This morning, while I was waiting for an unexpected visitor to leave the house (okay, so it was the pest control guy, and, all right, if you must know, I was not precisely prepared for the visit, and since you won't stop asking, no, my hair was not combed and my eyes were raccooned), I was scrolling through my blog log and saw that my good friend Danielle Smith of There's a Book had written something about pausing. I need pause right now, I thought, and so pressed on the link, only to discover that Danielle had included me in her glorious post. You'll see what I mean, here.
Oh my gosh, new insertion. Here is Sarah Laurence being uber kind to Small Damages at year's end.
So how do I feel about being included in some of these phenomenal lists, mentions, citations, possibilities? I feel blessed, pure and simple. I feel outrageously lucky. I have been writing books for a long time. I have published many. I was an outsider from the get-go, but I don't feel so outside anymore. I feel like I am part of a community. I feel like there is reason to go on searching for stories and words.
I want to write.
4 Comments on what does "best of" mean? how does it change us?, last added: 12/17/2012
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I like this discussion because I wonder, a lot, about these lists and what 'best' means. And I love that a book and writer (and person) I love so much is considered 'best'.
Writing more is the best reaction! I'm eager to read more too. You've made my best YA of 2012 list on my blog today.
You are so wonderful to me Beth. I'm so happy I could share what you've done with everyone.
I've thought about all the best of lists and I have to agree with Melissa, my favorite ones are from the bloggers/authors/bookish people I know. It's wonderful.
And I have to say, I love how things have gone for you recently. It's wonderful and couldn't have happened to a better person. xo
The best of it is that you want to write.