When my friends suggested I turn my collection of crazy dating stories into a book, I rose to the challenge. I thought it would be great to write a novel, and I certainly had a lot of material.

I never expected it to change my life so profoundly.

It took two years from when I typed the first words to when I sold the first copy of "Confessions of a Frog Kisser." During that time I grew and matured in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

In telling my funny dating stories, I ended up exploring a life-long pattern of choosing bad relationships. Writing it down in all its brutal honesty forced me to examine my life. It was a soul-cleansing experience. The process of writing a novel in which my heroine needed to go through a transformation made me go through a transformation. I discovered why I choose bad relationships and figured out how to stop doing it (as did my heroine). It was amazing.

And it got better. Writing the book was only the beginning.

After many query letters to agents, I opted to self publish my novel. I chose this because I realized I didn’t care so much about large distribution and fame; I just wanted my story out in the universe. Self publishing was a good option for me.

I was unprepared for how naked and vulnerable I would feel once the book was public. I have never been so far outside my comfort zone in my life. Strangers were reading my story and telling me what a difference it made for them. Some people pitied me, knowing that the book was semi-autobiographical. But all this gave me a strength I didn’t know I had. I felt fearless in all aspects of my life. If I could bare my soul and withstand the scrutiny, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

Ironically, in publicizing my book about life as a single girl, I met a wonderful man who thought I was amazing. We were married a year after we met.

So to anyone who has ever contemplated writing a book, I say do it! No matter what happens, the process will transform you and it will be well worth it.