Paying It Forward

No, this isn't the post where I pontificate on that abysmal Kevin Spacey-Helen Hunt flick, but rather the post where I take a moment to talk about doing something generous simply because it feels like the right thing to do.

I've been thinking a lot about this concept as of late, not least because in the past month or so, six very, VERY benevolent authors have offered to read TDLF and provide blurbs for it, for no reason other than I sent them emails and asked them to do so. These gals are surely busier than I am: they're established novelists with undoubtedly complicated lives who didn't know me from Adam, but they all took the time to write me back and say, "send it over, and if I like it, I'm happy to provide you a blurb." Sure, they get some free PR on the back of my book and my website and wherever, but really, that's not why they did it. I suspect that they did it because they were each once debut novelists themselves, and they're happy to lend a hand to a newbie such as moi. And I just think that's so f-ing cool. (Not that I didn't spend countless, countless days - and nights - anticipating nary a blurb would float in because they would all loathe the book so damned much. Seriously, ask my agent and editor, I'm not lying. It wasn't pretty.)

Anyhoo, their generosity was part of my inspiration behind this blog. As an experienced magazine writer, I'm not often in the position of having to ask for help, and when I did, it was humbling. To have received such an overwhelming chorus of support from these amazing, established writers was both inspiring and touching. And while they didn't do this for any sort of pay-back, I hope that in some way, I can reciprocate. Maybe that just means that I keep paying it forward by helping out you guys or helping out someone else, I dunno, but I really, sincerely appreciate their kindness. So...big shout-outs to Cara Lockwood, Val Frankel, Jen Lancaster, Claire Cook, Pamela Redmond Satran and Johanna Edwards. These ladies rock. (And stay tuned for more shout-outs because our fingers are crossed for a few more.)

In other news, I'm taking a breather from the Q/A for the day because a) I have a pressing deadline today and b) I'm taking my son to the zoo. Whee! I love the zoo, really, I do. Especially when it's not 100 degrees, and there aren't all sorts of crazy and foul scents floating in the air. The weather should hold up, and I love watching him get all worked up over the monkeys or seals or polar bears. (Seriously, they have polar bears in the middle of Central Park...it's so surreal, not unlike an episode of Lost until you realize that you've actually paid an entrance fee to gawk at these animals because, you know, you're in a zoo. Reality check.)

And it also seems that a few friendly gals here on the blog have outed me. :) No...not outed, outed me, especially since I wasn't really keeping it a secret, but yes, I'm nearly 20 weeks pregnant! Which probably explains the odd John Krasinski dream I had last night. Not that kind of dream...don't worry...but yep, he was there, and we were in college, and I was new, so he became my best friend until I realized that he was in love with me, and I was in love with him, and so I burst into the men's bathroom in the middle of the night to tell him. Hmmm, I probably shouldn't watch The Office right before I go to bed. (Not that I'm complaining about having the lovely John show up nocturnally.)

So, anyway, back to the subject at hand, paying it forward. Do something nice for someone this weekend! Even if it's putting away your husband's stinking dirty dishes (what? does that sound like it's from personal experience?) or calling your mom when she's driving you batty. As they say on My Name Is Earl: karma. It's all about the karma.