Sunday, July 1, 2018

Momentary Madness


July 2018 Blog
Momentary Madness
I am not above being human. As a writer, I always celebrate another writer’s success. Sometimes, I have a momentary bout of greenness more commonly known as jealousy. It serves no one, and I get over it quickly. I would not begrudge anyone their deserved success.


Only Human: A Haiku
by Ann Wilmer-Lasky
Green not becoming,
I’ll toast my fellow author
With the sweetest wine.

While watching “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Friday, June 29th, I momentarily turned green with envy.
There Jimmy was – announcing the winning book for the Tonight Show’s first ever summer reading club. #TonightShowSummerReads
It sounds like a great book, and I’m anxious to read it. It’s titled “Children of Blood and  Bone”  by a very young, new author, Tomi  Adeyemi, published by Macmillan.
The book is sure to hit the top of every bestseller list. I was elated for the book and the author. Then that little green man popped up on my shoulder (not a space alien – they are gray), and for just a moment, I matched his hue.
I was green with envy. Then I started the whole woe-is-me ritual: I will never, ever reach that pinnacle. She is so lucky. I wish I had her luck. I wish that was me. No matter how I struggle, that will never, ever be me.
I was about to ruin a good night’s sleep that was sorely needed. I wanted to finish formatting my new Haiku chapbook the next day so I can keep my publication target date of July 15th.
Thinking about my own plans changed my thinking. Okay, she’s really lucky. I’m sure she’s also talented to be published by McMillan. I (and all the other #FalPals) will enjoy reading her book this summer along with Jimmy.
A smile crossed my face. (Okay, it didn’t, but it sounds good) I did get to thinking.  I’ve done the best I could with what I had. Now I know better, I can do better. (Thanks, Oprah!)
I am a published author, and nobody can take that away from me.  So I haven’t gotten the breaks and now I’m too old to go the traditional publishing route. (I could die in the two years it takes to get a book out.) But – I am published, (repeating myself here) and with a little more and better promotion, I’m sure I can become more widely known. I have no reason to covet someone else’s fame and fortune. (Well maybe J.K. Rowling, but I’m sure the Queen would even like some of that.)
I know I am but a minor poet and an even more minor novelist. I also know I’m the product of an age where women didn’t “do” and weren’t expected to.
Things are so different now. You can grab hold of a dream (even at a young age) and make it come true. You don’t have to “wait your turn”, “wait for the kids to grow up” or (the old classic) “pay your dues” before you can pursue your passion, expect to succeed or gain any sort of recognition.
Now you can do it all with the internet and the click of a mouse or your fingers and a smart phone. (Mine isn’t that smart.) And you can hold your head up high among the traditionalists. Self-publishing (now called Indie Publishing) is an acceptable route and the product does have a chance out there to vie for wide readership.
I’m still sticking to my publishing schedule for “Life’s Lemons and Lemonade: The Write Life.” It will still go live on July 15th. Also, the sequel to “Black Oak” will go live by August 31st.  So, I’m busy and happy. In my spare time, I will read “Children of Blood and Bone” and clean house.
I would like to take a moment to say “Congratulations!” to Tomi Adeyemi on her very first novel and on it being selected as the first ever official #TonightShowSummerReads selection. I promise I will join my fellow #FalPals and Jimmy Fallon in reading it.
I promise I will also keep writing and publishing as long as I can. It is something I must do as the characters in my mind are wanting their release and I owe them that.
I will also continue to encourage others to write and follow their dreams as well. Creative writing cannot die. There must always be someone out there to take up the torch and put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard). Literacy must not die. We must write and we must read. We must also teach our children to read and to love reading as we do. Only in this way can we retain (or regain) the best of  our humanity.
On the Macular Degeneration front – it’s a slow progressing condition. I will never regain the clarity I have already lost, but I will probably die from my heart condition before I go blind. (I consider that a blessing.)
So here’s to a summer of reading and writing and publishing. It’s all to the good. Enjoy!
Until that time, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there:
I’m also including a link to my Amazon’s Author’s page. Feel free to visit me there also:

All of my books are available on Amazon.

This month I am featuring Tomi Adeyemi’s “Children of Blood and Bone” available on Amazon. In fact, I’ve heard it’s their #1 Best Seller at the moment. Also you can join the #FalPals and Jimmy Fallon for the summer: #TonightShowSummerReads










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