Here is a sample subscription for you. Click here to start your FREE subscription
- Reality's Slap
- More Misconceptions About Writing and Publishing
- Some interesting things happened last we...
- Endorsements for Darlington Woods
- Misconceptions About the Writing Life
- More Recent Articles
- Search wide-eyed fiction
There are a lot of rewarding things about working in the field of physical therapy (my job that pays the bills) and a lot more rewarding things about doing it in someone's home. But at times it can be a real slap in the face by Reality. People suffer, they hurt, they cry, their lives are turned upside down and sometimes with no hope of ever being turned right side up again.
I'm currently seeing a young woman, just 34, with multiple sclerosis. She lives with her sister as she is unable to care for herself. Her movements are jerky, uncoordinated, and awkward. She walks using a walker and much effort so spends most of her time in a wheelchair. She has a seven-year-old son.
Most of the time she smiles and talks the best she can. She is such a sweet woman, such a kind soul.
Seeing how this awful disease has overtaken her and slowly debilitated her is saddening and maddening. It's downright cruel and viscious and merciless. I hate MS.
But the thing that's the hardest is watching her interact with her seven-year-old son. Her sister is raising the boy, stepping in as his surrogate mother, but I can tell my patient wants to be his mommy. Every boy needs a mommy. I can see the pain in her eyes when she can't be there for him or when her sister has to step in and do what she cannot. It's enough to put a knot in my throat and tears in my eyes.
So what do I do? Try to brighten her day as much as I can. Encourage her. Point out the areas where she's improving and celebrate what she can do. And pray for her.
Folks, none of us know what tomorrow holds. No one can tell what next year will bring. All of us are just one day away, one hour away, one minute, one second away from having our lives turned upside down. But for the grace of God I could be that thirty-something unable to care for my own children.
Celebrate, praise, laugh, love, run and play and explore and enjoy . . .
Here are more misconceptions about writing and being an author.
Misconception #5: Anyone can write a book if they only had the time.
The record: Okay, so this one is actually correct. Anyone can write a book. But no, not anyone can write a book worthy of being published no matter how much time they have. That reasoning would lead one to assume that anyone can play professional baseball if they were only given the chance. Or anyone can play the piano at concert level if they only had a piano. Writing is both a talent and a skill, both nature and nurture, innate and learned. Yes, it takes time, and determination, and hard work, and practice, and more practice, and humility, and perseverance, and creativity, and a lot of hard work.
Misconception #6: If you publish a book it will be in every bookstore.
The record: Don't we all wish. The reality is that your book getting in a bookstore depends on the publishers sales reps and the bookstore's or chain's buyers. The two have to click to make the deal happen. If your last name is Sparks or King or Patterson or Grisham, yes, you will be in EVERY bookstore, but for most of us, we can only hope for that.
Misconception #7: Once your published, continuing to be published is a cinch.
The record: Being published once is not a guarantee of being published twice. Every author lives with the fear that the book he or she is working on now will be the last one he or she gets published. It's a healthy fear, though, because it keeps us on our toes always striving to grow and improve our writing and come up with new and fresh and captivating story lines.
Misconception #8: Once you have a contract, anything you write will be accepted by the publisher.
The record: Um, no. Wrong. Every book idea has to be scrutinized by the editorial team, the marketing team, the accounting team, the sales team, and every idea has to be approved. I've had ideas both rejected and tweaked. That's the business. The center of the publishing universe is not the author, it's the consumer. And publishers will only accept ideas they think they can sell. Some get accepted, the rest rejected. That's life.
Any other authors out there, feel free to leave a comment with other misconceptions you've run in to. Or if you have any questions about writing or the publishing process, fire away.
Some interesting things happened last week on the blogs of other notables in the CBA.
First, Ted Dekker posted his comments about the writing guidelines of the Love Inspired book line, an imprint of Harlequin that publishes Christian romance novels. His opinion sparked a flurry of comments both supportive and not so supportive.
One of those comments came from a rebuttal post by agent Chip MacGregor. If you haven't been following this, it's pretty interesting stuff. And if you read the posts, make sure to peruse the comments too. Ted does wind up backtracking a bit and apologizing to Love Inspired authors, whom he never meant to insult. And Chip then gives Ted kudos for "a very nice gesture on his part."
Check out the posts and see what you think.
Now, in other exciting news, Friday I got the cover art for Darlington Woods. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.
Here's several endorsements that have come in for Darlington Woods so far. Remember, it releases May 4, 2010 but more information will be coming on how to win a pre-release copy. Stay tuned!
Oh yeah, before I post the endorsements, for anyone living in the Philly area, I'll be doing a multi-author booksigning this Saturday from 1:00-3:00 at The Vine Christian Shoppe in Springfield, PA, right outside Philly. Stop by and see me (us) and get some signed copies of books. They make great Christmas gifts.
Now, for the endorsements:
Dellosso establishes himself as a frontrunner in Christian horror. His books delve into the darkness of evil, yet come out blazing with the light of God's power and forgiveness. Darlington Woods is fast-paced, creepy, and sure to spur readers toward a deeper walk with Christ. I'm a certified Mike Dellosso fan!
--Eric Wilson, NY Times bestselling author of Fireproof and Haunt of Jackals
Dellosso skillfully blends suspense, symbolism, and the supernatural into a compelling thriller in the vein of Dekker and Peretti. Gray isn’t a color in Dellosso’s moral palette, and Darlington Woods makes that clear. This is a powerful story you’ll be thinking about long after closing the book
—C. J. Darlington, Cofounder of TitleTrakk.com and Author of Thicker Than Blood
Taut, tense, and frightening. A high-speed ride that will keep you guessing until the end.
—Tosca Lee, Author of Demon: A Memoir
Mike Dellosso’s brilliant light shines into the dark places of the human heart and illuminates our most terrible fears. Don’t look away, because the only way out of Darlington Woods is through it, and it’s a journey you’ll want to take.
—Erin Healy, Best-selling Author of Never Let You Go, Kiss, and Burn
Once again Mike Dellosso manages to shine the light of God’s grace into the darkest crevices of the human condition with amazing clarity. Just when I thought Mike had bested himself in Scream, he brings us face-to-face with monsters so vivid they can only be real. Darlington Woods is his best yet, though I am sure he has even darker corners yet to explore.
—Tim George, FictionAddict.com
Dellosso never disappoints, and Darlington Woods is no exception. With spine-tingling suspense and Dellosso’s trademark spiritual message that lingers long after the last page, Darlington Woods joins The Hunted and Scream as must-read chillers.
—Susan Sleeman, TheSuspenseZone.com
5-4-10!!
The author part of me always gets asked some wild questions and runs into some wacky assumptions about authors. I thought I'd highlight a few and "set the record straight," at least from my perspective and experience.
Misconception #1: If you're an author you must be famous or some kind of celebrity.
The record: I'm an author and I'm not famous nor am I a celebrity. While in line at the grocery store, I've never seen my face on STAR magazine next to Angelina's or Brad's (and believe me, I check). I've never been stalked, never had to fight off obnoxious reporters or photographers, and quite frankly live my life in relative anonymity. And I like it that way. But it would be nice to just once have someone say to me, "Hey, aren't you . . .?" I have been mistook for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and, in my younger days, Michael J. Fox. Hey, that's good enough.
Misconception #2: If you're an author you must write full time.
The record: Very few (VERY few) authors can afford to write full time. And the majority of them are folks whose spouse has a "real" job. Writing books is a tough business to be in and just is not lucrative at all. It's good for pocket change and grocery money. People act shocked when they realize I have a real job AND write, as if the real job isn't necessary. Folks, if my family of five lived off what I've made so far off my books, we'd be squatting in some shanty in the Ozarks . . . or living quite comfortably off government hand-outs (ahem). Hmmm.
Misconception #3: If you're an author you must be rich.
The record: I think I just answered this. I'm always amazed at how skewed people's understanding of writing is. They hear names like Rowling and King and Patterson and Evanovich and how they're selling millions and living the good life and just assume all authors enjoy the same luxury. It's a shame, but America just isn't that literate.
Misconception #4: There's no way I have time to hold down a full time job AND write AND be involved in church AND spend time with my family.
The record: It's amazing how much time there is in a day if you use it wisely. Time management is one of the things that comes naturally to me. I don't squander a lot to time. I have time to write and do writerly things (in the early morning when every one else is sleeping), time to do my job, time to spend with the family, time to do church stuff, and time to just chill. There's 24 hours in a day. I sleep about seven of those, work nine (counting travel to and from) . . . that leaves me eight. Eight hours! That's a lot of time in a day. I can get A LOT done in eight hours.
Stay tuned for more misconceptions coming soon . . .
More Recent Articles
