I sure am glad I took the llama out.

‘Twas the day after Christmas
And, back in my house,
I opened the web
With a click of the mouse.

Barnes & Noble I surfed to,
But not for a Nook.
I had Christmas money
And wanted a book.

When, what to my wondering
Eyes should appear
But my very own novel.
And I thought, “How queer!

It’s not on its own page,
The virtual cellar.
Somehow it has gotten mixed
With the bestsellers.”

And there in my office
Arose such a clatter,
My husband sprang in to see
What was the matter.

He’d just settled down
For a long winter’s nap
But because I was screaming,
He made a screen-cap.

My novel FORGET YOU
Was at number nine!
Not at number one,
But I think nine is fine!

And later that day
As I thought, “Well, how great!”
I checked it again
And it climbed up to eight!

So what does this mean?
Well, to you, not so much.
I’m not getting contracts
And book tours and such.

When people are counting
The bestselling books,
Barnes and Noble dot com
Does not get many looks.

It isn’t Pub Weekly.
It isn’t the Times
Or that other paper.
It’s all in my mind.

And “bestselling author”
Won’t be on my covers
With titles and pictures
Of star-crossed teen lovers.

But to ME, it means YOU
Got a card in your stocking
And you thought of my book
When you went web-shopping.

It means that these young adult
Dramas I’m writing
Are what you are reading.
It’s very exciting!

‘Cause being an author
Is all very tough
But you bought my book.
I can’t thank you enough.

Well! That was last night
And I was in heaven.
This morning the book slipped
To number eleven.

Tomorrow to fifty
Or more it will go.
By this time next week
It will be very low.

But I will remember
This holiday season
And this nice surprise will be
Part of the reason.

Books come and go.
I know this is true.
You’ll forget me
But I won’t forget you.

Thank you *sniffle* and happy holidays!
Jenn