*Writers are funny. They lie. Oh, they don’t mean to lie and they don’t realize they are lying most of the time. What do they lie about this time? Why, many are lying about how happy they are for your success!

Writers – authors in particular – say they want everyone to succeed but then turn a variety of shades of green when one of them actually does. Their frustration, though hidden, blazes in their hearts. They are asking, “Why him? Why not me?”

I’m not immune. I want Indie authors to do well, to see success. I will aid, promote, review, and chat up all of them. I will buy books, talk about my favorite authors, and do whatever I can to see authors find recognition. I don’t do it for recognition myself but to be helpful and supportive.

Sadly, this is not a two-way street. When I publish, those same authors that I promoted do not reciprocate, buy my books, or give reviews when given free books. Rarely do they share or give much publicity. It’s frustrating but honestly? Most authors are self-centered and narrowly focused. But there is a reason. It’s a kind of protection. Not everyone is like me and believes in the collective good (there ARE many others out there who are, and I’m grateful to those. This is not about them). I get it. They want to promote and sell their work.

The reveal comes when one of them becomes a best seller on Amazon, or New York Times, or USA Top 100. I’m happy for them. I cheer, promote, and talk then up again. As will all their author friends, many of whom are green at the gills.

But don’t let authors tell you that they secretly aren’t envious, even jealous. Don’t let them laugh off their frustration because they lie.

I know because I lie. And not all of us liars want to admit it because it makes us feel human and small.

I won’t tell you not to be envious of others. It is human nature. And I want to laugh when someone answers my frustration with, “you shouldn’t be jealous.” Shouldn’t is a judgement and I feel what I feel. No one can say whether it is right or not and certainly have no right to judge my feelings. If you don’t get a little green at someone’s instant success or see him or her zoom to the top of the charts and become #1, then you are remarkable and we can’t relate. Me? I’m human. I get frustrated and I get envious of seemingly easy success. Successful authors are usually quick to tell me, “but you shouldn’t.”  Why not??

Because envy can be good for you.

If you are human like me, and a struggling author like me, let’s try to work this out so that your envy becomes an understandable and useful tool for you.

• First, don’t compare yourself to others. No one writes like you. They are not you. Their sphere of work and how they got to where they are is very distinct. So, no apples vs oranges.
• Second, congratulate the successful and find out how they did it! Maybe there is useful information to be learned and lessons to absorb. You can never have too much information. Perhaps there is a “secret” you can use, too.
• Third, a kindness takes nothing away from you and improves your attitude. Not to mention that when you act like an adult you find the will to be an adult. So be nice! You liked them and/or respected them before. Tap into that and remember and mean it when you express your happiness for their achievements.
• Fourth, ask yourself what made you envious and work for it. Need to advertise more to improve your visibility? Need to tighten your writing and study your craft more? Need to publish more material? Blog more? Need help promoting? Define what is lacking and go after it. Get help. Seek out what you need and use those tools to do better. Trust that as you improve and your work is more visible that so will the good that you hope for come your way.

My friends, envy is good for you. You’re human yes, but don’t let that be an excuse. Green eyes can motivate you if you let it happen.

Someone I know had immediate and almost instantaneous success when they published their book. It rocketed to #2 in its genre in less than a day. People flocked to buy and the reviews poured in. I nearly fainted in awe and lost my mind with frustration and envy. How did this happen and what was wrong with me?

Ah, young Jedi, there is the lesson. First, this person created something needed. Second, they have a following that is several THOUSAND strong. Next, the product is quality. The word of mouth advertising after publication carried the day. The Amazon #1 bestseller status came out of a need and the following who purchased the product.

I don’t have that kind of following and my books aren’t mainstream enough to grab that kind of attention. I advertised but I’m in a totally different field and not mainstream. There is my answer, which clarified when I stepped back and examined why I felt as I did and what I could do about it. I was envious of a success that I could emulate if I wished!

Fill a need, produce a quality product, and develop a following before the product is released. Voila, my young Jedi, you have YOUR answers.

Envy can be good. It keeps you sharp and focuses on the prize. Just don’t let it get the best of you. Don’t let it stop you from promoting others, buying books by others, reading and reviewing works by others. Don’t be them. Be you and be the kind of person that others will – or hope – to emulate.

So, I told you I lie about being envious. I won’t ever admit it publically and certainly never to other authors. And I may never know their kind of success. I have come to accept that what I work for and what I earn may never be equal to others. But I will keep working, studying, writing, and publishing. Most of all, I will keep believing in what I do. Because I write for me and for you. My envy will never get in the way (though I may never be able to stop feeling it). Instead, let us use envy to do better and achieve our dreams.

Let’s make green the color of enviable success for both of us.

TELL ME — do you fib about feeling envious? And how do you deal with it?

*(this article is prepared after speaking with over 50 authors whose comments were provided with a promise of anonymity. The observation is a generalization and not intended to reflect the attitudes of all writers/authors. Nor is this written with malice or any intention to offend). 

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress):

– Writer’s Workbook – Learning to Write Everyday – Beginners Volume  (expected April 2017)
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures (Nov 2017)
– prequel novella to the Bower series (May 2017)
– four-part fairy story (part one complete) (Christmas 2017)

On the Desk: (next reading): waiting on my next book

Off the Desk (book just finished): Prince Lestat 2 by Anne Rice

Coming Soon:  Interview with new folks and more about upcoming giveaways, plus more commentaries.

Happy New Year! I can still say that. According to what Mom used to tell me, I have two weeks into the New Year before wishing happiness becomes passé. I don’t know where she learned her rule but I’ve always lived by it. So, Happy New Year! And in keeping with the traditions of a new year, I’m going to look back at 2016 and remind us both what a great year it was for me as an author.

Last year marked the first year that I could say I was more visible online than ever before. Here is a brief review of the year’s premium events:

Jan – Guest panelist on an Author/Publisher panel sponsored by local library

Feb – Attended Book ‘Em NC Conference as signing author and guest panelist

Mar – Interviewed twice with blog talk radio’s La Femme de Prose, part of Focus on Women Magazine

Apr – Guest author for Poetry and Pastry at the local library// Guest speaker and presenter at Robeson Community College’s Annual Poetry and Prose Awards

May – Featured author in the May/Jun issue of Focus on Women Magazine

**Decided to hire a Personal Author Assistant, Terri Wilson. Best decision ever. ***

Jul – Guest blogger on KerryAdrienne.com // guest at #carolinareads // on blog talk radio with La Femme de Prose

            Published new book, The Book of Now (nonfiction poetry)

Aug – Guest on Yvonne Mason’s Off The Chain podcast/radio show

            Held a Book Launch for The Book of Now in a local wine bar – sold lots of books

Sep – sponsored a hole during a local golf tournament (sold two books online from it)

interview appeared in Don Massenzio’s blog

Oct – Panelist at local library for National Indie Author Day

Nov – article published in Southern Writers Magazine on NaNoWriMo

            Published new book, Breaking the Glass Slipper (fictional memoir)

Dec – on the air with Off The Chain

Awards won in 2016

Global Ebook Bronze Award in Fiction for Midnight Assassin
Global Ebook Honorable Mention Award in Cover Design for Midnight Assassin

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Whew. That was a monumental year! Published two books, received awards, appeared in print magazines, online blogs, and on the radio several times! Something happened every month. I’m very proud of the year.

A quick reality check. Most successful authors would tell you that my year was just okay. Yup, successful authors find much more massive sales due to much more massive amounts of publicity. Makes you sigh, doesn’t it? It does for me.

In an effort to improve publicity and visibility online and in local areas, I started my own street team in May – Sherry’s Team Phoenix. Membership is small right now but I fully expect that to improve this year. (You can read about it via a link under Press, News and Events tab. We’d love to have you join us)

So let’s just take a moment to reflect. You should look back over your year too, and take note of the GOOD things you accomplished. This isn’t the moment to see failure or polish regret. This is the moment to say, “Good job, you made progress and worked hard.” Go ahead pat yourself on the back. Even if you only did one new thing, do it. It is one more thing than you had before and that’s progress!

All right, now I challenge us to do more this year. I have to confess I don’t have a major plan yet. I have two conferences upcoming and I hope to have two books this year (working on it).  I’m entering my two newest books in some awards. But I don’t have a publicity plan yet but I will. Time enough to say what I didn’t do or did incorrectly. For now, what a year 2016 was. And thank YOU for being such a huge part of it. My success is largely due to the support I get from you, the readers. I am grateful.

Good job on last year and Happy 2017! Let’s make this one our best yet, together. I’ll have links to the radio shows coming on the Press/Media page. Look there soon.

I’ll be back later this week to discuss jealousy. Did you know it could be good for you while being bad TO you? Get your green eyes ready for an eye opening revelation.

Until then, I remain Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

Happy New Year and welcome 2017!

First, allow me to apologize for letting this blog slide for so long. I have been busy writing, just not here. This is my first resolution to change and what I want to discuss with you.

Every new year folks come up with all manner of promises and resolutions. Many last a few months, but most only last about two or three weeks. I’ve been bad at follow through, I confess. I promise and then life distracts, writing distracts, people divert and pretty soon I have forgotten and dust collects. I always resolve to do better and no,I don’t expect anyone to believe me at this juncture. But I’ve changed. Attitudes, plans, style…and only showing you will demonstrate!

Change is what the future is all about and why we try to make resolutions. But sometimes the future is change enough all by itself. The past holds us down (or in place), but the future is fluid, changeable, unwritten, unknown, overflowing with possibilities and promises. The future brings all and we don’t actually need to exert promises because the very nature of “the future” is going to do that for us. We are just too untrusting and impatient to believe in it, so we fill the air and our hearts with wishes and expectations. Most of the time this leads to letdowns. I’m not going to do that to myself or to you.

I believe in the future, despite the heartaches of the past, the disappointments, the trials, the deaths, the hate and fear, the sense of loss and confusion. I believe in it so much that I came back here with determination and hope because I believe in the future. You’ll see soon enough. The future promises that you’ll see more of me and often. Just wait and see. I’m excited!

Right now, please allow me to thank you for supporting me over the past year. I published two books – two!  – The Book of Now (nonfiction poetry), and Breaking the Glass Slipper (fictional memoir). I hope you’ll choose to read one of them and let me know what you think. In the future, I’m going to be talking about the how and whys of each book and maybe inspire you to write your own.

As for the future of 2017 — look forward to books about vampires! Yes the Evening Bower Saga begins this year! You’ll see more of our friend Drahomira as well as Rhea, Jean-Louis, Destin, and so many others!

So we’re looking to the future now. It will bring changes. Stay tuned to see how those unfold. And I will promise you one thing — you’ll like what you discover!  Keep an eye to the Press and Media page for information on upcoming signings, along with links to radio interviews and guest blogging (I’m working on updates now and will have them up in a day or two).

On behalf of my vampires who are anxious to come out and play, I wish you a VERY Happy New Year. Now lean in…my vampires want a New Year’s Kiss….

And I remain, as always,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry