I'VE MOVED...

Here.

Come see me at Making it Up's new home!

WHY NOT?

It has been quite the busy half-year for me as I watched my debut novel find a second life in paperback, saw my second novel launched alongside the first, and wrote most of my third amidst the commotion. During it all, I was reminded of my final college undergraduate semester back in fall, 2000, when I was taking something like seventeen credits and trying to keep hold of my 4.0 GPA. Crazy busy--but stimulating too.

There was no material gain to be had in finishing my degree with a "perfect" GPA; but I was determined to do it because I had come to realize that I could. Now I see that, in many ways, that mindset is what saw me through the five years it took me to go from aspiring novelist to published novelist. It exemplifies my philosophy about making choices, which is to ask myself Why not? instead of Why?

When I was in Chicago a couple of weeks back, I got to see Elizabeth Berg and Elizabeth Strout on a panel together. The panel's moderator, in introducing Ms. Berg, used the word "prolific." The context--a so-called prolific author of twenty-one books seated next to one who has published only three (and has won the Pulitzer Prize)--made it clear that usually, in the moderator's world, "prolific" = "hack."

Ms. Berg was inclined to remark that she writes at that pace because she can't do otherwise. I wanted to jump out of my seat and yell "Amen!" Why not write a book a year if the stories come, and the work is good? And so, while I await my editor's feedback on the manuscript I've recently turned in, I'm beginning preliminary work on book #4.

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FINALLY, I've found enough time to get back to work on my website. Yes, I'm using a design firm, but I set things up so that I create and maintain all the content--which has taken me forever, but will be a time saver for me in the long run. We expect to go "live" with the site this week.

As part of the overhaul, I'll no longer post here on Blogger (not that I've been doing much of that lately anyway!) and will post, instead, on the site's own blog page. I'll put up a redirect link here as soon as the new site's up. Hope to see you there!

Hugs,

Therese

PATH TO SUCCESS

I spent a lot of my youth dreaming of success, of one kind or another, and always beyond the boundaries of anything familiar.  I dreamed big.  

Home was a tiny, disheveled house in a small, uninspiring Illinois town, and very few people I knew or knew of aspired to much more than the life they were leading.  I don't know why I felt differently.  I just wanted...more. Different. Other. I loved the area (and still love it) and yet I knew I didn't quite fit in.

Twenty-three years have passed since I left there.  I moved to Texas, then the Philippines, then Minnesota, Wisconsin, Minnesota again, and finally North Carolina.  I married (at 18), had children (at 23 and 26), divorced (at 30), earned a degree and remarried (at 32), earned another degree (at 38), and finally, finally found my way into that big dream when I sold a novel for publication at 39.  Today (at 42), my books are published in nine languages and more than 28 countries, which I think is a pretty good start toward where I still hope to go.

Recently I came across an article by Uma Pemmaraju in which celebrities "share secrets of success."  I'm not anywhere near as accomplished as the people interviewed for the article (Whoopi Goldberg and Joel Osteen among them), but I've gotten farther than the life I was born to would have suggested.  So I wondered whether I was doing the things these people were doing, thinking the way these people think.  I read the article--and found that I'm pretty well on board.  Maybe you are, too; take a look:

1. How You Think Is Everything. — Learn to visualize success and not failure. The phrase "You are what you think" is a powerful idea. Don’t listen to the voices that are pulling you down -- you can’t spend all your time trying to win over your critics. Run your own race.

2. It's Not About the Money — Material things are the results of success, but are not success itself. It’s great having a nice home, a six-figure salary or luxury vacations, but success isn’t measured by the dollars. It’s measured by how satisfied you feel.

3. Goals, Goal, Goals — Remember that goals must be meaningful and personal; otherwise, you won’t be inspired to achieve them.

4. Great Expectations — For something desirable to happen, you must want the event to happen, firmly believing it will occur and expecting it to take place.

5. To Fail Is to Succeed — Failure pushes you to levels you never dreamed of, and can open doors you never thought possible. See failure as a life lesson for what works and what doesn’t.

6. Dream Big — Never be afraid to follow the dreams of your heart. It’s the fuel for success. Your dreams give you the energy and inspiration to aim for an authentic life.

7. Take Responsibility — Stop expecting things to just happen without action. You need to take action to reach your goals, without blaming others for bumps or setbacks you may find along the way. Own the choices you make: Be a victor, not a victim.

8. Positive, Not Negative — If you are passionate about your dreams and goals, you’re likely to attract people who will want to support and help you. Call on them when you need encouragement or guidance.

9. Never Stop Learning — Read books, take classes, take the time to learn all you can about things that excite, motivate or inspire you. Never lose that sense of wonder or curiosity when it comes to seeking more knowledge.

10. Belief in a Higher Power — Regardless of your religion, develop a strong sense of faith in God and have a daily attitude of gratitude for what you have in this life. Believe that there is a divine purpose to your life and know that there is power in prayer.

The list is a good primer for success in any/all parts of life--and the real definition of success is achieving a happy, fulfilled life. Do you see yourself in this list?  

BORDERS BOOK CLUB!

If we're Facebook friends, you might have already seen the above photo in your feed.  If we're not Facebook friends, why aren't we?  Let's remedy that!

The photo is my firstborn on display at my local Borders Book Store on Wednesday, showing that it's a Borders Book Club Pick!  I was in the store buying someone else's beloved offspring when I saw this; it took me completely by surprise.  I hadn't heard that the book had been selected--so I asked a clerk whether the books on this front-of-the-store Book Club display were store picks or chain picks.  She said, "Chain," and I said, "Whoop!" or something dignified like that.

I wondered, of course, why I hadn't heard.  Turns out that Borders hadn't notified my publisher until this week, which is why they in turn hadn't yet notified me.  I am so completely thrilled; this selection is akin to being an IndieBound pick (which Souvenir was last year), because unlike some of these sorts of promos, which are marketing deals between book store and publisher, it's the booksellers who chose these books.

Thank you, Borders booksellers!!

In other news...let me share this somewhat unique Reunion review, from another of my month-long cyber-tour stops.  This reviewer writes a brief but savvy literary-influenced review that I appreciated very much.  Also from the tour: this interview at Beyond the Books, where I talk about how and why I chose Random House/Ballantine Books to publish my work.

As I hear from more and more of you who've read both of my books, I'm ever-more fascinated. Some readers who LOVED Souvenir passionately are saying they only LIKED Reunion.  Some readers who only LIKED Souvenir are saying they LOVED Reunion.  And some readers are saying they LOVED both books. If there are readers who hated either or both, I'm not hearing from them and that's just fine with me.

So, what's coming up?  As part of the cyber-tour I'm doing live radio on Monday evening, 8:30 eastern time--a radio show called Introducing Writers! that's broadcast online via BlogTalkRadio.  I'm finishing Breakaway (about five chapters or so to go...), then I'm off to do events in Madison WI, Chicago IL, and Moline IL before I hang up my spurs for a little while.

Can someone tell me why, and how, there were so many more hours in the day when I was a kid? The school day lasted for-ever, and there was endless time in the evening for TV.  When the ten o'clock news came on, I'd shut off the TV and pick up a novel and read for a while before going to sleep.  And in summertime!  In summertime the days had so many hours in them that there was even time to get bored!  Unimaginable.

I'm not complaining, but, truthfully, I could use a dose of boredom right now.

Hugs to all,

Therese

THEY'RE TALKING TO ME

My blog tour continues, and it's a good thing I don't have to physically participate because right now, as I close in on the final pages of my next book, I'm like some poor schizophrenic, my mind occupied with people and events that aren't real.  I've been spending my days in northern Minnesota, worried about what's happening to Laurel--is she losing her mind?--and wondering who, among the group of one-time friends, Tim is talking about when in the opening chapter he says that events will unfairly conspire to "leave one of us dead well before our time should have been up."

Seriously, until this past weekend, I didn't know who he was referring to--didn't know who dies.  I was out walking the neighborhood trails when it came to me like a revelation.  I saw the whole climax scene unfold as if I was seeing a film. The experience was enlightening in one way--now I know what I need to write--and shocking in another.

I confess, it was a little bit worrisome to have something so crucial to the story still so amorphous, this close to the end.  (Yes, I had general ideas of scene, setting, conflict, but nothing concrete.)  But what I love is that if I'm startled and surprised by it, there's a good chance that you will be too.  

 

So, that's what I've been up to, and that's why I'm a little behind on sharing the tour stops with you. You might enjoy my Cafe of Dreams guest post, "A Few Things I've Learned About Publishing that You Should Know, Too."  Also, they reviewed Reunion there today; the review opens with: "Reunion is a wonderfully moving and emotional story, perfect for a day of relaxation because once you begin reading, you will not want to stop!" 

That made a nice start to my day!  I hope you've had a nice start to yours.

Hugs,

Therese

ON THE (VIRTUAL) ROAD

This month, while I'm finishing Breakaway (getting so-o-o close now), my publisher has me cyber-touring to promote Reunion.  I love this virtual-touring--no need to worry about what to wear!  And, I get to sleep in my own bed every night.

And, I'll finish my next book on time.

And, I get to go to a cool Cinco de Mayo party tomorrow evening, which is way better than drinking my celebratory margaritas alone in some hotel bar.  Which I probably wouldn't do anyway.  I'd probably sit in my room and watch HGTV.

My first stop is an interview on the multi-media feature site BLOGCRITICS, where, among other things, I tell which author I'd trade places with if I could.  Check out my answer, and then tell me which author you'd be if you got to/had to choose.

Today, I'd be tempted to trade places with pretty much anyone who doesn't look as if she was shot in the leg. I got my stitches out yesterday, but then had to undergo an ultrasound exam of the wound to see whether the thing that feels like a stone stuck inside it might be due to bits of stick left behind.  Fortunately, no stick--but I'm told that if the "capsule" of inflamed tissue becomes infected--squeamish folks, skip this next bit--a surgeon will have to slice it open, drain it, and clean it.  Doesn't that sound like a good lead-in to shorts weather?

Happy May, everyone!

-Therese

THIS AND THAT

Edit:  This just in: Souvenir has gone back to press again!!!  I'm so happy to see my "firstborn" making so many new friends.  ;)

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Between my never-ending list of must-dos and the recent birth of my web designer's second child, progress on the redesigned website has been slow going. But, it's nearly done now.  I'll debut it as soon as I've got the content in place.

Meantime, I'm still nursing a wound that saw me spending the end of last Saturday at the nearest emergency room, and coming home with three stitches in my right inner thigh.  This is not the best spot to be stabbed by a sharp branch (I was breaking up firewood), but I suppose it's not the worst, either. Parents have been telling it wrong all these years: it isn't, "Be careful with that stick or you'll put it in your eye," it's "Be careful with that stick or you'll put it in your thigh."

My own book club discussed Souvenir on Tuesday, which I thought might be kind of weird but turned out to be wonderful.  Truly, one of the best discussions I've been a part of to date.  There is something so affirming--and sort of surreal--about participating in such great discussions about a book I wrote. Always there is a whisper of who woulda thought it? floating in my mind throughout...

Last night my son's entire high school class (of about twelve students--he's now in a very small, very progressive school) put on Act V of Othello. Daniel, who is ordinarily soft-spoken, played the villain Iago, and impressed us with both his acting skills and his resonant voice. The boy should be on the stage, I'm telling you...  We were also impressed by his classmate Ayn, who, in a reverse of the Shakespearean-era practice of men playing female roles, played Othello. After the performance we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Shakespeare and had cake in his honor.

I'm coming into the home stretch with this first solid draft of Breakaway; about five weeks to go, now.  This is the stage when all I want to do is pour myself into the writing because all the really hard work--the set up, the weaving of elements, the discovery of themes--has been done, propelling the story toward its most dramatic moments.  Now is when I start to believe I really will finish the thing, and I get impatient to have it complete so that I can begin the comprehensive revision stage.  

I'm really excited about this book.  Not only do I love the story and its characters, but I think I've stepped up my game by using a very tight focus, a pair of alternating first-person narratives, and present tense.  

So, I'd better get back to it.  But tell me, what's new with you?