If you are curious about what life's like when you're close to finishing a book, this is it:
Phone rings this morning. It's mom. I know it's her immediately because she is the only person out of the five who know my home number (I am not one of the five, which is why I never give it out - I can't remember it) who calls me at home before calling my cell. I don't even have caller ID, but given the time of day and lack of cell phone missed call, it's my mother, inquiring about New Year's Eve. I think I prepped for this phone call in my sleep.
"Hi."
"Goooooood morning!" [That's obviously mom.]
"Mom, I'm just trying to get to the store -"
"OK, I'm just calling to see what time you're coming over toni-"
"I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMING TONIGHT!"
"...you sound so flustered toda-"
"I'm FLUSTERED TODAY!! TODAY, I AM FLUSTERED!"
"OK, OK."
"Can I call you back later? PLEASE? I gotta get out of here!"
"Okay! Okay! Okay. Bye."
"OK. Bye."
So yeah. She really does get the brunt of it. Sorry mom. Calling you now.
How Dare You Yell at Your Mother. You Better Change that Tone.
"Gotta love that one...."
Melissa, The beautiful thing about parents are they forgive you for just about anything. And if they don't they just write you out of the will. ;P
I like that your mom did not snap back at you, providing one more good example for me when my daughter vents on me. Sometimes it's still hard for me not to take it personally and get my feelings hurt. My daughter is good at apologizing to me, though, even as a teen. Maybe it's natural for her to apologize to me because I often apologize to her. There's something special about that mother-daughter relationship. Goes beyond words. I'm sure your mom is happy with your accomplishments, too, in a way that only a mom can be, and she's more than willing to be understanding. In fact, we're all proud of what you're doing for Potter fandom, so hang in there.
Sounds like how I would be!
Lots of love for the New Year!
:) :) Hope you can have a fun new year's eve! And obviously, happy book writing!
Your mum sounds very supportive.
Congratulations on that interview with JK Rowling you did on Pottercast. It was fantastic, I got a lot of enjoyment from it.
Keep on writing!
Will there be some video of you finishing your book and signing the cat that sits between you and the keyboard, saying "Mel finished book, 01/07/08"? And will there be video on YouTube of you handing in your manuscript to your editor? It would make a nice parody: "Harried Plotter & the Deadline Howlers"?
Hi Melissa
Feels peculiar writing such a personal message to someone I'm never likely to meet in this life or the next, but I just wanted to say - even though these words ultimately carry very little weight across the seas - that I think you are nothing less than a remarkably talented and extraordinarily brilliant human being and the world is all the better for your contributions to it. The fans are proud of the journey you have so courageously chosen to take - the cold and quiet solitary journey of a writer with little other than fear and doubt to keep you company - but no matter what happens - no matter WHAT - let it be known now and for all time that yours is not a life half lived. What more can be given or asked of you?
From what I can gather, your parents love you to bits and must be unbelievably proud - we all snap at those we are closest to. I regret those moments now more than ever and my mum's been gone for four years. But while we often put on a public face for our peers, seldom do we pretend with those we love. And that's how it should be, you know? Honest to the end.
Just be sure to give your family a hug or two on publication day! I'm sure that'll be completely involuntary though. :)
Wishing you the very, very best of luck
- Richard
Whyalla, South Australia