After the ecstasy, the laundry. That’s the name of a Jack Kornfield book about a Zen koan. To me the meaning is clear. No matter how many wonderful things happen, there’s always the mundane day-to-day housekeeping duties that need our attention.
Like in February, at my huge launch party, I signed books for about 150 people attending, I had a blast, meeting up with old friends, giving a speech about the meaning of my book, collecting kudos all around. The next morning, I was washing clothes. Quite literally, the ecstasy and the laundry.
This week I got wonderful news. Stamped Out, the first in the Stamping Sisters series, was singled out for a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. This is big news, so exciting, so validating, I’m thrilled. According to my editor, Sandy Harding, this is the first time a cozy mystery from Berkley has received a starred review. Getting the review will translate directly into more sales from bookstores and libraries. Awesome. I was flying high.
You can read it here. Scroll down to Mass market. You can't miss it. It has a big red star.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6583334.html
And then the computer died. A quiet death, so unlike it’s usual noisy everyday existence, that I knew it was a lost cause. I tried to hang on to my good feelings engendered by the review, blocking out the lost files, the backup detail, all of the time and energy that would be necessary in getting and setting up a new system. Not to mention the inconvenience of working on my 13-inch laptop.
There’s another not-so Zen koan that’s also in play here. My own little truism. It goes like this: Make a little money and it will be spent. I was so looking forward to the paycheck for doing the Santa Clara Library Mystery Author panel talks that I’ve been taking part in this summer. Just a little mad money. Don’t get me wrong, I would have done the panels for free. I’m having a marvelous time, being on panels with Penny Warner, Kelli Stanley, Cara Black, Claire Langley-Hawthorne. No remuneration required. But nice to have.
And now it’ll go to pay for my shiny new computer.
Catch me at the Milpitas Library on Thursday, August 14th at 7:30 with Penny, Cara, Claire and Mark Coggins or at the Saratoga Library on Monday the 18th with Penny, Cara, Mark and Michelle Gagnon.
I’ll show you my starred review. It’s a beaut.
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5 comments:
I read the review--it's fabulous, Terri! Congrats!
Go Terri! Great review!
I understand your frustration about getting a few $$'s ahead only to find something needs repair or replaced...At least you can enjoy the prospect of a faster more upto date computer...But then again our new plumbing will provide worry free flushing..Hugs c
Thanks! The review is a thrill. It's nice to be recognized.
Fabulous review, Terri. I am so happy for you. But sorry about your computer. Very nice about your panels at the libary.
Just be sure to hang on to the old hard drive. You can stick it in an external case and get your files off of it. Saved my bacon, once.
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