I Am Pleased To Announce…

I’m off the market.

No more freelance. No more contract work. No more consulting.

It started in 2005 when I agreed to write at a community based blog.

For free.

While I typed with one-hand and breastfed at the computer.

I grew my own blog. I grew my readers. I worked very, very hard and eventually made enough money monthly to pay my internet bill.

I was up late reading blogs, I was up late writing blogs, I was up late trying to figure out how all this online stuff gets monetized.

But I had faith. Something I don’t come by very easily.

I continued to work hard, I continued to grow my readers. And I started pitching projects and pitching panels at conferences and signing on to help start-ups, fellow bloggers, additional communities.

All with children under foot.

Usually typing one-handed and breastfeeding.

Always on my terms.

When I wanted. How I wanted.

All with nothing but faith.

It was not long before I became part of the fastest and largest growing population online and I was determined to see my friends and colleagues benefit right along with me. I hope that has been evident.

I still am very detrimined to see those benefits for my community. It’s not a job or work. It is a passion.

Which is why I am pleased to announce I’ve joined BlogHer as their Producer of Special Projects.

BlogHer CEO Lisa Stone told me years ago, her goal-BlogHer’s goal- was to empower women online. Not just in voice and reach, but also financially.

BlogHer has since met much of that goal with many of it’s members, myself just one.

I’m officially able to take care of my family, as a work-at-home mother.

That’s huge. And I hope many of you see how important that is…so I’m going to repeat it:

I’m officially able to take care of my family, as a work-at-home mother.

I can raise my children, and continue to raise some hell-online and off.

Next week I will travel with BlogHer to the Democratic National Convention and the following week to the Republican National Convention.

I will do my best to continue to make a difference for the now thousands of women I’ve gotten to know personally and those I hope to meet soon.

I’m excited about this new opportunity, and I hope you will follow my coverage from Denver, St. Paul, and beyond.

Erin Kotecki Vest

aka Queen of Spain