A Young Man's Souljourn
Unspeakable debilitating terror pushes Daniel to travel the multiverse in search of peace and joy, ultimately discovering that the answers to all his questions were in his heart all along.
Young people are faced with all kinds of turbulent experiences. So many of our children today are battling depression, anxiety and addiction. Suicide rates among children and young adults is skyrocketing. This is alarming. We must teach our young people that suffering is not necessary. We must teach them to wake up to their true light, to their divine potential!
This story is based on the real experiences of a young man who suffered an unspeakable life from a very early age. It was an age in which what he should have been experiencing was bedtime stories, birthday parties, and Little League. Instead, Daniel was repeatedly abused and neglected, eventually becoming a ward of the state of Massachusetts . . . a state that ultimately allows him to fall through the cracks.
His journey to enlightenment serves as an inspiration for all of humanity.
Within each of us lies an Essence that is powerful and wise and holds all the answers to every question we have. This Essence is located in our heart and it beats within us with an amazing and unlimited abundance of love; a love that cannot be explained in terms of our limited language. This Essence drives us to enter the physical realm so that we may experience life in its many dimensions. We choose this experience with wisdom and awareness. We choose it because we know that the physical realm, as painful as it often can be, allows us to expand and broaden our awareness. And we are all up for that! So we embark on life's journey filled with excitement and a sense of adventure. We experience birth into a physical body. But alas, an aspect of being born is that we forget we chose it all. We forget why we came here. We forget how powerful we are. We forget that we are here by choice. The experience of what happens to us next depends on how we decide to view what happens next.
Daniel is 10 when his mother remarries. Faced with an abusive stepfather, he begins to run away. At first he is gone for only a couple of days at a time but eventually he runs away for good by the time he is 13. Living on the streets is tough for a young boy, but living in a foster care environment that cares even less than an unforgiving street is way worse. He is beaten, tortured and sexually abused until his spirit can take no more. He finally breaks free from the foster care system and is taken in by his girlfriend's family where he finds solace and peace for the first time in oh so very long. But his life is yet very far from being normal.
By the time he is 15, Daniel becomes a father to a beautiful baby girl. He makes a new commitment to his life, tries to keep a job, tries to be normal, tries to stay off drugs. And although it somewhat changes his life, becoming a parent does not prevent him from going back to the streets in search of . . . something. He does not even know what he is searching for. He just knows that there is something "out there" that he badly needs and that is calling for him. Finally he decides that being a family man is too much for him. He is, after all, only 15.
For the next few years he lives a life of crime. He steals, he fights, he drinks, he does drugs. And he gets arrested . . . a lot. The anger inside of him is so big that he cannot carry it by himself. So he allows men to have their way with him in exchange for money and for food. His survival depends on the tricks he can turn on any given night. Always he is running. Always he is wondering why he has been forgotten. Always he is hurting because he feels unworthy and lost.
One night, in the midst of a drinking and drugging binge with friends, Daniel is the driver of a car speeding on I-95 in South Florida. He takes a Broward County jug handle exit at 75 miles an hour and the car flips. Bodies are ejected from the car and when all is said and done, there are numerous injuries and one lifeless body. The friends decide to tell the police that the dead friend was driving. Daniel avoids a DUI and a manslaughter charge. He is 19.
You may be thinking that Daniel's story is extreme. Maybe it is. But maybe, just maybe, it is a true reflection of the pain that exists in our world, a world that is struggling with understanding the meaning of life. A world in which most of us are more concerned about meeting the societal and cultural expectations imposed on us by the very illusion we have fabricated in our own moments of unconsciousness, than the truth that we are all beings of light here to experience love and grace.
If we could remember why we are here, if we could remember that our power lies within us, if we could remember that we are perfect reflections of divinity, perhaps we could stand up to suffering, declare ourselves sovereign, connect with the Light, be one with each other and enjoy the bliss that is available to us all.
Daniel spends many years in pain, sitting in jail cells, fighting heroin and crack addictions, and contemplating suicide. His pain is severe and he is daily disappointed that God allows him to continue living. But Daniel wakes the fuck up one day and realizes that he is not alone. He senses the spiritual guides that are protecting him. He connects with his innate knowing and he begins to believe in himself. Through a series of unbelievable synchronicities, he remembers who he is and why he is here. He makes peace with his mother, his father and even his stepfather. He remembers how he chose them to play out the scripts that he wrote for them. He owns his experiences, all of them. Daniel discovers the key that opens the door to peace. It was in front of his eyes all along.
He smiles as he sits in his cozy couch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The sun is setting and the colors are a magnificent orange pink. Tomorrow he is being interviewed by the press about the healing center he owns. Tucked away in a secluded section on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina, the center attracts thousands of visitors every year. People come from all over the world.
A hawk flies by his window and he is overwhelmed with the knowledge that as long as he continues to pay attention, and loves unabashedly, that everything will be alright in the world. A tear drops into his cup of tea and he closes his eyes to the highest frequency of all . . . oneness with Creation.
For this book the audience is Young Adults, ages 15 to 25. But the audience can include anyone who is searching for meaning in their life.
We will market the book to over 10,000 friends and connections on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
This novel is written in the spirit of The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, a New York Times Best Seller that inspired both authors and that eventually was made into a movie.
CEO and entrepreneur, Lily is a skilled reader of Akashic Records and is dedicated to helping us remember who we are and why we are here. She witnesses sacred healing.
This novel is based on the true story of Shawn's life. Raised in the suburbs of New England, Shawn escaped a home where abuse was the daily meal and lived on the streets for several years. His experience as a teenage runaway was horrific. But he survived because of his warrior mentality and because of the spiritual guides that eventually led him to the life of a healer that he is now stepping into. His healing is humanity's healing.
500 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for fiction, non-fiction, and children's book genres, all having one thing in common: an individual's originality and hardship.
Black Rose Writing is an independent publishing house that strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors. The Texas-based publishing company doesn't see authors as clients or just another number on a page, but rather as individual people who deserve an honest review of their material and to be paid traditional royalties without ever paying any fees to be published. We are proud members of IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association), a recognized ITW (International Thriller Writers) publisher, members of Publishers Marketplace, and currently serving on the Ingram Publisher Advisory Board.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Sunbury Press, Inc., headquartered in Mechanicsburg, PA is a publisher of hardcover, trade paperback, and eBooks featuring established and emerging authors in many categories. Sunbury's books are sold through leading booksellers worldwide. We are a traditional royalty-paying trade publisher.
Agora Publishing is a Canada-based not-for-profit organization, founded in 1997 with the aim of making book publishing accessible to all writers across Canada and internationally.
We are the only hybrid book publisher which is also a cable TV show producer; newspaper publisher; social media marketer and search engine marketing organization.
Do you have a Twitter following of at least 5000?
We will interview eligible authors for 15 minutes for our cable TV show broadcast.
If your raw interview footage generates at least 1000 views within a four day period, we will air your interview on our cable TV show.
Contact us for more information.
Applications are due Saturday, May 29, 2021.
#authors #bookmarketing #writers #tv
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Anaphora Literary Press was started in 2009 and publishes fiction, short stories, creative and non-fiction books. Anaphora has exhibited its titles at SIBA, ALA, SAMLA, and many other international conventions. Services include book trailers, press releases, merchandise design, book review (free in pdf/epub) submissions, proofreading, formatting, design, LCCN/ISBN assignment, international distribution, art creation, ebook (Kindle, EBSCO, ProQuest)/ softcover/ hardcover editions, and dozens of other components included in the basic package.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Atlantic Publishing has been providing millions of readers information to jumpstart their careers, start businesses, manage employees, invest, plan for retirement, learn technologies, build relationships, and live rewarding, fulfilling lives. Our award-winning authors and publication staff strive to make our products the best and most up-to-date available. We go further than most publishers to get our customers the best products.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Ballast Books is a full-service hybrid publisher that handles all aspects of book creation, design, publishing, marketing, distribution, and platform building. We help our authors sell more books, secure more keynotes, do more consulting, earn more customers, and book more media appearances.
We want to work with the best of the best: Former Special Operations Forces, CEOs, big thinkers, industry-leading experts. Top-performing people with experiences worth sharing and skills that translate into a larger message and goal.
We've seen particular success with military memoirs, but we've also recently hired a children's book specialist, so we run the spectrum of genres. We're a small but growing team and take pride in dedicating more time and energy to all our authors than traditional publishers.
500 copies • Complete manuscript.
Blooming Twig is an award-winning boutique publishing house, media company, and thought leadership marketing agency. Based in New York City and Tulsa, we have represented and re-branded hundreds of thought leaders, published more than 400 titles in all genres, and built up a like-minded following for authors, speakers, trainers, and organizations with our bleeding-edge marketing strategies. Blooming Twig is about giving the people with something to say (“thought leaders”) a platform, walking its clients up to their own influencer pulpit, and making sure there is a like-minded crowd assembled to hear the meaningful message.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Boyle & Dalton was founded in 2014 and publishes works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The world of publishing is changing, we're changing with it. Our founder Brad Pauquette, conceptualized a hybrid model that balances the financial and rights model of self-publishing with the quality controls and production excellence of a traditional publisher. Our designers and editors produce exceptional books that are distributed in both print and digital formats to all major retailers, including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Boyle & Dalton carefully consider all submissions for publication, based on manuscript quality. We do not accept erotica or children's books.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Cranthorpe Millner operates a hybrid publishing model. This means, should an author pass our editors’ strict filtering system, we can offer different kinds of agreements depending on the author and the manuscript. With some authors, we work under a ‘traditional’ model, whereby we cover the full cost of publication and the author is offered industry-standard royalties (8-10%). To some authors, we offer what we call a partnership or contributory agreement, whereby the author is asked for a financial contribution so that we may share the risk and enter into a partnership together to publish the author’s book. In this case, the author receives around 60-75% royalties.
Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor specializing in developing independent authors and thought leaders. We designed our publishing model to support the independent author and to make it possible for writers to retain the rights to their work and still compete with the major publishing houses. We have the capability to take your book idea through full project development and production all the way to bookstore shelves. Our award-winning team works with you to create an exceptional book and design a custom-built strategy to ensure its success in the retail market.
Thousands of projects later and with over 50 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, our award-winning editorial and design, robust marketing, and expert distribution capabilities have led to partnerships with some of the most influential thought leaders and independent publishers worldwide. Greenleaf’s hybrid publishing model is uniquely positioned to offer the benefits of both traditional and self-publishing. We provide you with unmatched publishing and distribution services; you keep creative control, intellectual property, and most of the royalties.
When we accept a title for publication or distribution, we assign it to one of our imprints. Though production work is the same for all imprints, our imprint recommendation determines our distribution and marketing strategies based on genre, author platform, and demand-generation plan. Our world-class imprints are Greenleaf Book Group Press (our flagship imprint), River Grove Books (our digital-first imprint), Fast Company Press (our imprint partnership with Fast Company Magazine), An Inc. Original (our print partnership with Inc. Magazine), and BrainTrust Ink (our imprint partnership with BrainTrust).
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Hybrid Global Publishing is a full service Hybrid Publishing Company dedicated to helping authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs get their message out by writing and publishing a book. We offer developmental editing, publishing, distribution, and marketing services for independent authors who are interested in speaking on stage, becoming more visible in the media, and establishing more credibility. The team has a combined 80 years of experience in publishing and has held editorial, management and marketing positions at major publishing houses, including The Free Press, Crown, Random House, and Avon.
100 copies • Partial manuscript.
Inside Edge Publishing works with our writers every step of the way on their literary journey, helping to bring out the most from their work. From an idea and rough draft to editing and publication, Inside Edge Publishing helps our authors produce high quality, interesting and entertaining books. We are looking for innovative writing in just about any genre but love memoirs, thrillers, sci-fi, business, and motivational books just to name a few. Our books frequently appear on the bestseller lists and our authors are among some of the best known in their genre. At Inside Edge Publishing, we believe that every author has a story to tell and that every story deserves to be told.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Isabella Media Inc is a Rhode Island-based, family-owned, mainline publishing organization with a mission to discover unknown stories. We combine unknown or little known authors’ undiscovered potential with Isabella Media Inc’s unique approach to publishing to provide the highest quality books to readers about stories they may not find anywhere else. It’s our desire to find unique stories that drive us.
Mascot Books is a full-service hybrid publisher dedicated to helping authors at all stages of their publishing journey create a high-quality printed or digital book that matches their vision. With comprehensive editorial, design, marketing, production, and distribution services, our authors have the support of an experienced publishing team while still retaining one of the highest royalty percentages in the business.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Motivational Press is a top publisher today in providing marketing and promotion support to our authors. Our authors get favorable rates for purchasing their own books and higher than standard royalties. Our team is at the forefront of technology and offers the most comprehensive publishing platform of any non-fiction publishing house including print, electronic, and audiobook distribution worldwide. We look forward to serving you.
The History
Prodigy Publishing Group was founded in 2009 and has been steadily publishing distinguishable trade paperback fiction since. Its flagship imprint Prodigy Gold Books is spearheading its journey with a fall 2017 line up that includes four novels by four authors sure to delight readers. Prodigy Gold Books is dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics and genres.
The Mission
Our mission is to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—both fiction and nonfiction genres.
250 copies • Completed manuscript • Looking for novels that capture the arcing collision of expectation and sudden challenge.
Founded in 2015, Thea Press is an independent book publisher committed to helping nurture hidden stories and narratives to birth. We serve authors who are skilled observers and subverters of the status quo. Thea Press authors cut through what one expects to see in order to give a taste, sound, touch, and smell of the unexpected. We are midwives of the stories birthed not by the God of the mainstream whom we've been taught and sometimes forced to know, but by the Goddess who reveals herself to those whose senses are keen and hearts are open.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Atmosphere Press is an independent publisher dedicated to author rights. We publish in all genres and have an exceptional editorial, design, and promotional staff. We stand for Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, and Kindness. We want our authors and their readers to be blown away when they first hold that book in their hands. It needs to look good inside and out, and feel good to the touch. And, of course, the words need to be top-notch, and our editors are devoted to making that the case.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Authors Unite helps you become a profitable author and make an impact. We take care of printing and distribution through major online retailers, developmental editing, and proofreading with unlimited revisions. We take care of the entire process for you from book cover design all the way to set up your backend so all your book royalties go straight to your bank account. We can also help with ghostwriting if you prefer not to have to figure out all the steps on how to write a book yourself.
With our book marketing services, you don’t need to worry about figuring out all the steps on how to market a book or how to become a bestselling author. We’ve helped hundreds of authors become bestselling authors on Amazon, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. We take care of the entire book launch process for you to help you sell thousands of copies of your book and become a bestselling author.
View case studies here: https://authorsunite.com
100 copies • Partial manuscript.
Bookmobile provides book printing, graphic design, and other resources to support book publishers in an ever-changing environment. Superior quality, excellent customer service, flexibility, and timely turnarounds have attracted nearly 1,000 satisfied clients to Bookmobile, including trade houses, university presses, independent publishers, museums, galleries, artists, and more. In addition, we manage eBook conversions and produce galleys, and regularly provide short-run reprints of 750 copies or fewer for major publishers such as Graywolf Press.
Looking for all types of books, including fiction, children's books, health, memoir, business books, and cookbooks
Bright Communications LLC is a woman- and veteran-owned custom publisher in Hellertown, PA. Founding CEO Jennifer Bright is a Book Doula, whose passion is helping authors bring their books to life. Our team of expert editorial, design, and marketing pros help authors go from idea to completed books and retain 100% of the rights to their work. We also offer four custom publishing packages and a $1900 self-publishing assist program.
100 copies • Completed manuscript.
eBooks2go, Inc. was founded in 2011 to provide the missing link for all your publishing needs. Our end-to-end solutions provide the guidance and support that enable publishers and independent authors to pursue their passions. To date, we have helped more than 1,000 authors and 250 publishers worldwide. We offer an array of simple and affordable solutions to assist self-publishing authors at every stage of the book publishing process. Our comprehensive service offering includes editing, print and eBook production, book marketing, cover designs, ISBN registration, and even website designs. We are a single source for all of your publishing needs.
Gladiator Publishing Co. has held a reputation in the Literary Industry for nearly 100 Years as a Writer-Loyal company. Nearly 100-years later, Gladiator Publishing Company still maintains that strong characteristic. We place our Authors publications first and foremost. You may hear many other "Publishing entities" state that they are "the first" to do this or the "originator/pioneer" of that. If everyone is using the same marketing, promotional, and advertising pipelines what makes them so original?
As the proud recipients of six-awards in 2018 for our innovative marketing techniques, media outreach, extremely low budget compared to the Global Industry Standard (72-83% cheaper), and an Author-inclusive style, it is no wonder we are the #1 Requested Publishing Service on the East Coast. We are staffed with industry-specific professionals that are dedicated to market and brand development.
Full Editing Services (substantive, copy, formatting, proofreading, story flow, line) are INCLUDED in the price. No hidden fees, no extra cost for something that Publishing Services should be more than happy to provide to benefit the manuscripts success. The industry has turned toward greed and away from literature. It's sick and inappropriate, it's ok to agree, they know it too.
Maintain 100% of your royalties in all formats.
Maintain 100% of your Copyrights, Intellectual Property, and Creative Control.
You be the Author and we'll be the Publisher.
Happy Writings!!
100 copies • Completed manuscript.
Happy Self Publishing has helped 500+ authors to get their books self-published, hit the #1 position in the Amazon bestseller charts, and also establish their author website & brand to grow their business. And the best thing is, we do all this without taking away your rights and royalties. Let's schedule a call to discuss the next steps in your book project: www.meetme.so/jyotsnaramachandran
Ingram is a rather large company with several different divisions and supplies books to bookstores and libraries in over 200 countries around the world. Ingram also has a print on demand digital printing company, Lightning Source. IngramSpark is the platform that combines those two services together. At IngramSpark, we work with authors and independent publishers to print their books for orders they need (no minimum order) and we have a way to list the books as available for sale to all of Ingram’s 39,000+ customers- distributors, bookstores, retail outlets, libraries, etc., so you never miss a sale. You would provide us with the print-ready digital files (one for the cover and one for the interior) and we print the books as they are sold through our distribution partner’s websites. We pay you for those sales approximately 90 days later. The compensation you earn is based on the retail price you set, minus the wholesale discount you offer our distribution partners, minus the print cost.
Get your ebooks into the biggest stores and keep the 100% of your royalties. Amazon, Apple iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, Nook by Barnes & Noble and more.
Chapter 4
To be Gay or Not to Be Gay
Penthouses are beautiful things. This particular one overlooks Biscayne Bay and the city of Miami. Daniel’s “one-night stand” man slides his sweaty body off of him and goes to the bathroom to blow his nose. They have been partying that night and for sure overdone it with the cocaine. Daniel feels a chill as he lies there and pulls the soft white sheet up to his chin.
Like with most penthouses, there are a lot of windows and they are big. He's always fantasized about a house with a lot of windows, especially big ones where you can see the whole world and where the light of the whole world can shine into your room. Over to his right and away from the bathroom door is a sole open window. A soft spring breeze blows one of the linen curtains in and out of the pane. He can see the city lights and the glitter of the moonlight bouncing off the water. If he gets up on his knees in the bed, he can probably see the marina and all its wondrous sailboats and yachts rocking back and forth in their docks.
It is about 2:30am and he knows he has to leave soon. This one-night stand is a far cry from the tricks he’s been messing with and he feels uneasy, as if he’s done something wrong, like he has maybe made a mistake. It is one thing to sleep with a man for money, another altogether to sleep with a man that had picked him up in a bar earlier that night but where there is no intention to pay one cent. Does this mean he is gay? He really does like girls, a lot. What is he doing here with this adonis with the broad shoulders and sandy gray curly locks?
The cocaine is racing through his brain and he wants to fly out of there. But he is immobilized under the sheets. A profound fear begins to take him over. His heart is speeding a million miles an hour. He is terrified. He hears the flushing of the toilet and then Mike's footsteps as he is heading back to the bed. Thoughts of robbing him and choking him to death grip his mind.
And then out of nowhere...
Hi everyone.
In this moment I don't know, really, what to say to you. But let me start by saying that Shawn and I did …
Hi everyone!
Shawn and I are thinking of you all and feeling deep appreciation for your support of Wake the Fuck Up, our upcoming book. So much …
Hi everyone!!
We hope you are doing really well. Have you been waking the fuck up in your life through all the craziness that is …
We hit our goal and even surpassed it! We will be showcased to 77 publishers!! We are beyond excited!
We cannot thank you enough for …
We want to thank you ALL for supporting this campaign!! To Abadia, Andrew K., Andrew P., Anita, Arturo, Belinda, Bonnie, Brandi, Brittny, Carrie, Charlene, Chloe, Claire, Claudia, Clay, Cyndi, Dan, …
In 1994 Shawn and I became great friends. He would tell me about his life and what he went through and I couldn't believe he …
I know this book will have a profound impact on healing our world.
I'm so thrilled for you. Can't wait to read it!
thank you for reaching out...
Simply brave and I'm certain will lend healing and understanding to others. I love witnessing others embrace and celebrate their own power!
Looking forward to read your book ! And do a book signing together one day :)
Thank you all for your beautiful words and your support. Love, Lily
Looking forward to reading this fascinating story!!
So excited! looking forward to hearing and so thankful for the release from those painful years for him.
This is really amazing Lily. Yes!! Much love and hugs full of Luz.❤️
Best of luck!
A bold, brave and beautiful venture for both of you! Thank you for this work in healing and elevation of a collective soul journey. Much Love soul sistar xoxo
Looking forward to reading your words of wisdom!
Love you Lily!
Congrats Pily. I am sure it will be a total success. Very proud to be your cousin and cousin in law. Love U. Nori and Lucho
Can't wait to get the book! Let me know how I can help you promote pre-sales. Regards, Fab.
Wishing you every success with this book & beyond. Thank you for helping us all to wake the fuck up!! Brightest Blessings! xoxo
Good luck with the book!
Congratulations
Can't wait to read it Lily! Love, Linda
After reading the synopsis I'm hooked and very intrigued! Can't wait to get the book and finish reading it! Michelle H.
I'm so proud of you momma!!
This is amazing Lily! Sending all positive energy, love, and light and holding this intention for you and Shawn. Proud of you! Anita
Can't wait to read this!
So excited to read
I can't wait to receive my copy!
Love you! You go girl!
I'm looking forward to a good read
Lool forward to the read
Good luck lovely Lily
Love you amazing woman!
Wanted to do the $10 but something went wrong
Good luck Lilly!!! xxx
Lily, Dios te bendiga y este libro llegue a todos los corazones que lo necesiten.. y que vengan muchos más....
Thanks Lily! Looking forward to it :)
I am so excited Lily!!
Great job, Pili
whishing you to be successful .....😘💕
Thank you Lily for your inspiration! You are a warrior of light.
Can't wait to read it!
You write with such insight & heart. Can't wait!
Congratulations <3
So proud of you and I cannot wait to read it!
$5
39 readers
Get the digital version of the book plus a copy of "Release All Your Worries," a guided meditation.
Includes:
$10
20 readers
A signed copy of the book plus receive the DreamWorker™ Protocol & Technique, a step by step instructional guide on how to use your dreams for discovering your purpose and getting the answers to every question you have about life.
Includes:
$20
14 readers
2 copies of the book with both authors' signature and a personalized message from each AND 1 live conversation with either author.
Includes:
$30
9 readers
Get free admission to our online "Remember Who You Are Through Your Akashic Records" workshop + 3 copies of the book, signed by both authors!
Includes:
$50
11 readers
You will want to give this book to every young person in your life as a gift. Order 10 copies and save a bunch of money. Every copy signed by both authors. Plus get a mini Akashic Records Reading (20 minutes).
Includes:
$75 Sold out
3 readers
Order 12 copies and save tons of money. Every copy signed by both authors. Plus, you will receive a free 1 hour Akashic Records Reading ($150 value) - learn about your mission here on Earth!
Includes:
on Aug. 6, 2017, 11:27 p.m.
Thank you so much, Lily....