My Favorite Prop
If you will remember, gentle readers, at the end of 2011 I had an issue with Entertainment Weekly. Opening my favorite magazine on a Sunday morning, I discovered that my book had been listed among the five worst of the year. It took me quite a while to get over that, as you can imagine. I had pep talks from everyone from my editor to my pet rock, and I gradually calmed down and flew in a straight line again.
This year, my husband got the "year end roundup" issue of EW from the mailbox and read it before he brought it into the house. When I saw it in his hand, I said, "Oh, no!" He said, "Don't worry, you're not in it." After he explained his precaution, I asked what he'd been going to do if I HAD been on the "worst" list. "Throw it in the garbage can and never mention it," he replied.
I am fortunate enough to be surrounded (metaphorically) by people who help me get through the minefield of being a writer and a public figure. My husband forestalled something I hadn't even thought about. My assistant (and bff) Paula files the death threats before I see them. Toni Kelner and Dana Cameron give me valuable writing advice and calm me down and listen to me. My agent Joshua Bilmes has my back, and my front. My publicist, Jodi Rosoff, makes my travel go as smoothly as travel ever can.
It takes a village to make a happy writer, apparently. I'm incredibly fortunate to have talented, experienced, and good-hearted people to help me. I hope all of you do. Who's in your village?
If you will remember, gentle readers, at the end of 2011 I had an issue with Entertainment Weekly. Opening my favorite magazine on a Sunday morning, I discovered that my book had been listed among the five worst of the year. It took me quite a while to get over that, as you can imagine. I had pep talks from everyone from my editor to my pet rock, and I gradually calmed down and flew in a straight line again.
This year, my husband got the "year end roundup" issue of EW from the mailbox and read it before he brought it into the house. When I saw it in his hand, I said, "Oh, no!" He said, "Don't worry, you're not in it." After he explained his precaution, I asked what he'd been going to do if I HAD been on the "worst" list. "Throw it in the garbage can and never mention it," he replied.
I am fortunate enough to be surrounded (metaphorically) by people who help me get through the minefield of being a writer and a public figure. My husband forestalled something I hadn't even thought about. My assistant (and bff) Paula files the death threats before I see them. Toni Kelner and Dana Cameron give me valuable writing advice and calm me down and listen to me. My agent Joshua Bilmes has my back, and my front. My publicist, Jodi Rosoff, makes my travel go as smoothly as travel ever can.
It takes a village to make a happy writer, apparently. I'm incredibly fortunate to have talented, experienced, and good-hearted people to help me. I hope all of you do. Who's in your village?
I can't even begin to list all those who keep me going, sister, nieces, new chiropractor (thanks, Dr. Albers, for less pain), and especially friends, internet buddies and real life ones -- at my library, and the Y, former teaching colleagues . . .
We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another. ~Luciano de Crescenzo I have an angel with a broken wing and now a cow (jumping over the moon) with a broken wing . . . reminders of our dependence on each other.
Posted by: Storyteller Mary | January 07, 2013 at 08:11 PM
I didn't even think about that bigger picture, Storyteller Mary. So true. And I hope I'm part of someone else's support circle.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | January 08, 2013 at 08:43 AM