Part of being a writer is getting book quotes. You have birthed your baby and now you sent it to strangers to comment on. You pray no one thinks you have an ugly or fussy baby. You want them to think it is charming and perfect. Then the moment of truth comes and you receive the quote.
Now, to tell the truth, writers view quotes from our friends with a somewhat dubious mind. After all, our writer friends understand the importance of a good quote and most are going to give you a positive one (actually, I have yet to hear a friend-gives-bad-quote-story). We will view the kind quote and be happy, but in the back of our mind we think, "Oh, she is just a friend and doesn't really count". Come on.
Every writer does this. If you say that you don't you are a big, fat liar. :)
But when you get a quote from a stranger or better yet, a stranger whose writing you admire and adore and they love your book. Well, that's a moment of teary eyed shock and professional gratification few other tributes can match. For instance, when I contaced MaryJanice Davidson to see if she would read Braced2Bite and offer a quote. I didn't know her but I
worshipped her writing style. When I say worshipped, I mean I wrote B2B after reading her Undead series because her voice showed me that vampire books could be irreverant, funny and light hearted. I mean, this was MJ and I totally worshiped at the shrine of her books in my office. Scary true.
Not knowing who I was at all, she responded that she would be delighted to read my book. We share the same editor at Berkley so I figured she was extending a professional courtesy. After she read it, she sent a rave review. I cried. She genuinely loved it. My writing idol thought my baby was beautiful and was willing to tell the world via a quote on the cover. Sniff. Sniff. It was a total Oprah 'Aha' moment. I was a real writer who had earned the respect of a writing peer (though I am sure MJ had no idea I thought of her as a mentor as sorts).
My friend
SM recently had a similar experience and I relived that moment all over again. We write to please. We write to tell a tale worth telling. A story inside us that is bursting to get out and when our respected colleagues enjoy the tale, it is humbling, gratifying and signifigant in a way few things could be. Soon, the public will have an opportunity to view my baby. Will they say its beautiful? Only the Amazon reviews know for sure and I personally can't wait to read them.
