Why I Started My Journey Books by Kim Grossman Finkel, Founder I believe we all have a story to tell. Some of us keep our stories to ourselves, and others share them with friends and confidants. Yet, some of us want to share our stories with the world—not because we seek fame and fortune, but because we hope that they will in some way touch the hearts of those who read them. I founded My Journey Books in January 2005, and I am proud to introduce its first publication, Billie’s World. This is the story of eleven-year-old Billie Louise Kramer, whose life is turned upside down by the shocking and painful news of her parents’ divorce. Billie’s World explores a variety of other issues that preteen girls confront each day: peer pressure, the fear of not fitting in, interest in boys, choosing supportive friends, trusting adults and trusting themselves. Billie’s open heart and resiliency help her through a year of change and uncertainty. Billie’s journey is based on my own experience as a child of divorce. Now, of course, I am an adult, but the voice of the little girl who was devastated by her parents’ decision to end their marriage still ripples inside me. Thanks to the support of a loving family and friends, I am able to share that young girl’s feelings through my protagonist, Billie Louise Kramer. The landscape of publishing is changing. Internet commerce offers writers a broad range of opportunities to publish their work and make it available to the public. It gives readers access to outstanding books by talented writers whose manuscripts would otherwise languish in piles on the desks of overworked agents and editors, never even getting a chance to be reviewed. With the help of a group of talented freelancers, many found via the Internet, this novel is now a reality. My journey continues. The exciting part is not knowing exactly which direction my path will take. Like every journey, it promises unpredictable highs and lows and exhilarating twists and turns. I’ve learned that there are hardly any certainties on this path—except that I will always have a story to tell.