When I give talks or signings or make appearances at book clubs, I'm almost invariably asked some version of this question, usually by someone with a slightly awestruck expression: "So, are your relatives excited to have an author in the family?"
Thanks to a recent conversation with my mother, I now have a terrific new story to help answer to this question.
On the phone yesterday, she was complaining that there's nothing good on TV and she doesn't like to watch as much in the summer.
"You could always pick up one of those books of mine you've been collecting," I teased, since my mom has never been a reader (and often makes unintentionally hilarious excuses trying to explain herself.)
She then launches into a story about how I might enjoy reading but she's never...(loses train of her thought, before launching into:) "It reminds me of when my sisters once convinced me I'd just LOVE buying a kit and making my own hook rug. I loathed every minute of it. It was torture! Sheer torture."
Then it hit me. She was comparing the odious task of reading one of my books to what I remember as her years-long struggle to finish the single ugliest rust-and-floral shag hook ever to come out of the 70's.
Better yet, she had no idea why I broke up laughing and thanked her for the brilliant anecdote!
To be fair, both of my parents love to brag on me, just as they're very proud of my brother the electrician and my sister the RN. In turn, I adore my family, including my husband and son, and think it's probably healthier that to them that my career is simply one small facet of who I am to them and not the focal point.
Besides, over the years, their many "flattering" comments have helped me keep my sense of perspective -- and my sense of humor.
If there's a lesson to be drawn from this, maybe it's that you can choose to collect a bag of bitter hurts, or laugh and take things in stride. You have very little control over anything your family members say about your writing, but all the control in the world over how you choose to perceive it.
So what's the "best" comment a family member's ever made about your writing?
Thanks to a recent conversation with my mother, I now have a terrific new story to help answer to this question.
On the phone yesterday, she was complaining that there's nothing good on TV and she doesn't like to watch as much in the summer.
"You could always pick up one of those books of mine you've been collecting," I teased, since my mom has never been a reader (and often makes unintentionally hilarious excuses trying to explain herself.)
She then launches into a story about how I might enjoy reading but she's never...(loses train of her thought, before launching into:) "It reminds me of when my sisters once convinced me I'd just LOVE buying a kit and making my own hook rug. I loathed every minute of it. It was torture! Sheer torture."
Then it hit me. She was comparing the odious task of reading one of my books to what I remember as her years-long struggle to finish the single ugliest rust-and-floral shag hook ever to come out of the 70's.
Better yet, she had no idea why I broke up laughing and thanked her for the brilliant anecdote!
To be fair, both of my parents love to brag on me, just as they're very proud of my brother the electrician and my sister the RN. In turn, I adore my family, including my husband and son, and think it's probably healthier that to them that my career is simply one small facet of who I am to them and not the focal point.
Besides, over the years, their many "flattering" comments have helped me keep my sense of perspective -- and my sense of humor.
If there's a lesson to be drawn from this, maybe it's that you can choose to collect a bag of bitter hurts, or laugh and take things in stride. You have very little control over anything your family members say about your writing, but all the control in the world over how you choose to perceive it.
So what's the "best" comment a family member's ever made about your writing?
Comments
Since I was working on advertising copy for Maytag washers at the time she called, and was about to move on to extolling the wonders of Big O Tires, that made me laugh.
Btw, I had one of those 70s shag rugs on the wall. My cop sister made it for me for a housewarming gift.
Well, to me they are.
However, while she does not read my books herself, she talks me up to everyone who does read and keeps my cover flats hanging on her walls (she's an artist). Support comes in all forms :)
And JoAnn, I had a finish of my rescue mutts ripping a shag rug from the wall and shaking it like a dead rat! :)
You're right, Debra, about support coming in all forms. I lot of times, I think it's much easier for people who don't know an author well to really immerse themselves in her books.
And some people are just never going to buy what you're selling. That's ok, as long as there are others out there eager for our tales.
He does, however, listen to my endless prate about the publishing industry and has rightly said to me on a number of occasions, "Take a pill. There are no emergencies in publishing. A publishing emergency is like a fire on a glacier."
Happily, I can go back to what I love doing without rancor, and happily, for every friend and family member who doesn't understand why I do what I do, there are the same number who think it's wonderful. My MIL (who recently passed away), adored romances and was incredibly proud of having a romance author in the family. Bless her.
I'm betting that would do it! :)
This is priceless. Love it.
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