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June 1, 2006
Good friends are as valuable as a good bra
Because it's all about the support
Now that I'm mostly recovered from that glowing (and somewhat falsified) intro that Alesia gave, can I just say how unbelievably jazzed (yes, I've already started with the music references. It's a thing). Anyhow, as I was saying, how unbelievably jazzed I am to be the Guest Chick this month. For one thing, it means it's that much closer to Release Day! (That sound you heard was my head exploding.) Secondly, and far more important, it's a tremendous honor-- no, no... that sounds way too smarmy, right? Um, it's great, thrilling, happy-making fun-- urgh, no. That's just... ooky-sounding.
Okay, I've got it. You know what it is? It's serendipitous that this is my first "official" publicity thing as a published author. And I'ma gonna tell you why...
You see, several of these ladies have been my friends almost since the beginning of this writing thing. Michelle and I "met" when she was piteously begging on a loop for someone to transcribe an RT review that she hadn't yet seen, since apparently, she had the same distributer I do for the magazine. She was so grateful, she sent me a copy of 32AA and thus, a beautiful friendship was born, because in my world? Great books are a fantastic ice breaker. Especially when attached to hysterically funny writers.
Lani decided I needed to be a Cherry (long story) and do NaNoWriMo ("C'mon Barb, it'll be fun!"). Alesia moved to Jacksonville about the same time I did, and after deciding that I wasn't a crazed axe-murderer, felt it was safe to meet me at Barnes and Noble and thus our tradition of being Pretentious Coffeehouse Writers was born. A tradition regretfully suspended after she moved away from Jacksonville. Not only that, but she was there when I got The Call on the casino floor in Reno-- the same conference where Lani was my roommate. She won some award too, if memory serves...
You'll note-- not one mention of armadillos thus far... Anyhow, continuing on.
Eileen and I were both National Virgins in Dallas, surviving parties and the Great Mary Kay Invasion of '04 and if that's not a bonding experience, I don't know what is. We bonded even more at RT this year. Those fishnets are somethin' else, lemme tell ya. Beth and Whitney I regretfully don't know very well, but we'll have to rectify that-- stay up late and do each others' hair and raid our fathers' liquor cabinets and talk about boys and become BFF. Oh God, that was ooky again, wasn't it?
Anyhow, the thing is, these ladies-- these fabulously talented authors-- haven't simply been friends. They've been mentors, cheerleaders, unwavering and totally unselfish support (there's the bra analogy). They were there through the lows, ("Another rejection? Oh, sweetie, it's okay, that agent/editor is a pinhead. Let's go get a drink.") to the highs, ("Oh my God, you SOLD!! Let's go get a drink!") and basically all points in between.
In other words, they helped me keep believing in my dream. Not that I was ever in any danger of giving it up because I'm just way too cranky and stubborn, but I can't deny that having their support sure helped. Which brings me to Adiós and what it's about. You see, it's not just about music-- it's about following your dreams and how that's made so much easier when you have good friends watching your back and on occasion, propping you up.
Okay, now that the high schmaltz entry has been taken care of, I can get to the other fun stuff. Like boys and music and clothes. Or my theme week, which will begin June 22 and will have to do with-- wait for it-- music. More on that later...
Or there's how I'll be giving away three signed copies of Adios to My Old Life to three Literary Chicks readers! All you have to do is send an email with a) "Sing Me Some Adios" in your subject line and b) your name and address (please don't forget your mailing address, you can't win without it) to the Literary Chicks between now and June 21st, and you'll be entered to win! Then check back for my final blog on June 22nd to find out if you're a winner!
Until then, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. (Ducking now as things get thrown at me.)
Posted by at 8:00 AM | Comments (16)
Comments
Oh, Barb,
I've never been prouder to be compared to a foundation garment than I am at this moment.
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 1, 2006 9:59 AM
Love your story to publication Barb. It's an inspiration to everyone. And yes, good friends are a must in this business.
And as every who was at a certain RT dinner knows, so is a good foundation garment. Or maybe a less revealing top.
So can good friends be counted on to help you keep the girls in line?
The answer is yes!
Posted by: cindy at June 1, 2006 10:19 AM
Barb,
What's that white stuff behind you in the picture? That surely isn't Jacksonville.
I'm so happy that you are guesting in the Chicks coop.
Posted by: hollygee at June 1, 2006 10:24 AM
Lovely to see you here, Barb! always nice to have another Cherry to hang out with! Music is important in my life also--used to sing in choirs, play in bands/orchestras--but life got in the way and mostly it is a thing of the past now. Still love to sing, however--can't ever take taht away! Learning to appreciate DD#2's music may take a little while, however! *grin* Looking forward to getting to know you better here at the LC--it's a great place to hang out, and the Chicks are the coolest!
Posted by: Sheri at June 1, 2006 10:24 AM
Caridad, mi vida! So glad to have you here with us! And what a sweet entry. I like the bra analogy - nicely done! I've never been prouder to see a debut book hit the stands; can't wait until everyone knows what we've known all along - that you rock!
Posted by: Lani at June 1, 2006 10:31 AM
Barb,
Your first entry rocks (or jazzes, or countrys, or salsas you pick!). It's so cool to have you as a Guest Chick at the LC. I can't wait to read more from you.
And you know, I call my friends bras all the time too. Really. Well, ok, only sometimes. And only some of my friends. I'm afraid that not all of them would take it as a compliment.
Great to have you!!
Posted by: dee at June 1, 2006 11:18 AM
But what about the armadillos?? Bras. hmmm. Better than girdles, I guess. Or those control top pantyhose that get all twisted up and cut off your circulation. Welcome, baby!!!
hugs,
me
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at June 1, 2006 12:26 PM
Oh, and the verdict's still out on the axe thing. I'm just saying.
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at June 1, 2006 12:27 PM
Aw shucks, guys... you're making me feel all warm and squooshy and lurved.
Eileen, honey, in the world of foundation undergarments, you are one of those wicked sexy numbers from the Victoria's Secret Holiday Catalog.
Thanks, Cindy, and yes- good friends definitely help with keeping the girls (or as my sister calls them, "The Cousins") in line. I can't talk about revealing tops at RT, though, given what I wore to the EC party-- then again, compared to what some people wore to the EC party...
Holly, that is, indeed snow, and no, it's not Jacksonville. I actually had my author photos taken in New York last December-- those particular pictures were, in fact, shot the day after we (Lani, Alesia, and myself) saw Chris Botti in concert along with FREAKIN' STING! And it was colder than a... well, it was cold. But I love cold weather and I love the pictures that came from that day.
Sheri and Dee, thanks for the welcomes and Lani, my darling, you're making me blush again. :-)
>>Oh, and the verdict's still out on the axe thing. I'm just saying.
And you know, I started to amend the comment to say that you'd decided I wasn't an axe-murderer, at least. (Crazed is a different matter altogether.)
And girdles or control top pantyhose? Never! Wonderbras all around!
Posted by: Barb at June 1, 2006 12:57 PM
Oh, great.
Now I not only have to be the "nice girl" of the LC, I have to be the FLAT one. (There's only so much a Wonderbra can do.)
Yes, in college I was formally invited to join my dorm's chapter of IPIF ("I'm proud I'm flat").
But that doesn't mean I can't be a supportive friend. Especialy to my MTV sister girls.
Can't wait to meet you in Atlanta, Barb. We'll drink.
Posted by: Beth at June 1, 2006 3:53 PM
Ooh! I like being the Victoria Secret Chick! Cool!
I have a picture of you at the EC Fantasy night from RT. I don't think I can post it in a comment, but I blog next Friday . . .
Eileen
P.S. Maybe I can sneak in the photo of Beth and me at the LA Times Festival of the Book, too, where Beth was neither the nice Chick or the flat Chick, but the wickedly stylish and beautiful chick.
Posted by: Eileen at June 1, 2006 5:50 PM
Barb's here! Yay!! Welcome aboard, hon! I can't wait for Atlanta so we can really celebrate Adios To My Old Life hitting the book stands!
Michelle ;-)
Posted by: Michelle C at June 2, 2006 4:16 AM
*TACKLEHUGS MICHELLE*
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!! I can't wait for Atlanta either. Par-tay!!
Beth, my MTV sister-- another reason I can't wait for Atlanta (Gotta feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot in the next several weeks.) And remember-- it's not what you got, it's how you display it. And there are some very pretty dainties for us smaller-than-average girls.
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