Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Friday, April 23, 2010

Here's what makes it all worthwhile....

So I wake up this morning and see this on my sidebar-- BOOK REVIEW-- UNCUT DIAMONDS. Barbara Scully, my 100th follower who won a copy of my novel, has read and reviewed it and liked it! Not only that but in a comment on one of my previous blog posts, she said that her mom read and loved it as well.

Please go to Barbara's lovely blog, From My Kitchen Table, and tell her thank you from me! (After reading the review of course, lol!)

I'm pretty sure neither of my two books currently out will ever make a bestseller list. (Although Farm Girl was the best selling title for several months in the local Red Cloud, NE book store. Does that count?) I'm pretty sure that I won't be making mortgage payments from my royalty checks. But what matters to me more than money is to hear from a reader like Barbara who says it's the kind of book she can wrap herself in and "I just love the main character Marcie McGill."

This kind of response makes it all worthwhile to me-- all the writing, revising, editing and rewriting, until finally miracle of miracles, I hold a book in my hands that scares me to death. What if people don't like it? What if they don't get it? What if, like one publisher who rejected it said, they think "the Seventies are boring. No one wants to read about them."

And who knew that my demographic would be Irish women lol? Or as Barbara herself said when she chose this as her prize, "I'm a child of the Seventies who loved the Osmonds, so of course Uncut Diamonds is my choice!"

Thanks, Barbara! You made my day!

50 comments:

  1. That's awesome and a wonderful thing to see/read on a Friday morning. See, don't worry about demographics - people like a good story, no matter where they're from or what their age.

    Have a great weekend!

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  2. How satisfying! And thanks for the link to Barbara's blog.

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  3. That's amazing! Congratulations!

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  4. That is just awesome Karen!! What a great experience for you. And that's my dream too, to have just one person really get what I wrote and love it :)

    I'll go check out the review!

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  5. Thats lovely, Karen, yes, I saw Barbaras book review. She is a truly great blogger buddy.

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  6. Congratulations! I hope I can say the same thing one day soon. (That readers like my first book.)

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  7. How exciting! I'm so inspired by you and your successes! Have a great weekend :)

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  8. Awesomesauce! Totally!!! I've never been reviewed myself...hmmm...I think I need to get published first ;-), but I imagine the feeling of having someone speak so highly about you book is wonderful. That's makes a good start to the weekend!

    ~JD

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  9. Justine, yep! It means so much.

    Nicole, thanks Nicole!

    Alex, well you have a cover!! The rest will follow.

    Brigid, now if you like the novel as well, I will really begin to think I have an Irish demographic lol! (Because I'm counting Ann of Inkpots and Quills as Irish even though she lives in the US now.)

    Crystal, I remember that several commenters on my dream post mentioned that as their dream.

    Sonshine, thanks!!

    Christine, Barbara's blog is awesome. I love her voice and her posts.

    Jaydee, so true. But I've been surprised at who I thought was my demographic (Mormon women) who absolutely could not STAND this novel!! It was really starting to give me panic attacks, until readers outside that particular demographic started giving me really positive feedback.

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  10. I'm also a child of the seventies who had a crush on Donny Osmond. lol. I saw him in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the 90s, and he was still looking great.

    I'm so happy for your for your wonderful review.

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  11. Oh that's a nice review!

    It does sound like you're hitting a touchstone with the Irish thing. I wonder what the touchstone is?

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  12. And now you can tell your agent that your blogging time HAS, in fact, paid off, because you've not only reached your demographic ... you've now realized who your demographic is.

    I would work this angle and try to get the publisher to set up a Irish tour for your book. If for no other reason than you get to visit Ireland, which would be pretty freaking awesome in its own right!

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  13. Well done Karen! So great to see this kind of success.

    Have a fabulous, celebratory weekend
    Victoria

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  14. Victoria, hey nice to hear from you! I trust all your teachers made it back okay!

    Tracy, you may have something there! Ooo wouldn't I love to go to the glorious green Ireland! And London too! And Hampshire, and wherever Old Kitty lives-- a UK tour to see my blogging friends-- yes! Oh yes, and to sell books, I almost forgot.

    hampshireflyer, I'm trying to figure that one out lol!

    Mary, Well looky there, you're my demographic! Are you Irish?

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  15. That's great, Karen! There's nothing more satisfying than a good review, Yay!

    Have a great weekend.

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  16. Congrats on a great review! It's always such a good feeling to know someone out there likes your work! So glad you're experiencing that rush.

    Have a fantastic weekend!

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  17. Hi

    Awwww wonderful, wonderful!! I'll go over to Barbara's blog asap!

    This is great news and of course you will get more and more lovely reviews.

    I cannot wait to read Farm Girl! Of course this is a bestseller!!!

    Take care
    x

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  18. I read the review, and again, through you, met someone new. A wonderful review. So pleased for you.

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  19. Hi Karen... was going to email you tonite to let you know that the review is up (I also posted it on Amazon. On that point I usually go to amazon.co.uk and your book doesn't come up on a search - only on amazon.com. From Europe we are more likely to order from UK.. you might want to see if you can fix that!)

    Anyway I clearly dont need to email you. I was delighted to read your book and the review is an honest opinion. I am so thrilled that I made your Friday and thank you for all the new friends who pulled up a chair at my Kitchen Table today!!!
    barbara x

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  20. This morning, when I saw that her review was about your book, I smiled. Just keep at it. And remember, the more you publish, the more you'll become known, the more people will go back and read your previous work. You go, girl!

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  21. That is great! What a great thing to read. I must go and look at the review.
    Congrats!

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  22. I am a child of the seventies too - they are definitely not boring! And oh what a wonderful feeling - that is exactly why I am writing, not for riches (although hey, I wouldn't say no) but for someone out there to tell me they loved my story, loved my main character. It's what we live for! And by the way - you have a couple of awards at my blog. I think you have both already! But I couldn't resist anyway. :)

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  23. What a fantastic way to thing to wake up to :) Congrats!

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  24. I used to say (about my kids), I work for hugs. Book writing ain't no different, is it now? :)

    Also, I am thinking of removing word verification on my blog as a test just to see if the spambots get to me. I wish there was a spambot strip I could hang around my computer screen that would keep them away. Something with a fresh lilac scent, preferably.

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  25. Congratulations!! :) It totally counts to be the bestseller in Red Cloud NE! And thank you for dropping by my blog today! It's very nice to meet another author!

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  26. Oh, that's wonderful, Karen! It must be a great feeling!

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  27. Congratulations on your great review...and thanks for the follow. I love the title of your blog, by the way!

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  28. Your title of your blog is intriguing. I am so happy for your Friday surprise. We write not knowing the reception of our efforts. We cast our bread upon the water, hoping not to get soggy sandwiches in return.

    Have a beautiful weekend, Roland

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  29. Roland, I like that image-- it really is casting bread upon the water! Welcome to my blog!

    Raquel, Thanks! Yep my blog title pretty well sums me up!

    Alexandra, I just had to brag a little :) I don't always post about it when I get a good review, but since Barbara won the book on my 100 follower contest I figured I could here!

    Amy, the bookseller was impressed because Farm Girl outsold Willa Cather books in Willa Cather country lol! At least for that summer of its release. Thanks for visiting and commenting!

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  30. That has to be like the coolest thing... ever!!! I hope you have a great weekend!!

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  31. Wow that is awesome! Who doesn't want to wake up to news like that?? lol CONGRATS!!!!!! I will def check out your book after I finish the one I am currently reading! Her review sounded GREAT!

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  32. Congrats! That's great and what we all hope for, the reader to connect with our stories. Thanks for coming by my blog, too, btw : )

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  33. I am delighted with all the positives from Barbara's review. Thrilled for your delight and of course the fact that you have found your demographic out here in blogland. Congrats Karen. I thoroughly enjoyed your book, but am not the prolific reviewer that my old friend Barbara is. Isn't she great?!?

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  34. Congrats! What a feeling, when you put your
    sweat n' tears, hopes n' dreams into a book and it is well received! I now, want to read it!
    Connecting with kindred souls is what it is all about! I'm thrilled for you~

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  35. Welcome to all the new followers here! I was surfing the blogs and lucky enough to find you, and so kind for you to return the favor :) I look forward to reading more on your blogs!

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  36. What a wondeful review she's written. Sounds like a fantastic book, Karen!

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  37. It's such an amazing feeling when someone reads our work and loves it. What a great way to start your weekend!! :-)

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  38. How wonderful for you Karen :o)))))

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  39. Karen, that's so great! I think you're absolutely right than an experience like this makes all the hair pulling and teeth gnashing that goes along with writing worthwhile. And this is redundant since you've already seen it, but I do have an award for you.

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  40. Congratulations, Karen - great review!

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  41. That's wonderful news, Karen. See, that's all I would wish for. That truly makes the process of writing rewarding.

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  42. Congratulations! What a nice way to start the weekend!

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  43. I have a demographic only bcause people sometimes ask for one. "19-44 males with some college education." But I reach people of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Still love the giraffe.

    Stephen Tremp

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  44. I absolutely love your postive attitude here and in your earlier blogs at which I to a peep. It is encouraging for all writers and I'm sure it shines through in your fiction. I will look for Farm Girl and look forward to reading it. If you weren't on another continent I'd have you on the programme...
    Thanks so much for dropping by my blog
    w
    PS I love the giraffe and the thoughts at his feet.

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  45. ...a positive review is the first major step at coming down that mountain. Well done, and thanks so much for visiting "So Close..." Onward!

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  46. Congratulations on your fabolous review. There's nothing better than a positive response from readers! And congratulations on how it was the bestselling title in your local store. That's truly an accomplishment because it means your local people were motivated to support you and that your writing efforts were appreciated by them. Not all local writers have that support.

    Jai

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  47. You are such an inspiration!

    Delighted for you :)

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  48. You've won the bonus $10 gift card in my contest - hooray! I was so excited to see your name come up! Please email me your address so I can get that in the mail. :)

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  49. Congratulations! What great news!

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  50. The 70s were definitely not boring -- I was there and I speak from first-hand experience...

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