“Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey
Photo: devouringfire.com
I’m celebrating Thanksgiving a few days early this year. Next week I’ll write more about hidden gifts that come to us, but today I want to celebrate some good news.
One of the hardest things to do as a writer (unless you are well-known or a celebrity) is to get good publicity for a book, especially your first one. This year, I entered two writing contests hoping I would win, but I didn’t. However, I did receive a wonderful review by a judge who understood the theme of finding an authentic identity and described the book as “immediately engrossing.”
How To Win When You Haven’t Won
That was the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-published Book contest. I received a 5 (the top score) on all five areas that were evaluated and the judge wrote the following review.
Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”. This scale is strictly to provide a point of reference, it is not a cumulative score and does not reflect ranking.
Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 5
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 5
Production Quality and Cover Design: 5
Plot and Story Appeal: 5
Character Appeal and Development: 5
Voice and Writing Style: 5
Judge’s Commentary*:
“AWAKENING TO THE DANCE: A JOURNEY TO WHOLENESS, a memoir by Georganne Spruce, is an inspiring book that will appeal to those, especially women, who struggle yet are determined to find their authentic selves in spite of what society wants them to be. This memoir will hold special appeal to readers interested in how Buddhism and Jungian dream interpretation can improve one’s life.
The cover is appropriate and eye-catching. The woman looks joyful and limber. I like the green and yellow colors and how the woman’s dance pants contrast with the colors. The back cover copy is very good. I like the summary and the fact that the author has secured two enthusiastic endorsements. I also like the author photo.
The book is immediately engrossing. Baby boomers on the early end of the spectrum will be able to relate, and younger women who have no idea what life for many women was like before the progress feminism has made will find much to learn here. Feminism aside, anyone who wants to live life on a different path than the expected will find much to inspire her (or even him) in this book. The author is authentic about her journey, and that fact alone shows us how much she has learned. This is an insightful, encouraging memoir sure to be appreciated by Spruce’s readers.”
Then a few days later, I received an email from IndieReader, where I had also entered their IndieReader Discovery Awards contest, congratulating me because they had recommended my book to the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/indiereader/lena-dunham-book-recommendations_b_6134968.html?utm_hp_ref=books They also posted their recommendation on their website.
Expect What Is Best
When I first learned that I had not won in either contest, I was very disappointed, but I thought, “At least I had the courage to enter.” It took a while to let go of the disappointment, but I finally did and stopped thinking about it. Then these lovely surprises came, and I realized, as I have often in my life, good things can come when you least expect it and from sources that surprise you.
Gratitude Creates A Higher Vibration
So this is another example of how we need to try to remember to be thankful for some aspect of a situation, even when it doesn’t turn out the way we want. Expressing that gratitude, even if it is simply in the mind, does emit positive vibrations and that is always a good thing.
© 2014 Georganne Spruce ZTQ4PQ5ZN7F5
Awakening to the Dance 