Thursday, April 02, 2009

Good News Galore

It's been a week for good news on the Playground. It seems like we've been celebrating forever now. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE to celebrate on the Playground. If there's anything we know how to do, it's throw a party. Give Problem Child or Smarty Pants a task and a clipboard and we'll end up with the most amazing bash. We can drink, dance and squee with the best of them and I see no good reason to break the cycle at this point. I'm going to shamelessly promote my next book, Afterburn, while talking about some fantastic news of my own.

Afterburn received 4 1/2 stars from Romantic Times. Woohoo!

This is like...I don't know, amazing just seems like too tame a word. It's a red letter day when this writer is at a loss for words. I'm very excited. And while I realize that simply because one person enjoyed my book doesn't mean that everyone will...I can't help but hang on to the idea that SOMEONE likes my book (and while I realize the Playfriends, our resident Queen Rhonda and my fantabulous editor all liked the book...they kinda all have to say that. It's like your mother saying you're beautiful). Apparently, my ego is a fragile and fickle thing that needs stroking on a regular basis. Who knew? No comments from the peanut gallery.

Which started me wondering...are we writers because we're neurotic and slightly crazy or are we neurotic and slightly crazy because we're writers? And does this question resemble the chicken and the egg conundrum just a little too much? (And there I go again, blogging about the farm animals).

So, while I think we've probably talked about the good things in life quite a bit in the last couple of weeks, if you have news to share we'd love to hear it! If you don't...help me puzzle out the intricacies of the creative mind.

Instigator

P.S. Because I really feel like spreading the joy (and because along with a great review I also received my author copies this past week) I'm going to give a copy of Afterburn to one commenter.

26 comments:

EllenToo said...

Congratulations on the 4 1/2 stars from Romantic Times on "Afterburn". I'd like to meet the guy on the cover (except he is a little young for me). I wouldn't mind winning him er a copy of the book with him on the cover.

kim h said...

yes did i mention i mentioned earlier lol on the this blog

such cool news congrats kira
love men in unforom and reading about them
congrats again
kh

Maureen said...

Congratulations on the great review! My good news today is that it is going to be warm!

PM's Mother said...

You don't have to be crazy to be a writer -- but it helps!

Congratulations!

Angel said...

Um, yeah. Neurotic is a nice way of putting it. :) I think I was highly emotional and intense before I started writing, and it just gets worse as time goes by. I don't know if it is age, or giving free reign to my creative mind... Actually, it might be the fact that attempting to publish our work puts us in situations that mess with our creative temperaments. :) Yeah, that's it.

Congrats, honey! I TOLD you this book was good. :)

Angel

Problem Child said...

No comments from the peanut gallery.

*cough, cough* Ahem.

housemouse88 said...

Congrats on the review.

I don't know if this is really news worthy. However, this past week our chickens finally started laying eggs. We got them last year when they were two weeks old. We have probably gathered about 1 dozen eggs so far. Needless to say, we hope they start laying on a regular basis.

Have a great day.

Christine said...

Congratulations on the review! That is awesome. I read your first book and it was excellent (and I am not just saying it cause I have to)... and I look forward to reading your next book, AFTERBURN.

I think writers have to be slightly masochistic. Rejection is very painful, yet we slog on. Neurotic and crazy are part of the ride.

Again, congrats! Lots to celebrate at the HOD meeting in April.

Playground Monitor said...

Christina Dodd said in her speech at RWA a few years ago that sending your writing out is very much like standing naked on a busy street corner. I think we have to be partly crazy to willingly subject ourselves to rejection and criticism. But I suppose we do it in other ways too. I remember cooking meatloaf for dinner and being told "It was okay but let's not have it anymore."

Congrats on the 4 1/2 stars!

Playground Monitor said...

Forgot to mention how cool it is that housemouse's chickens are laying. That's one thing you won't have to buy at the grocery store!

Problem Child said...

housemouse -- Expect Birdzilla to really share that joy with you... :-)

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

It's just good news left and right around here. The Playground is the hot ticket right now.

I think creative people just tend to me more neurotic. Its a package deal. When you open the door to the possibilities of art and creation, it leaves that part of you exposed to the criticism and painful barbs of rejection. Unfortunately, there's no real point of writing or painting if you don't share it with the world.

I think anything I chose to do would give me the same grief. There's always someone out there to critique your work. I think that as a writer, though, the forum is more exposed. But that also means the good critiques are exposed too. Congrats on the 4.5 stars! I love that book.

Darling Geek said...

I'm pretty certain PC was neurotic and slightly crazy long before she became writer...

Cackleberry Homestead said...

congrats on the great review!

Sherry Werth said...

Congratulations on the review! That's great! I can't wait to read it. All that bathtub time paid off. :)
Curious George here: Does tub time writing include water??

Tessa said...

Congratulations on the 4½ stars, that´s just great! :)

Christine said...

PM--I'm laughing about the meatloaf... sooo true.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Housemouse, laying chickens is a fantastic thing! And absolutely worth celebrating...or at least that's what Zilla tells me. :-)

Sherry, yes, tub time does involve water...without it I'd be dang cold ;-D. Zilla says I turn the bathroom into a sauna. Shrug. It works for me.

Thanks everyone for the congratulations and excitement (and to Christine for the wonderful words about Whispers!)

Instigator

catslady said...

Big congratulations!! I think anything in the artistic field is a passion. It's a very hard field to make a success in so you have to love what you're doing. I also think there can't be anything better than knowing others agree!!!

Maija P. said...

The back blurb of your book and especially the secret wife- theme sounded both very nice. I would really like to read about Chase and Rina's relationship.

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Congrats, Instigator! And you know I loved the book too, so there's another one for you. :)

For me, I can most definitely say that neurotic and crazy came before writing. It's writing that keeps me sane. :)

M.V.Freeman said...

You Rock Instigator!
I have no great news to share, except I am now going to start job sharing so maybe I can start celebrating something in the future. LOL

Let the fun continue! ;)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!!! I sold my home, so that's my great news. I will be moving out this weekend.
robertsonreads

Jane said...

Congrats on the rave review, Kira.

Unknown said...

Hey we all all a little Neurotic!

Congrats on your reviews this is great new.

The only good news I have is it hit 74 today and I was out in it all day today! The only problem I have with it is there is a chance of snow on Monday!

Caffey said...

Congrats Kira. I'm not surprised on the top pick! Keep believing! Huge congrats! I'm excited for you and hope this brings you a bunch more readers that see what they are missing of yours!