And the sign said... That our book Sirenz would get published. Really. So many times Nat & I would see something that directly related to our book, and Natalie said THE UNIVERSE (she used big letters when saying it) was giving us a sign that the book would get picked up. Me-the naysayer and skeptic-wanted proof. So THE UNIVERSE is proving it to me almost on a daily basis. Don't believe? Here's an example of what I mean; Visiting my parents in Albany, NY, we took a leisurely boat ride up the Hudson. Along comes a sleek boat... named Sirena.
Still skeptical? I'm thumbing through the newspaper, and Grecian goddess dresses are now the trend. (Our book deals with Greek mythology if you didn't pick up on the 'siren' theme). Want more? Turn on the tv and it's about the Greek pantheon (Hades specifically, who's a major character in the book. Ooh, almost scary.) There seemed to be so many, we decided to keep a list. Here are some more:
*Driving to Philadelphia to see my surgeon, I pass Castor Street (Greek demi-god who appears in book 2, Sirenz, Back in Fashion).
*Nat & I are Christmas shopping. We walk into a store and see a Starbuck's coffeecup ornament with Nat's character's name on it- Meg. And next to it is an ornament of a big diamond ring in a Tiffany blue box. (Read the book, it'll make sense).
*Swarovski debuts a red shoe charm (seen the Sirenz cover?)
*Benjamin Franklin is on the cover of Publisher's Weekly just as I write him into book two.
*Flux publishes a book by an author named 'Margaret Wiley' which is Nat's character's full name.
*Pandora (the charm store) moves into the mall as we write about Pandora in book two.
It's hard to keep track of them all. And they keep on coming. It's almost as if THE UNIVERSE wants to make sure I'm really convinced that our book will be successful. (Of course a sign that shows monetary success, like being approved for a no limit Amex would be appreciated.) The fact that we're seeing signs that are related to all three books only further convinces me. (We have plans for a fourth, but so far haven't seen any signs, but that could be because we haven't written it, and only have a brief idea what it's going to be about.)
Nat has her own list of signs; some of them I wouldn't notice but she picks up on their meaning. (I'll let her explain it in her blog.) So, besides my family and friends insisting we'll see success, I have the cosmos giving me a little pep talk and morale boost every time I turn around. I'm cool with that; I have the heavens as my personal cheering section.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sticks and Stones...
It's every writer's nightmare- THE REVIEW. We hope for them, fret over them, then cry because of them. Very few writers (and I am not one of the fortuitous few) get glowing reviews.
Yeah, your mother always spit out that stupid, lame saying "sticks and stones can hurt you, but words never will." I'm not sure about that.
With the world gone Politically Correct crazy, everyone's afraid of saying the WRONG THING, even if it has a ring of truth.
Except critics. They can sear our souls, devastate our self confidence with a well honed cut. That's their job. Someone's got to do critiques the same way someone's got to empty the septic tank, or pick up dead deer off the road or remove a diseased limb. To us it may seem terrible, but it's a job that someone's going to do.
And, not to defend a gleeful critic, but get over it. You'll survive.
This classic children's book which has sold to many generations all over the world (I was never crazy about it) was described by Eyal Amiran from the University of California, Irvine as "strong schmaltz:" the book- The Little Prince.
His book was labeled "the usual fantasy storyline" with "some depth" and "emotional issues." Doesn't sound like an impressive book to me--except the book was The Lord of the Rings. Gazillions of reprints, movies, tee shirts, video games and what not later, it's still a best selling book. Who knew? Guess not the critic.
Tom LeClair from the University of Cincinnati nominated The Great Gatsby as "the worse novel in American literature." If it was so bad, then why the hell did I have to read it both in high school and several colleges?
Jane, a critic on the website Dear Author, writes"...I wonder how many people would have glommed onto the series after reading this mess of a story..." She was talking about the mega selling Twilight series.
After the enduring the heartbreak of rejection from editors and agents, now you have to suck up bad reviews. It's going to happen. Realize you can find a bad review for any author--from the Bible to Shakespeare to Dan Brown to Dr. Suess. And you can justify the dissing your book got by telling yourself, "They just don't get it" and I believe that. Anything by D.H. Lawrence gives me a headache because I just don't get why everyone thinks any of his boring tomes are a classic. Or, you can say "It was probably a guy/gal who read my story about a gal/guy and couldn't relate. I have to fess up that the Halo apocalyptic series leave me staring stupidly about, dazed from all the killing, maiming, and blowing up, and then shell shocked with the descriptions of all the weapons that kill, maim and blow up.
You can have a hundred reasons why the review was unjustified, unearned, unfair, unsympathetic, uncorroborated, yada yada. But look at it this way; you were NOTICED. There are some New York Times bestselling authors (and I know them but don't ask who), who never got reviewed. Maybe the reviewers thought the work wasn't good OR bad enough to waste their time to review. Ouch.
No matter what, you'll probably come across a bad review during your writing, performing, acting, or any other career where you invite people to express their opinion on how well they think you did what you do. It's part of the publishing game, and I tell myself that talent is in the mind of the beholder. Just because one critic doesn't agree doesn't mean everyone else will feel the same, which happens a more often than people realize. Rave and rant (quietly, in your home, with no one around to bear witness) to get it out of your system. Then keep on writing and promoting and signing your book.
Some of us will just love it.
Yeah, your mother always spit out that stupid, lame saying "sticks and stones can hurt you, but words never will." I'm not sure about that.
With the world gone Politically Correct crazy, everyone's afraid of saying the WRONG THING, even if it has a ring of truth.
Except critics. They can sear our souls, devastate our self confidence with a well honed cut. That's their job. Someone's got to do critiques the same way someone's got to empty the septic tank, or pick up dead deer off the road or remove a diseased limb. To us it may seem terrible, but it's a job that someone's going to do.
And, not to defend a gleeful critic, but get over it. You'll survive.
This classic children's book which has sold to many generations all over the world (I was never crazy about it) was described by Eyal Amiran from the University of California, Irvine as "strong schmaltz:" the book- The Little Prince.
His book was labeled "the usual fantasy storyline" with "some depth" and "emotional issues." Doesn't sound like an impressive book to me--except the book was The Lord of the Rings. Gazillions of reprints, movies, tee shirts, video games and what not later, it's still a best selling book. Who knew? Guess not the critic.
Tom LeClair from the University of Cincinnati nominated The Great Gatsby as "the worse novel in American literature." If it was so bad, then why the hell did I have to read it both in high school and several colleges?
Jane, a critic on the website Dear Author, writes"...I wonder how many people would have glommed onto the series after reading this mess of a story..." She was talking about the mega selling Twilight series.
After the enduring the heartbreak of rejection from editors and agents, now you have to suck up bad reviews. It's going to happen. Realize you can find a bad review for any author--from the Bible to Shakespeare to Dan Brown to Dr. Suess. And you can justify the dissing your book got by telling yourself, "They just don't get it" and I believe that. Anything by D.H. Lawrence gives me a headache because I just don't get why everyone thinks any of his boring tomes are a classic. Or, you can say "It was probably a guy/gal who read my story about a gal/guy and couldn't relate. I have to fess up that the Halo apocalyptic series leave me staring stupidly about, dazed from all the killing, maiming, and blowing up, and then shell shocked with the descriptions of all the weapons that kill, maim and blow up.
You can have a hundred reasons why the review was unjustified, unearned, unfair, unsympathetic, uncorroborated, yada yada. But look at it this way; you were NOTICED. There are some New York Times bestselling authors (and I know them but don't ask who), who never got reviewed. Maybe the reviewers thought the work wasn't good OR bad enough to waste their time to review. Ouch.
No matter what, you'll probably come across a bad review during your writing, performing, acting, or any other career where you invite people to express their opinion on how well they think you did what you do. It's part of the publishing game, and I tell myself that talent is in the mind of the beholder. Just because one critic doesn't agree doesn't mean everyone else will feel the same, which happens a more often than people realize. Rave and rant (quietly, in your home, with no one around to bear witness) to get it out of your system. Then keep on writing and promoting and signing your book.
Some of us will just love it.
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