't until the age of 29 that she realized she also had a hidden passion for reading; before then she claimed to have hated it. Six months after unlocking that deep desire she never knew she held, she turned the key to another chapter of her life which has become the desire to write. And the rest is still history in the making.
Cover Photography by Toski Covey Photography-Cover Design
https://www.facebook.com/tcpdesign
Cover Design by Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear Creative Covers
https://www.facebook.com/PPCCovers
Editing by Kathryn McNeill Crane at Indie Express LLC
https://www.facebook.com/Indieexpress
Formatting by Angela McLaurin at Fictional Formats
https://www.facebook.com/FictionalFormats
Other Titles by Erika Ashby