We didn’t have a lot of money when I was younger, but we had books and public libraries. I looked forward to the walk to get new books every week or a visit from the bookmobile during the summer months. Whenever I opened the pages of a new book, I was transported to a new world and I loved exploring all those interesting places and learning new things. Some might say I was a nerd and to that I say “Nerds Rock!”
#WisdomWednesday – Take the First Step
It’s hard to think about taking that first step into the unknown. Whether it’s a new relationship, a new book, or even revisiting something old that you’ve been trying to forget, it takes courage. But taking that first step is a necessary part of a journey that could be truly rewarding. So as hard as it is, take that first step.
#WisdomWednesday – Is bad publicity good publicity?
There are some things that most writers have on their bucket list, including hitting the NY Times Bestseller List. If you write anything other than romance, you might also have “appear in the New York Times Book Review” on that list. As a romance writer, being in the Book Review was not on my list mainly because the NY Times normally doesn’t pay much attention to us. They even got rid of the Mass Market Fiction list which is where a lot of romance writers might appear on a list.
Imagine my surprise when I got a note from my publisher that I might be in the Times. It was like a WHAT? REALLY? And sure enough, Mr. Robert Gottlieb included ONE SUMMER NIGHT in his “Round Up of Romance†http://nyti.ms/2xxXZ78.
I have to admit that when I first read the review, I didn’t know what to make of it (besides the weirdness factor of having an 86 year old man think that ” The sex between Maggie and Owen is equally delicious . . .”)
And then came all the commentary about the “Round Up of Romance†and the ensuing justification by the NY Times Editor for choosing Mr. Gottlieb to review romance and the manner in which he reviewed it (see below).
So for today, I’d be interested in hearing your take on the “Round Up of Romance†and whether bad publicity is just as good as good publicity.
- NY Times Editor Justifying Choice of Critic for the “Round Up of Romance†http://nyti.ms/2komkqq
Assorted third party blogs condemning the NY Times Round Up of Romance:
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2017/09/new-york-times-book-review-looks-romance/
https://twitter.com/nytimesbooks/status/912802740925009920
http://www.seattlereviewofbooks.com/notes/2017/09/27/robert-gottlieb-is-obviously-smitten
https://bookriot.com/2017/09/29/new-york-times-romance-roundup/
#WisdomWednesday Nothing Worthwhile is Ever Easy
My mom was an amazing lady. She had courage and wisdom that inspired me throughout my entire life. She told me that anything was possible if I worked at it hard enough. She also told me that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. She was right about both. Whether it’s a relationship or being a writer or trying to lose weight, it’s not easy, but if I want it and since it’s worthwhile, I need to not give up!
Mindfulness aka Stop and Smell the Roses #WisdomWednesday
Yesterday I chatted about my weight gain and one of the things that I’ve been doing is being more mindful of what I eat and why. When my mom got cancer, I ate to bury the pain and the stress. That packed on a lot of pounds. I lost them. And then something else happened (or didn’t) and I gained them back. There was a lot of not paying attention to what I was doing or paying too much attention to every little calorie to the point where it became frustrating.
Being more mindful, more in the now and aware of the present, is something I’ve been trying to apply to my eating. Why am I eating? Is it because I am hungry? What am I doing when I’m eating? Watching TV?
I’ve been trying to be more mindful of the food, its taste and scent. Eating it more slowly and enjoying every bite. Making meals count instead of just gobbling them down.
That mindfulness applies to other things as well. Not running around so much and taking time to stop and smell the roses. Living more each day by being grateful for all that I have. Little things like that.
Just some thoughts for you on this Wisdom Wednesday.
The Writing Blizzard #WisdomWednesday
From that day in the fifth grade when my English teacher assigned our class project – to write a book – I knew I wanted to be a writer. I’d always been an avid reader, but until that day, it hadn’t occurred to me that the stories in my head could become a story that one day others would read.
I kept at it through high school, college, and law school. The child of immigrant parents and an immigrant myself, education was important, but so was a career that would pay the bills. My parents, especially my mom, didn’t think writing would do it and I am eternally grateful that I was an obedient child since my day job has provided me with many wonderful opportunities.
But so did the world of writing. New friends and new places to visit. Of course, that was balanced out by something I didn’t expect: the writing blizzard. The flurries of ideas that might not ever become anything more. The avalanche of rejection letters that gave way to an even greater avalanche of edits, marketing demands, business obligations, and more.
A lot of new writers I meet think that getting published is the hard part. I gently try to prepare them for the greater blizzard of work that comes after publication.
But if writing is your passion, you put your head down and weather the blizzard because something bright and wonderful emerges from the storm: a new story.
And then the blizzard begins all over again!
