Not my own, mind you…

I followed the link on Allison Winn Scotch’s blog to this truly inspiring, fantastic story of Philip Beard, who was on the very brink of self-publishing when he closed a book deal with Viking Publishers.

Even without the book deal, it’s still a great story, and his book would probably have eventually found its way to a traditional house. His story is all about determination, persistence, and connections. I had the first two when I self-published my book.

Dan Wickett of Emerging Writers Network, posted this list (except with his choices and commentary) and I thought it would be fun to fill in the blanks myself.

One book that changed your life.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Love, love, love it! It’s always been an inspiration and an ideal.

One book that you’ve read more than once.
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart. This book is my absolute favorite among the treasure trove of Mary Stewart’s novels. I’ve probably read it ten times (or more).

One book you’d want on a desert island.
I’m thinking something like ‘How to Get Off a Desert Island for Dummies’ or ‘How to Call Long-Distance from a Coconut Phone”.

One book that made you laugh.
Going Coastal by Wendy French. Her zingy sense of humor is so entertaining. I laughed out loud through the whole book.

One book that made you cry.
Adriana Trigiani’s Queen of the Big Time. Once I get really wrapped up in someone’s story, any type of loss or injustice just sends me off.

One book that you wish had been written.
Another few from Anne George would have been great. But I can make due with the books she left behind…I re-read them all the time.

One book that you wish had never been written.
I don’t know. I can’t say that a book has ever affected me in such a negative way that I’d wish to remove it from print.

One book you’re currently reading.
Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund. It’s a hip, intense story of an Ivy Leaguer who gets tapped to join one of the most secret societies in the world. I’m definitely enjoying it.

One book you’ve been meaning to read.
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. I recently read Carrie Bebris’ North by Northanger and was introduced to some of the characters. Now I’m even more eager to read it. I have the ebook but may just end up checking it out from the library.

I’d love to hear anyone else’s answers. Feel free to post here, or if you post on your blog, please send me the link so that I can check them out.

Well, tomorrow is sort of a Day of Reckoning for me: I’ll see if I can get my writing back on track a little. In the last few weeks…honestly in the last couple of months…my writing has definitely suffered. Summer is leaching away my time and my energy. Even if we don’t happen to be doing something during my ‘scheduled’ writing time, I’m not all that motivated. I’m physically drained, wanting to do nothing more than slide down onto a cool bed and read a book to escape. Although, strangely, blogging doesn’t seem so physically and mentally taxing.

But tomorrow…my in-laws are taking the boys mid-day for a weekend at their lakehouse. So I’ll have a good bit of time to write (and maybe even a little time to squeeze in here and there over the weekend). It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chunk of time to work with, and I think I really need it. I need to get my head back in this book and get a move-on.

I WISH I was one of those people who can write a book in a couple of months. Although…who knows? Maybe I could if I had both boys in school. Even a book in a year would be a huge improvement… Maybe I really need to give myself page goals everyday. I really hoped it wouldn’t come to that…