Gotta have the good news to keep going

Writing books is hard. It's the hardest work I've ever done and I've had a lot of different jobs over the years.

But it's not just the long hours spent alone in front of a computer. With writing, you put a lot of yourself out there for anyone who picks up your book to see. It's personal.

That's why it's painful when you get a bad review. You can get ten great reviews and one bad one and you'll always be able to quote the words of the bad review.

What I'm saying is that we're an insecure lot. And maybe that's why we get so excited when something good happens.

I, for one, need that reinforcement. You wouldn't believe how many writers think selling their book was a fluke and that at any point they will be found out for the frauds they are.

So it's no wonder that I love the fan letters from readers who burned dinner because they were so caught up in my book. Or almost got fired because they just had to finish one of my books at work. High praise, though sorry about your dinner -- and your job.

It doesn't seem to matter how many books you've had published or how much success you've had. There is still that need to see your name in the top-ten bestseller list. That need to have someone else say you're doing okay.

That's why this morning I was jumping up and down to see that my latest Whitehorse, Montana book, Shotgun Bride, had made the Borders top-ten. It's not the first time or hopefully the last, but it means a lot to me. It makes writing on the current book in progress soooo much easier. :)

I think part of it is as one famous writer once told me: when you finish a book you realize you are unemployed. You're only a writer as long as you have another book coming out -- and it had better be more wonderful than the last. Unlike a surgeon who is a surgeon even on his day off.

I know for me, I need to know that I'm doing what readers expect of me. There will be books that some readers like more than others. But I'm striving for consistency. I want my readers to enjoy them all -- no matter how crazy I get with a plot.

Also when I write a book that I think is one of my best, I love it when someone agrees. That's why seeing that Romantic Times Book Review gave my upcoming June book 4 1/2 stars and a good review saying it was one of my best made my day. That book, Big Sky Dynasty, is one of my favorites. But I needed someone else to say it.

I know it might seem silly to some people that after 47 books I need that reinforcement. But I do. And I have a feeling I will always get overly excited when one of my books does well.
I know better than to get nonchalant about this.

So I'll celebrate, dance around a little, then get back to work with new determination. As the old saying goes, you're only as good as your next book.