Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: Yes!
Mary: NO WAY!
Wow, why am I so shocked that people are so surprised? I guess I can understand it in a way. Do you know anyone who has written and published a book? I happen to personally know two people and I think that’s probably a lot.
After the shock comes that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach. It’s kind of like that awkward silence that rears its ugly head when you’ve been introduced to someone with whom you have absolutely nothing in common. Do you just start talking about your book? Do you wait until they ask you about it? Neither? Both? Is “both” even a choice?
I wrote a picture book and I find that it’s relatively easy to get the conversation started. I mean, who doesn’t like children’s books, right? They’re easy to read and the pictures are cute. If it’s not about a topic you like, it will be over soon. You don’t have to read 300 pages. The fact that the book’s characters are my three children, and that my oldest son Joey illustrated the book, makes it that much easier. Moms and Dads like to talk about their kids… but *WARNING* they have to know when to stop. You have to strike a balance (I’m trying to learn). The people who know my kids will probably see their personalities shining through in the book and those who don’t know them will immediately understand how wacky they are and wonder what kind of parents we are.
The funniest part comes when the conversation gets more comfortable and people start to give you advice, some good, some not so good. At that moment, you thank them for their advice and you just put it all in your memory bank and make something of it later… maybe! You’re just glad that the person hasn’t walked away yet and that they seem interested. Maybe they are really good actors. I don’t know.
So, now I’m actually ready when people are surprised. The conversation goes a little more like this:
Me: Hey, Mary, guess what.
Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: I know. I’m kind of surprised myself! (See, now we’re on the same page… pun intended!)
I hope you’ll stop by my website to get a sneak peek at A Reel Cool Summer, watch the book trailer and read reviews. Oh, and if you want to get on my good side, you may want to buy it… I’m just sayin’!
Until next time… stay cool!
Martha
Special note: I want to thank my wonderful friends Michelle, Sharon, Kelly and Clare. They may have been surprised but did not show it. The first thing they did was buy a copy of my book to share with the little ones in their families. That did not shock me; it melted my heart. You are four incredibly wonderful friends!
Special note #2: My friend Sharon, mentioned above, MADE ME add this note from her. She's a sweetie pie!
After the shock comes that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach. It’s kind of like that awkward silence that rears its ugly head when you’ve been introduced to someone with whom you have absolutely nothing in common. Do you just start talking about your book? Do you wait until they ask you about it? Neither? Both? Is “both” even a choice?
I wrote a picture book and I find that it’s relatively easy to get the conversation started. I mean, who doesn’t like children’s books, right? They’re easy to read and the pictures are cute. If it’s not about a topic you like, it will be over soon. You don’t have to read 300 pages. The fact that the book’s characters are my three children, and that my oldest son Joey illustrated the book, makes it that much easier. Moms and Dads like to talk about their kids… but *WARNING* they have to know when to stop. You have to strike a balance (I’m trying to learn). The people who know my kids will probably see their personalities shining through in the book and those who don’t know them will immediately understand how wacky they are and wonder what kind of parents we are.
The funniest part comes when the conversation gets more comfortable and people start to give you advice, some good, some not so good. At that moment, you thank them for their advice and you just put it all in your memory bank and make something of it later… maybe! You’re just glad that the person hasn’t walked away yet and that they seem interested. Maybe they are really good actors. I don’t know.
So, now I’m actually ready when people are surprised. The conversation goes a little more like this:
Me: Hey, Mary, guess what.
Mary: What?
Me: I wrote a book!
Mary: You wrote a book? Really? No way!!
Me: I know. I’m kind of surprised myself! (See, now we’re on the same page… pun intended!)
I hope you’ll stop by my website to get a sneak peek at A Reel Cool Summer, watch the book trailer and read reviews. Oh, and if you want to get on my good side, you may want to buy it… I’m just sayin’!
Until next time… stay cool!
Martha
Special note: I want to thank my wonderful friends Michelle, Sharon, Kelly and Clare. They may have been surprised but did not show it. The first thing they did was buy a copy of my book to share with the little ones in their families. That did not shock me; it melted my heart. You are four incredibly wonderful friends!
Special note #2: My friend Sharon, mentioned above, MADE ME add this note from her. She's a sweetie pie!
OK, you have me in tears now! Thanks for acknowledging me, but you get all the credit here. I wasn't the least bit surprised you wrote a book - I somewhat expect things like that from you! You are very talented and creative …. and it's obvious you're a mom who's really into her kids, which I love about you. I say "good for you, write another one!" And if you do, be sure to let me know when it comes out so I can buy it for my grands. By the way, you're pretty incredible yourself! (and I'm no actor!)
Dude. Really? You wrote a book?
ReplyDeleteYou rock.
And now that I'm back from vacation, watch out :)
Bego,
ReplyDeleteI know you well enough to know that I don't know what that means. Should I be happy or be worried that I have to "watch out"??!! I'll just brace myself and hope for the best!
It can be tough explaining to someone who isn't a writer that you are an author. I've been there. But there are a ton of people who do understand, which is why the writing community is so amazing!
ReplyDelete