Pages

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Blatant Self-Promotion

I don't often talk about writing in this blog. More specifically, my aspiration to be a writer.

You see, there are lots of good writers. Tons of 'em. When you think about the talent out there, it is easier to drink some gin from the cat dish and watch another episode of  The Real Housewives of New Jersey than to take that step into the unknown.

I mean, putting yourself out there? That takes ovaries.

***
Recently, I was out with a friend and she said, "What would you tell your teenage self?"

"Oh," I replied, "That's easy. I would tell her that she's smart and she's funny. I would tell her to stop caring about what other people think and to trust herself. I would also tell her that she should wear sunscreen and more sleeveless tops."

My wise friend then asked, "What do you think you'll tell yourself ten years from now?"

The answer, once again, was obvious. "I would tell her that she's a good mom. I would tell her not to worry about what other people think and to trust herself. I would tell her to be fearless."

My friend said, "Why do we keep telling ourselves the same things?"

Why, indeed?

***
About a month ago, my friend Coby sent me a link for a call to submissions. I've been burnt by the submission game in the past year.  Every rejection slip felt like a paper-cut. After awhile, I was too tattered and raw to try again.

Then, I remembered my friend's words. I stopped asking myself the same questions.  I submitted a piece. 

I wrote about this guy:

Some of you know that Joel was airlifted to the NICU when he was two days old. He was on oxygen briefly, and spent his first ten days of life in an isolette, surrounded by pic lines and beeping sensors.

He was a eight pound baby in the NICU. He looked like Godzilla. 


I wrote about the experience, and how it brought me closer to my mother.

I'm very proud of the piece.

Well, folks, the piece is going to be published. 

***
Here's the information:

From the Heart: A Collection of Stories and Poems from the Front Lines of Parenting will be available for presale on May 22nd.  The ISBN for this title is 978-0-578-05737-8 and will be available through various distribution channels. 

Inside the pages of this book, dozens of authors have given of themselves to share their unique perspective on the journey of parenthood and to make a difference in the lives of children along the way.  The result is a collection of stories and poems that track the fun, the challenging and the truly phenomenal aspects of parenting.

From pregnancy worries and the miracle of birth to tough times and growing up, each unique triumph and challenge through a lifetime of parenthood palpitates on the page.

From the Heart: A Collection of Stories and Poems from the Front Lines of Parenting was created to raise money for children’s charities.  With this collaborative effort, we will help every child get the medical care that they need and find cures for some of life’s most devastating diseases.

With inspired stories and poems from a group of extraordinary writers, this volume will leave an impression on the heart of any parent.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to children’s charities.

***
If you are interested in buying this book, email me here or here. You can also learn more about the book here. 

Thank you for your support. I will mention this again, but will try not to annoy or be too blatantly self-promoting.

Off to find the cat dish, the remote and the gin...

22 comments:

My Life in Purple said...

Nancy, that's absolutely wonderful!!!

I'll say I knew you when ;)

Furry Bottoms said...

It takes ovaries!!! I love that!!! :)

Congratulations on this wonderful experience!! :)

Unknown said...

huge congrats to you Nancy!
you ARE a fabulous write, one that i keep coming back to read!

congrats!

adrienzgirl said...

Congrats Momma! That is so awesome. I can't imagine how proud you must be. It's one thing to get recognized for writing, but for writing about your baby? WOW!

Rejection letters are part of the game though. You can get a million nos. It just takes one yes. :D

Best advice my Mom ever gave me was, "What's the worst they can say? No or hell no right? But what if they say yes? You'll never have known if you didn't ask." I took that to heart. No sucks, but it's all they can say. I apply it to most aspects of my life. :D

Rebecca said...

I so wish I would have learned about this before the print date was set and all....because I would love to share Joey's story. (stories?)!

Muliebrity said...

I didn't think you had a cat....

Lothiriel said...

WOW!! that's awesome!!!! Congrats!!!

Ms. Moon said...

I am SO proud of you. I'm still sort of stuck in the drinking-gin-from-the-cat-bowl part of it all after going through a year or so of up and down submission experiences.
Raw is a good word to describe how it makes you feel.
But this is just EXCELLENT news!

Kori said...

That is pretty much amazing!

Adoption of Jane said...

Beautiful Post! So true how we tell ourselves the same things! I will definitely purchase a copy of the book! I finally showed my cousin a pic of your little boy and she said OMG that is my son's twin, lol!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! Congratulations! I found you just in time, so I can say I read your work way back when... :)

I love the questions about what you'd tell your teenage self, and older self. Reminds me of the question, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

cheatymoon said...

Congratulations!! Such great news.

Coby said...

Congratulations!!! I'm clapping my hands together and singing, "Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!" I'm so excited, and so proud. The other day I told Shayne, "I can say, 'I knew her when...'"

I love the question "What will you tell yourself 10 years from now?" I'm going to go ponder that one while I wait for Lost to come on.

Hercules! Hercules!...

Cat said...

Amazing!!! CONGRATS!!!

Why do we keep telling ourselves the same thing... profound.

Angie Muresan said...

Nancy, I am so very happy and thrilled for you! Of course I will purchase the book. Can't wait to read your piece.

Anonymous said...

Wow!! Congrats, thats great!

erika said...

Congratulations, Nancy! I'm sooo very proud of you! I knew it was only a matter of time before I read an announcement like this on your blog! You just keep saying those good things to yourself.

Brian Bindschadler said...

Good for you. You know, the whole key to becoming a "writer" is persistence (so says one of the many who've found thousands of reasons to stop sending things in). Stick with it. Worst thing that happens is you end up with an awesomely large collection of form letters.

Tracie said...

Congrats!!!! You know I'm one of your biggest fans. (And not just because I'm fat, either.)

Erin said...

ALL RIGHT!!! Congrats!

And my youngest was almost 8 weeks early and he was 7lbs 13 oz and in the NICU...you are right...Godzilla! haha

Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip said...

I'm am SO thrilled for you. And I will totally buy a copy. But I want it signed by you. Is that too much to ask? I'll pay for the postage or whatever it takes. YAY!!!! This is so exciting!!!!!! Congratulations.

Beth Zimmerman said...

Congratulations! :)