This past week I've spent most of my time gearing up for the arrival of my memoir.
(Is it possible for me to reread that sentence too many times?)
I'm attempting to stay cool, calm, and collected...and not use an inordinate amount of explanation points, but.....Wow! It has been a long journey! I keep envisioning the following scene:
My doorbell rings. Vern gets excited, starts barking, and runs to the front door. When I get there, I turn the knob, open the door....and there stands the UPS guy...with a large box addressed to me and he needs my signature.
From there the scene has different variations:
1) If The Ronald is home, we both open the box and stare at the wondrous sight.
2) If he isn't home, I tell myself I must wait until he gets home, so he can share the moment with me.
3) Then reality hits. I know I'll pull and tear and gnaw at that box like a ravenous beast until it's open.
From that point, I've imagined several scenarios, so when it actually happens, I'll definitely share it.
My blog last Sunday was about doors, keys, and door knobs, and how I find them beautiful and meaningful. The following words by Joseph Campbell are so fitting for today's post, and every time I read them, I swear I get chills.....in that good kind of way.
“Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.”
Joseph Campbell
In addition to the usual ways of selling books, I have lots of other marketing plans & ideas in that area, and THAT'S why "my head's a spinnin'!" There are so many helpful sites and blogs online, it can really get overwhelming, but with having a plan, schedules, date books, calendars, etc., I'll be just fine.
Follow your bliss!
I'm looking forward to your book and also to see how you market it. I like to learn from those who go before me. Congratulations Becky!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie! Hopefully I've remembered a lot of what I learned from those before me, as well! :)
DeleteThat is so exciting! Can't wait to read your book, Bec.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kathy M.
Thank you, Kathy! I know you've certainly heard enough about it for a LONG time! Thanks for hanging in there with me!
DeleteI am very excited for you, Becky! May it be the beginning of a long road of bliss!
ReplyDeleteThank you, too, Claudia! You've always been such a great writer-friend! I know we'll finally see each other one of these days....as I criss-cross Missouri, peddling my book....and I don't mean by bicycle! :D
DeleteOh, I just crack myself up sometimes!! LOL
Your book....how exciting. Oh to be a fly on the wall when you open that box.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Delores! And there's been many times when I've wished that same thing!
DeleteYou'll have to document every glorious minute to share with us! Take some photos! I'm VERY excited for you, too! Wish we were all there to help you tear that box open! WHAT JOY!!!! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHi Diane! Thanks! I wish y'all would be here with me, too! That would be fabulous, dahhhhhling! :)
DeleteHugs back at ya, too!
We too are very excited for you and so look forward to reading about your journey with your book. Well done on getting started. Have a super Saturday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Oh, thank you sweet Molly!! It's definitely been quite a journey! Wishing you a super Saturday, too...and Sunday!
DeleteAs you can see, we're all in a state of high excitement over your Memoir! We're all looking forward to reading it. I loved Follow Your Bliss. If only we could all do that!
ReplyDeleteHi Diane! Thank you! I love your first sentence....especially ..."we're all in a state of high excitement"... It reminds me of that movie by Mel Brooks..."High Anxiety,".....I'm pretty sure I have a bit of that, too! :)
DeleteThat's wonderful news, Becky! So exciting!
ReplyDeleteHi Daisy! How delighted I am to see your smiling face here in my comments! Thank you for being so encouraging during this long journey of mine!!
DeleteWoo Hoo!!!! And following your bliss spreads it around too.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear, dear EC!! You are one of my best cheerleaders!! I'm so happy to know my bliss spreads out to you, too!
DeleteBECKY-O! ~
ReplyDeleteApproximately when is this momentous day expected to occur?
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Hi Stephen T! I cannot say when the momentous day will be yet....but as soon as I know....YOU will know!! Thanks for being such an awesome friend! :)
DeleteWell, when that time arrives, I will certainly be buying a copy of it. At least one sale is absolutely guaranteed.
Delete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Well, thank goodness for that!! But, hey......don't ya want at least 10 copies for Christmas gifts??
DeleteDear Becky...WOW WOW WOW It's getting exciting now. Take photos for us, will you? Of the books coming in? Sooooo happy for you. Susan
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! Thank you so much! It is exciting for me to know that others are also happy about my book finally being "born!"
DeleteI'm so excited for you! Have fun and savor the moment when I arrives! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janel! I'm in such anticipation, I'm actually not sleeping much....which is really unusual for me!
DeleteThat is SO exciting! I'm enjoying even the anticipation of the big event with you! ; )
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandy! You're a sweetie!!
DeleteSuch joy here! Thank you for sharing it. Looking forward to the actual scene of you seeing your baby for the first time. Looking forward to having my own copy of it, too.
ReplyDeleteHI Deb! Thank you so much! You're one of my blog friends who has been reading about my book for a LONG time! Thanks for hanging in there with me! And thank you for looking forward to having a copy, too! :)
DeleteYAY! I'll be sure to show up at a book signing! I knew you could do it!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Kim! You're a fantastic writer/blogger/friend!! And a all around great person! :)
DeleteAs someone who one day also hopes to receive a package with a memoir in it, I am currently living vicariously through you... so keep us in the loop, for goodness sake :)~
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Mark! You're such a cool guy. I really appreciate your happiness for me! And I'll definitely be excited when I hear about your book being available, too!
DeleteSo exciting! I think anticipation is the hardest part - that's why your head is spinning. Plus, the poem is a wonderful way for me to start my last week of being 39. In my next decade, I would like to be a "bliss follower". Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteHey Audry ~ without the "e"! Thanks for stopping by! And yes, please do "Follow Your Bliss!" I haven't been the same since I first heard those words. A new writer-friend (at that time) was the first person who quoted some of that to me and told me about Joseph Campbell. And that is why Bliss Follower is also part of my blog's title!....oh....and you're going to be 40? Wow, I remember being 40 like it was about 5 years ago.......*sigh*....
DeleteThat's an exciting scene! Enjoy it...
ReplyDelete=D
Thank you, Sue! You'll have to share YOUR "scene" with me!!
DeleteGood for you! Congratulations!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn! Thank you very much! I really appreciate you for taking the time to stop and leave a comment.
DeleteI'm so excited for you Becky! Congratulations! I love following your bliss! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHey Shannon! Thank you so much. I always feel your excitement for me, and I love that you're following my bliss with me!
DeleteExciting times are ahead.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna! They sure are!
DeleteI'm so excited, too. Great news, Becky! I can't wait to see all your creative marketing ideas, too. And I love the poem you shared. Thanks! I needed that today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margo! You've been such a great friend and mentor, just about from the beginning of my journey! And I love it when someone says they really loved the quotes I leave at the end of my blog posts!! So glad you read it at just the right time, it sounds like!
DeleteCongratulations Becky! You must be ready to jump out of your own skin. This is exciting!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! Thank you so much for stopping and commenting! And you put it in just the right words, too! I AM about ready to jump out of my skin! LOL
DeleteI can feel your excitement, too! Hugs to you!