I must start with a disclaimer: My parents taught me and my siblings to be humble. They told us to dream big, do our best, then shut up about it. No one likes people who are too impressed with themselves.
So, Mom and Dad might be horrified to see this post, but I had to share that COPIES OF THE BOOK WITH MY FIRST SHORT STORY IN IT HAVE ARRIVED! Some of you may remember that I entered a writing contest back in January and my story was selected as one of ten for publication. The books are finally here from the publisher, Buddhapuss Ink, and I’ve been fondling them inappropriately. I checked to make sure my name was listed as an author in both copies so it wasn’t just a misprint in one.
The anthology is available at B&N and Amazon if you want to read it. (No, I don’t get royalties.) Now excuse me while I resume running with it in slo-mo through a field of flowers.
30 Comments
Donna
July 25, 2011 at 2:05 amCongratulations, Elyse! Soooo excited for you! And inappropriate fondling is required. : )
Brett Battles
July 25, 2011 at 6:26 amAWESOME! Couldn’t be more thrilled for you! 🙂 You are granted this one time only pass* to YELL FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS about your achievement.
(*one time only is not meant to actually mean “one time only”, and this pass for tooting of one’s horn can be renewed as needed.)
Pop Culture Nerd
July 25, 2011 at 11:19 amThanks for letting me renew the pass as needed. I hope you won’t regret that later and yank my membership.
Christine
July 25, 2011 at 7:23 am*happy dance* and a “SQUEE!!” for you, my friend! How exciting, Elyse!!!
Thought you’d be able to appreciate the sentiments expressed in this video clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOTDn2A7hcY
Pop Culture Nerd
July 25, 2011 at 11:16 amHaha! I hope I’m not a typical bastard! BTW, my manager also reps M. Emmet Walsh, the actor who’s taking a shot at Navin. It’s a small world and we’re all related.
Christine
July 25, 2011 at 11:25 amI had to look up that video, b/c I immediately thought of the excitement in that scene and that he was saying something about things happening because his name was in print. And no, you are not a typical bastard…you are an extraordinary YOU! Glad it made you laugh.
Enjoy your success! ;P
Jen Forbus
July 25, 2011 at 7:34 amYou are so cute! Congratulations…preen away, the folks will get over it. 🙂
Elizabeth
July 25, 2011 at 7:37 amCongratulations!
Naomi Johnson
July 25, 2011 at 8:07 amHUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you! This is beyond cool! I hope to follow in your footsteps one day. And hope is indeed what you’ve given me. (As well as a very fine story, I’m sure I’ll find out as soon as I order my copy. Which I must do right now. ‘Scuse please.)
Pop Culture Nerd
July 25, 2011 at 11:21 amBut, but…you’ve BEEN published! I’ve seen your name on a COVER. With giant alien eyeballs and stuff!
Lauren
July 25, 2011 at 8:19 amI was going to say I couldn’t be prouder of you, but that would be a lie. As proud and happy as I am about your story, I’m prouder of you as a person and to have you as a friend. Congrats 1,000 times over, you deserve it! Great story, can’t wait to get my mitts on the ‘real deal.’
LOB
Christine
July 25, 2011 at 8:22 amHear, hear! Quite right and very well said, Lauren!
Pop Culture Nerd
July 25, 2011 at 11:23 amWhen people are really, really nice to me, I’m sometimes rendered speechless. You just…I’m—
Lauren
July 25, 2011 at 12:01 pmOh, I was just being sarcastic.
There, does that help?
You know I’m really mean and cold-hearted, so any warm and fuzzy content should be taken with a grain of salt.
There, back to your normal hat size.
(Love ya!)
Travis
July 25, 2011 at 10:16 amCongratulations Elyse! You’re a published author! Rock on! \m/ 🙂 \m/
EIREGO
July 25, 2011 at 10:42 amI bet you really are running through a field of flowers in slow motion! CONGRATS!
Pop Culture Nerd
July 25, 2011 at 11:09 amOh wow, thank you so much, everyone, for your super generous words. You’re making me feel ten feet tall today and since I’m normally only 5′ 2″, that’s almost double my size. (Hubster is saying in the background, “That extra size had better not be in your head!”)
By the way, the stories in the anthology are all YA in case that matters to some of you. The description is clear on B&N and Amazon but I thought I’d mention it here, too.
Thanks again for making me dance, and if you’d like to join me in that field of flowers, I’ve got extra beads and snacks!
Elizabeth
July 25, 2011 at 2:03 pm5’2″ huh? You’re still taller than me. 😛
Pop Culture Nerd
July 26, 2011 at 12:19 amWhat? The only people I’m ever taller than are 5-year-olds. Who are sitting down.
Elizabeth Duncan
July 25, 2011 at 11:37 amI am so happy for you, but not particularly surprised. I’ve thought for ages what a wonderful writer you are. But a book feels especially good, doesn’t it?
Poncho
July 25, 2011 at 12:58 pmMany congrats, PCN! That is really amazing. I have to get my copy from Amazon ASAP!!
le0pard13
July 25, 2011 at 2:36 pmI think your parents would understand ;-). That is simply awesome, Elyse. Well deserved congratulations!!!
p.s., of course, your parents advice reminded me of this exchange:
IIgor: You know, I’ll never forget my old dad. When these things would happen to him… the things he’d say to me.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What did he say?
Igor: “What the hell are you doing in the bathroom day and night? Why don’t you get out of there and give someone else a chance?”
Shell Sherree
July 25, 2011 at 4:32 pmI’m beside myself with chuffedness for you, Elyse! And I can still see your modesty clearly displayed on your diaphanous sleeve during your extended moment of slo-mo through the fields ~ your parents must be so proud. Big congrats and hugs. {I love the name of the publisher ~ cool to the power of ten.}
Laura Benedict
July 25, 2011 at 6:39 pmI’m sooooo happy for you, Elyse. There’s nothing else like it, is there? Savor the moment, enjoy it, embrace it. Then…get back to work on the next one! (I know you’re thinking about it : ) xo
Pop Culture Nerd
July 26, 2011 at 12:31 amElizabeth D. and Laura—No, there really isn’t anything like seeing your name in a book as an author for the first time. Thank you for sharing this rookie’s delight.
Poncho—Yay! Hope you enjoy my story. If you don’t…well, there are nine others in there!
le0pard13—Did you have cameras in my childhood home? How do you know about the bathroom thing?
Shell—Oh, I’m stealing your chuffedness for sure, both the feeling and the word. I’d be chuffed to the nth degree if you’d come dance with me, and bring your homemade ruffled dress!
Rachel
July 28, 2011 at 7:24 pmCongratulations, Elyse!!! This is fantastic news! I can’t wait to get a copy! Until then I will console myself with a preview of your “name” in print. Intrigued? Well, guess what???? Today I received my latest batch of books for review and I was flipping through the ARC on top and came by the front page of blurbs for the author. And what did my little eyes spy? Well, by golly, it was YOU! There is a blurb about the author from Pop Culture Nerd. I called Jeff over and pointed it out and he went, “Hey, awesome, that’s Elyse!”
Congrats again!
Pop Culture Nerd
July 30, 2011 at 12:34 amHey, thanks, Rachel! Which book do I have a blurb in? I’m usually last to know.
Rachel
August 5, 2011 at 6:44 pmIt was REBIRTH by Littlefield.
And how’s this for coincidence? Just realized today that the third place winner in this contest/compilation is a colleague of my mom-in-law. Small world…
The1stdaughter (Danielle)
August 12, 2011 at 6:59 pmSo, I’m just now getting around to this, but I definitely want to say Congratulations! When I received my copy in the mail I immediately looked for your name after our talk at LATFOB. I was seriously beyond excited for you, and still am! Your story is fabulous too! Congrats!
Pop Culture Nerd
August 14, 2011 at 10:41 pmThank YOU, Danielle! You helped make it possible.