We Wrote a Book...

The Journey of Writing Books

I happened to walk by the television during the announcement of the Best Supporting Actress category for the 2023 Academy Awards as my hubby had just serendipitously switched it on. I paused, wondering who would win, and when Jamie Lee Curtis’s name was announced, I smiled knowing she’d earned her acting chops throughout years of peaks and valleys slogging it through the entertainment industry. Then, I listened to her speech, and something deep inside of me resonated with her. She rattled off a list of names having to do with the award-winning movie, raised the golden statue, and yelled, “We won an Oscar!”, then she mentioned her family, and repeated, “We won an Oscar!”. This speech continued on with colleagues and fans of her movie genres until the actress finished off with her parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, both accomplished actors in their own right, and shouted, “We won an Oscar!”

Then it hit me. What Jamie Lee Curtis said would apply to anyone who worked hard, and put in the time and effort to accomplish a huge dream or goal. Being in the Olympics. Making a professional sports team. Getting your paintings or photographs in a gallery. Writing and publishing a book. You saw where I was going with this, didn’t you?

What Ms. Curtis said rings true for me. It takes thousands of people to help you reap your reward…or in this case award. I’m not sure how many people (over a thousand for sure) who have helped me along in my writing career. From conception in 1995 to publication in 2012, and then again in 2015, it truly took a global village to help me make my dream of becoming a published author come true. Of course, I have more dreams in my back pocket. Completing both my young adult book series, starting another book series, reaching readers globally, and seeing my books translate into movies or a television series are but a sampling. Some of these goals will take years to accomplish through dog-eared determination, and others will rely on connecting to the right people at the right time. One never knows how fate will intervene, but it helps to be prepared and ready when that door swings open. I know what I’ll say too. “We wrote a book!” I’ll shout humbly, knowing that I was never alone in the midst of writing any of my books. Ever.

If you never got a chance to hear Jamie Lee Curtis’s speech, you can listen to it below. I promise, it’s short, but very powerful:

 If you’re a reader, did you realize how many people are involved in helping an author become published? If you’re an author, have you ever thought about how much support you’ve received over the years of your writing career? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!