I…. I…. I…. I….

I don’t know what to say. I don’t. it’s a SERIOUS vote of confidence, a TOTAL ego kick, and completely shocking. completely.

i joined a writers / thinkers / artists board the other day. Been having quite a bit o’fun. Was told by the owner to submit an exerpt of AbO so that they could help me with any bits that might need it, and at least I’d get some fresh blood’s opinion on it all. So I finally relented and did so.

And here are parts of todays’ conversation… whereupon he actually compared me to one of my favorite authors. Me! compared to Terry Goodkind! The one who’s signed book I was salivating over not too long ago!

ME!

I’m shocked. Stunned. and I don’t mind admitting it – a little in love. *LOL* [ok, the last is a stretch, but still!]

We began speaking about publication and stuff and a deal he’s working on for self publishing and such. Told him i wanted to go the official route with this one, but was a little timid and unsure where to start. [bolded parts are my emphisis]

[12:39] [S] first, yay for you. Shoot for the stars, if you land on the moon, you’ve still travelled pretty damn far.

[12:40] [S] second: that’s the wrong attitude to take if you’re going after publishers

[12:40] [Lessa] *LMAO* I so knew that was gonna be number 2.

[12:40] [S] be aggressive, sweet, like a used car salesman with a sales quota

[12:41] [S] 200 people are gonna say no without even reading it, because the format is wrong or some stupid shit like that, 10 are gonna say yes, but they’re going to want you to rewrite it so that Sarah gets kidnapped by sex vampires and has to dance in the nude by a midnight firelight for their pleasure

[12:42] [S] you are holding in your hands a bestseller.

[12:42] [S] it’s good, Lessa, damn good

[12:42] [S] I read it, and most people can’t do what you do

[12:42] [Lessa] Oh I fully intend to be when I get to that point. Right now i’m still overcoming the “holy hell what am I thinking” bit in my head. When I want something, I can be ruthlessly agressive. I think that once I’m done with the editing [and i’m noticing as some people are posting their comments that I’m geting to that point. it’s MINE and I wrote it that way for a REASON!” mindset]

[12:43] [Lessa] really? I… well, having just met ya’ll and shit? that really means More to me then hearing that from my family who has to like it. Thank you.

[12:43] [S] meh don’t thank me

[12:43] [S] but you’re welcome

[12:44] [S] there are a thousand wannabe writers out there who have ideas, but god love them, no talent to save their souls

[12:44] [S]you have the ideas and the talent, so you have to put away that unsurety right now

[12:45] [S]don’t write this book wondering if it’s good or not

[12:45] [S] it will show in your writing to an experienced proof reader

[12:45] oh man. My best friend? would love you.

[12:45] [S] be confident. you’re good.

[12:46] [S] well I’m not telling you this because I’m your friend, sweet. We just met and I can’t really call you “friend” yet, although I don’t mind admitting that I like you muchly.

[12:46] [Lessa] It is good. That’s why i can defend the way i wrote it. Because I know it’s not only right, but the only way it could have been written. And I’m the only one who could have written it. Sarah chose me for a reason.

[12:46] [S] bah

[12:46] [S] there you go with that “sarah chose me” stuff again

[12:46][Lessa] I know, which is why it means that much more. you don’t HAVE to like it. or think its good. you do – on the merits of my talent alone.

[12:46] [S] exactly!

[12:46] [Lessa] *LOL*

[12:47] [S] you ARE sarah. Without you, there is no sarah. Sarah could not have “chosen” any other. And while it’s sweet for you and TG to say “thanks to my characters for choosing me”, the truth of the matter is that it’s all you, and you need to pat yourself on the back

[12:48] [S] dig?

[12:49] [Lessa] and to put me in the same sentense as TG! Oh my.

[12:49] [Lessa] But yes. Patting myself on the back is good? but much less tiring to have someone do it for me.

[12:49] [Lessa] yeah, i dig. *grin*

[12:52][S] well anyway, you’re just as good as Terry, if your excerpt is a solid representation of the rest of the book

[12:53] [S] with that in mind, I won’t slot you for any of my current partner designs

[12:54][S] my reasons for doing so were mostly “selfish charity” anyway, but you don’t need my help

[12:54] [Lessa] I think it is – a solid representation, I mean. I keep a really consistant tone, I put her through hell, everything makes sense, and it is a downright good story that makes people feel for her.

[12:54][S] 🙂

[12:55] [S] see, you don’t need any pep talks

[12:55] [Lessa] and I even let her have her happy ending. *L*

[12:55][Lessa]cuz I’m a happy ending kinda gal.

[12:55] [S] well, as long as it’s better than TG’s endings

[12:55] [S] that fuckin guy can’t write a decent ending to save his *grandmother’s* life

[12:56] [Lessa] *LMAO* he has had a couple sucky ones.

[12:56] [S] like PoC?

[12:56] [Lessa] it was like “aw shit! it’s already 800 pages! must end NOW!”

[12:56] [S] [deleted because it’s a ‘book spoilerspoiler’]

[12:57] [S] idiot

[12:57] [S] if you do that I will drop a rock on you

[12:58] [S] ok, well, I’ll stop bugging you then, you know what’s up

[12:59] [S] we’ll be your cheerleaders when you need one

[12:59] [S] or until you realize that you don’t need any

[12:59] [S] 🙂

[12:59] [Lessa] Your not buggin me *simle* and I appreciate that, a lot.

[12:59] [S] alright, imma jet before this gets all warm and fuzzy

[12:59][S] blech

[01:00] [Lessa] *LMAO* You know. I don’t do warm and fuzzy either. Honest.

[01:00] [S] you might be a good writer, but you’re a terrible liar

[01:00] [Lessa] *grabs and hugs and RUNS* thank you. no! don’t thank you. I already knew I was good. You just proved my points. Yes. *pats self on back*

[01:00] [Lessa] And I know. *grins* I can’t lie to save my life. it’s rather a terrible trait.

[01:01] [S] can be useful when dealing with wolfish publishing agents

[01:01] [S] 😉

[01:01] [Lessa] *LOL* true.

I’m… still rereading it. HAve been for hours.

Someone I don’t know thinks I’m as good as one of my favorites.

Holy. Chit.