Thanksgiving is over and that means two very important things…
The 2k12 debut books are almost ready to start making an appearance AND it’s time for everyone to put up their holiday lights!!! The reality is, the closer we get to our books hitting the shelves, the more nervous we all become. (Bites nails and searches for an emergency barf bag to shove in purse.) But something occurred to me, as I drove around this weekend, watching everyone decorate with a gazillion different kinds of lights. Everyone has different opinions—about lights and books. Each of us comes to the celebration with own own style, but the important part is…that we come.
I’ll admit it–there are houses in my local area that make me snicker. There’s even one that we’ve affectionately dubbed the “crazy house,” while we ponder whether it can be seen from space. And then there is the other extreme, the houses that look as if a team of Martha Stewarts took a week to construct them. They take my breath away, but they also make me feel pretty crappy about my own book arrangement of holiday lights. Oh, wait—are we talking about lights or books here? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. The point? There is an upside and a down side of every artistic creation.
Novels are just like holiday lights. They can range from tacky to artistic. They can be extreme or minimalistic. They have as many different personalities as the people who write them. Not every house on the street is going to have a decorating style that I want to duplicate at my own home, but I don’t need every house to be like mine for me to enjoy the art—to get caught up in the festivities. And likewise, not every book that debuts in 2012 will be my favorite, but what I’m discovering is that being a part of the anticipation of the new book season is exciting. It has broadened my horizons. I’m consuming books the same way I’m visually feasting on twinkling neighborhoods of holiday wonder. Being a part of this community of book lovers fills me with a collective spirit—just like the holiday season. I know part of my wonder and excitement for the books of 2012 has to do with my own debut. I’d be foolish to think otherwise, but I’m starting to realize that I’m also going to feel like this in 2013 and every year after. The wonderful world of social media has allowed us to be book neighbors and it’s a pretty fantastic thing.
So as you prepare for the holiday season and the New Year, please feel free to stop by and take a look at our “lights.” We’re hoping that you fall in love with some or all of our books, but honestly–we won’t be offended if you just want to smile as you drive by. We’re simply happy to have you in our community—celebrating our love of books.
Kimberly Sabatini
Great post, Kimberly! I can’t wait for Christmas and the debut books of 2012! (I had my Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving)
Oh, so true!! It’s very easy to be an armchair author and criticize books when you haven’t actually gone through the writing/publishing process yourself. Now I have a much deeper appreciation for the story behind the story.
Gorgeous, Kim. Like you, the more I read, the more I appreciate the variety of genres and styles out there in the world. Thanks for this.
Wonderful post and SO true! I’ve been exposed to so many new genres recently and love finding new gems that I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own. I’m so glad to have broadened my view.
Not every book is for everybody, but every book is for somebody.
Awww I love you guys! And Joanne…I love that line!