We Wrote a Book...
The Journey of Writing BooksI happened to walk by the television during the announcement ofthe Best Supporting Actress category for the 2023 Academy Awards as my hubbyhad just serendipitously switched it on. I paused, wondering who would win, andwhen Jamie Lee Curtis’s name was announced, I smiled knowing she’d earned heracting chops throughout years of peaks and valleys slogging it through theentertainment industry. Then, I listened to her speech, and something deepinside of me resonated with her. She rattled off a list of names having to dowith the award-winning movie, raised the golden statue, and yelled, “We won anOscar!”, then she mentioned her family, and repeated, “We won an Oscar!”. Thisspeech continued on with colleagues and fans of her movie genres until theactress finished off with her parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, bothaccomplished actors in their own right, and shouted, “We won an Oscar!”
Then it hit me. What Jamie Lee Curtis said would apply to anyonewho worked hard, and put in the time and effort to accomplish a huge dream orgoal. Being in the Olympics. Making a professional sports team. Getting yourpaintings or photographs in a gallery. Writing and publishing a book. You sawwhere I was going with this, didn’t you?
What Ms. Curtis said rings true for me. It takes thousands ofpeople to help you reap your reward…or in this case award. I’m not sure howmany people (over a thousand for sure) who have helped me along in my writingcareer. From conception in 1995 to publication in 2012, and then again in 2015,it truly took a global village to help me make my dream of becoming a publishedauthor come true. Of course, I have more dreams in my back pocket. Completingboth my young adult book series, starting another book series, reaching readersglobally, and seeing my books translate into movies or a television series arebut a sampling. Some of these goals will take years to accomplish throughdog-eared determination, and others will rely on connecting to the right peopleat the right time. One never knows how fate will intervene, but it helps to beprepared and ready when that door swings open. I know what I’ll say too. “Wewrote a book!” I’ll shout humbly, knowing that I was never alone in the midstof writing any of my books. Ever.
If you never got a chance to hear Jamie Lee Curtis’s speech, youcan listen to it below. I promise, it’s short, but very powerful:
If you’re a reader, did yourealize how many people are involved in helping an author become published? Ifyou’re an author, have you ever thought about how much support you’ve receivedover the years of your writing career? Would love to read your comments. Cheersand thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!
