Chain of Command

I get really excited about mail. I love getting cards and packages, no matter how trivial. Today I got a package from my best friend Colby, who's mail is always exciting (for example, I never know when I'm going to get a sheet full of stickers with captions from her...). Instead of another sticker sheet for my collection, today's package contained her brand new debut novel! (Cue oohs and ahhs here.)

Let me back up and say that I have now known Colby for 6 years. I'm sure I mentioned before that we met doing theatre back in Macon, GA, and quickly became codependent...weirdly I compare us to Shawn and Gus from Psych and also Turk and JD from Scrubs. Anyway, it wasn't long before she shared her writing with me. At the time, Chain of Command wasn't written yet, but the stories I did read were very good. I immediately knew she could succeed one day and she continued to send me her manuscripts chapter by chapter. And now here I am cheering for her and her success!

Chain of Command is a thriller about a reporter who uncovers a conspiracy to launch the first woman into presidency. The first chapter will grab you with simultaneous assassinations of two major political figures (even the first chapter has spoilers!) and the chapters that follow are filled with twists and turns and surprises...right up until the big shocker at the very end. There's no doubt in mind that this won't be the last book she publishes and I'm excited for her continued success. I've loved watching her journey from book to book to conferences to agents to publishing companies, to becoming friends with famous authors...I admire her for her perseverance and the fact that she never gave up. I know I couldn't have done it. Congratulations, Colby Marshall - my friend, my twin, my codependent partner, my wife, a badass, and now a published author. I love you!