On Being Famous by Liz Flaherty

Photo by Brenda's Au Courant Images

My friend Nan Reinhardt and I went to Clifty Falls State Park this week for a writing retreat. We take off a couple of times a year, staying gone for four or five days, writing like madwomen while being uninterrupted by things like making beds, cooking, doing laundry, or putting anything away. We come home both exhausted and enlivened by the time away. We've finished books, started books, and made our way out of the morass the middles of books (for me) often are.

On this trip, Nan had a library talk and a book-signing--her River's Edge series is based on Madison, the beautiful river town only a few miles from the park. The events were fun, as they always are. We left cards and bookmarks with people we talked to.

Before we left to come home this morning, we left a couple of signed books with someone who had been particularly kind to us both. She was so excited by the books, and thanked us over and over. She had, she said, never met famous authors.

"Only in our own minds," we said, laughing. But it made us both feel good. We hope she reads our books and likes them and tells everyone she knows, but mostly we're grateful for her kindness and flattered by the compliment. While we learn not to flinch at snide remarks about the romance genre or at the words "mommy porn" or "bodice-rippers," we don't learn to like them.

I told Duane about it tonight. He chuckled about the "famous" part and was glad for the kindness we received on our trip.

Other than enjoying going back over the memories of this week and the fact that I'm really tired, I didn't have a good reason for writing this. Since I've done it, let me encourage you to attend book-signings and author talks even if you don't want to buy books, to go out and listen to local musicians, and visit and purchase from local galleries. Most of us aren't famous and never will be, but when we are acknowledged and encouraged by those in our own communities, that's all the recognition we need.

Thank you.

Have a great week. Be nice to somebody.