Have you read a novel written by someone you know?
It’s fun. And a little spooky.
As you read, you catch glimpses of the author — mannerisms, habits, preferences, figures of speech— wedged into the lines of text. My sister-in-law insists that when she reads one of my novels, she hears my voice reading it to her.
It's as though a piece of the author's spirit dwells inside every one of his books.
I’m not talking about sales.
Don’t get me wrong, sales are great. If one of my books hit the New York Times bestseller list, I’d probably sprain something in my rush to tell people.
Neither am I talking about prizes, not even the Pulitzer Prize. Too political.
James Michener tells about the year he won the Pulitzer for Tales of the South Pacific. Seems another author was the front-runner that year, only some Bostonian blue-blood on the committee didn't like him. She went looking for someone else, selected Michener, and rammed him through the committee. And that's how Pulitzer Prizes are won.
The compliment I’m talking about is better than the bestseller list, better than a Pulitzer, even better than a six-figure royalty check.
Continue reading "The Highest Compliment an Author Can Receive" »
It is my privilege to welcome the first guest to WORD FORGE— poet, playwright, essayist and novelist, Victor Hugo.
(Okay…stop sniggering. This picture was probably taken shortly after reading the reviews of Les Miserables, but trust me, the guy knows his stuff.)
Now, back to Mr. Hugo...
