It’s My Publisher’s Fault
Guess who didn’t make it to soccer practice today?
My daughter, Zoe.
I have a fabulous idea. I’ll blame it on my publisher who lives far away. None of the soccer moms know her.
Forget that Zoe is having a playdate and would have to be forced into shinguards and cleats like a dog into a cage. Forget that I have to go to Target tonight to retrieve goods for a dinner party I’m hosting tomorrow. Forget that it’s witchy weather outside and I’m in the mood to write.
I can blame Nancy, because A Book is Born was delivered by the postman two hours ago, and I have been absorbed, moved by words, and inspired to the point that getting the book out of my hands would be like taking a T-bone away from a dog. It ain’t happenin’.
God, I wish I’d had this book prior to writing mine. And that is the beauty of the book, it has so much valuable advice and information that it will help someone like me. Someone who dreams of being published but is scared by the process. Someone who wants to speak to the world but is intimidated by the power of words and those who use them carelessly. Someone who feels something stirring inside them, literary quickening, if you will, and asks for a sign to dictate their writing destiny.
I’m done re-reading my input, shaking my head at the things I wonder if I should have said. Yes, I state that drinking wine helped me come up with a book idea. Yep, I can quote Animal House (and Bull Durham, and Field of Dreams, and Jaws, and Gone With The Wind…) word for word. But I’m not the Lindsay Lohan of the Co-Op. I speak Latin, as a matter of fact - in vino veritas. That means “In wine there is truth.” I have all sorts of inspirations and roads to what is within me, I don’t have to be sipping Chardonnay (although it helps, like the way some rock bands made better music when…nevermind) and I am no longer afraid to speak with brevity about who I am and how I create.
I’m not done re-reading the other authors’ input. They are fine people with character and experience in their voices and purpose in their messages. When I need another sign, I’ll refer to what they say in A Book is Born. We’ve all been brought together by Nancy and what a visionary she is…and how proud I am that my literary voice found a home in the publishing world, in MWPC, and right back into me where it is stronger than ever.
My daughter missed soccer practice. I’ve been in three books. It’s my publisher’s fault.
