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KYRA DAVIS

New York Times bestselling author of Just One Night

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KYRA DAVIS

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Paying Paul Without Robbing Peter

So yesterday I leased a new car.

Maybe that doesn't sound shocking to you but for me it's rather monumental. I have never had a new car, EVER. I have always bought used cars, frequently from family members or friends, occasionally from strangers and once from a VERY small, independent used car dealer (I think there were a total of ten cars on the lot). I've never walked into a new car dealership and said, "I want a new car."

When I got my divorce over a decade ago I didn't think I would EVER be able to do that. Trying to financially rebuild from the ruin of my first marriage was daunting...at times it seemed impossible.

And the truth is, until recently I didn't have much income coming in. There were some years that were significantly better than others but not so much better that they compensated for the tougher times. My economic challenges were somewhat compounded by the fact that my son has never been the kind of kid who's well served by the public school system (and trust me, we tried it more than once).*  But paying private school tuition, even with financial aide, was insanely difficult. I did it but it came very close to breaking me.

And then things just...changed. Most of that change is due to JUST ONE NIGHT. The phenomenal success of those novellas has turned my life upside down...in a good way. My finances are now officially in order. So when I walked into the Toyota dealership and said, "I think I'd like to lease a Prius." They checked out my income and all the rest of it and said, "Okay."

"Okay." NEVER thought a car dealership would say "Okay," to me, just like that. I was totally ready to bring a co-signer on board. But I didn't have to. Not at all.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not rich. I'm nowhere near the threshold I'd have to cross to be part of the infamous-but-coveted-Top-Two-Percent. But I'm not struggling either...and for me that's completely new. Every time I'm presented with evidence that I can now live a comfortable, middle class lifestyle, complete with a reliable car and yearly vacation, I am literally sent into a state of shock for about ten minutes. Frequently it's the little things that get me. Like when my laptop started to crash with increasing regularity I bought a brand new Macbook. Just like that. I didn't have to charge it and pay it off over months and months. Nope. I just bought it outright. And not the cheapest one but the one I actually wanted. Or how 'bout the fact that I can now donate a little something to my favorite nonprofit. Or that I can lease a new car!

But the thing is, I actually needed a new car. My old car is 11 years old and has well over 200,000 miles on it. I'm practically on a first name basis with all the folks over at AAA. So this wasn't a luxury purchase. And note that I didn't get a Tesla, I got a Prius.

And I shop at Trader Joe's rather than the notoriously expensive Whole Foods. And when I saw that ADORABLE Marc Jacobs handbag on sale at a local boutique I didn't buy it (that one was a little painful). I'm incredibly grateful that I'm no longer on the brink of bankruptcy and I'm so THRILLED that I'm no longer robbing Peter to pay Paul (in this case Paul would be a nickname for my son's private school). But my success is so new it still feels a little tenuous. I just know too many authors who went out and bought Mercedes after the runaway success of a book only to have that Mercedes repossessed three years later. Hopefully my financial good fortune will last for a while but no matter what I need to be careful and I need to ease into this new reality.

In a weird way, I don't fully know how not to struggle.

But I gotta tell ya, even while being careful, I'm having a lot of fun figuring it out. My Prius rocks.
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* Before I start getting angry emails, this is not a slight against public schools, I'm just saying that it doesn't fit every kid's emotional and cognitive needs. So everybody chill ;-)
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10 comments :

  1. Marla MartensonMonday, August 5, 2013 at 4:42:00 PM PDT

    I am so happy for you Kyra! You deserve it. xxxooo

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  2. UnknownMonday, August 5, 2013 at 5:11:00 PM PDT

    I do not know you personally but I am very happy for you for I too am struggling to work my way out of poverty :)

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  3. UnknownMonday, August 5, 2013 at 5:46:00 PM PDT

    So happy for your Kyra, you deserve your good fortune, you have given so many of us many hours of pleasure reading and like you being a single mom isn't easy and especially when your child needs more care, I know that too, Just enjoy the ride and keep writing and we will keep supporting you, take care, hugs Patti

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  4. Anita RexMonday, August 5, 2013 at 7:15:00 PM PDT

    That's awesome! :> No new car here yet! But were also sending two kids to private school, and it's worth every penny and I get it... :>

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  5. kyradavisMonday, August 5, 2013 at 9:44:00 PM PDT

    Yes, it does frequently feel like poverty is never more than one private school tuition check away...but even when that was the case it's totally worth it. My son's doing fantastically well...now I just have to work to get to the point where I feel comfortable getting that purse! 😛

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  6. dawndieTuesday, August 6, 2013 at 4:43:00 AM PDT

    Congrats. I can relate, I have 3 kids in private schools. I'm a stay-at-home mom (at least until this Thursday....I got a great part-time job with 'Mom' hours! Yea!) The public school system in my New England city is not a viable option for academic success for my kids. That being said, I do volunteer with the public school system and am armpits deep in helping to shape realistic and 'doable' policies that will serve all of our students and not violate the taxpayers more than usual.

    Thanks for sharing about your new-found sense of financial security. It's always great to hear success stories, from women especially, that are a result of hard work and dedication.

    No disclaimer is needed to justify a decision to do what is best for your child.

    Enjoy the Prius!

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  7. Danielle ToddTuesday, August 6, 2013 at 5:24:00 AM PDT

    Congratualtions! It must be so gratifying to reap the rewards of all of that hard work. Enjoy your new wheels!

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  8. Ken GreenTuesday, August 6, 2013 at 8:12:00 PM PDT

    As many before me have said: YOU (and Isaac) DESERVE IT (yes, I know that I just 'yelled' that, but that was intentional too.)!!!

    Also, as mentioned previously, you have brought so many hours of pleasure to the rest of us, it's about time they you (and, by extension, yours) deserve every pleasure (minor or major) that you get. And I'll add one more 'yell' here: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    Ken Green,
    Houston, Tx

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  9. AnonymousWednesday, August 7, 2013 at 10:56:00 PM PDT

    Congrats on the lease of a new car. Glad everything in your life is running more smoothly now. You did a great job raising your son, now with our fiance's help around. Things will only continue to be better. Can't wait for your next book!

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  10. Melame JenkinsWednesday, August 21, 2013 at 11:55:00 AM PDT

    Reading this made me smile from ear to ear. It's just such a nice thing to hear. I'm so happy for you. You deserve it.

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ALSO BY KYRA DAVIS

Just One Night Trilogy

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ABOUT KYRA DAVIS

I'm the internationally published author of the Sophie Katz mystery series, and So Much For My Happy Ending. My first Erotic Fiction Trilogy will be released in January 2013.

Aside from that, I'm a single mom; I'm addicted to coffee and True Blood (the show, not the drink). I'm happy with who I am yet I’m always striving to be better; I have more bad hair days than good ones, I love a challenge but I am not fearless, I’m….well…just me.

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