Hey there,

Wow,

You guys really liked behind the scenes. So let me tell you another kernel to story background.

This one is about a story published in Calligraphy back in 2019, it was about a couple who won a small lottery - only around $7 million after taxes. Now you're snorting and rolling your eyes - seriously, she wrote a winning lottery story - how cliched.

And I supposed it’s not a unique premise, but that’s not always reason to discard an idea. But wait, let me tell you why I even thought to write such a story.

Back in 2019 I really got into budgeting, Dave Ramsey's babysteps and all that. It seemed like the answer to everything - someone mentioned money, and Dave Ramsey was my next word. (I’ve since graduated from Dave Ramsey and am a Ramit Sethi fan) I’m always uncomfortable with my obsessions though - they put blinders on us, and we see the world through a narrow lens. 

So I asked myself, what would happen if I had unlimited funds and didn’t “need” a budget, how would I be spending my money? I had such a sense of control with my expanding spreadsheets, but I wondered if it was hiding something.

As I tugged at that thread I realized that me and my husband would be spending our money very differently if it was unlimited, and it goes back to money psychology, layered with perceived values of what money is and isn’t, what it should and shouldn’t do.

So I took this revelation, did it to a couple, made their differences extreme, their circumstances demanding immediate attention, and voila - a lottery story. 

It’s not REALLY about winning the lottery - the lottery is just the catalyst. 

After this story was published a close friend called me and asked if I had used her as inspiration - because she was 100% the wife in that story. I laughed and told her nope, but seeing it struck a realistic chord was nice.

You can read this story, “Game of Chance” in my soon-to-be-released book.

You can sign up to be notified when it’s available here.

Take care,

-Esther