Fun tidbit

A few months ago when Doc and I went to the Air Supply concert, we got invited to the "after party" backstage. While there I met the manager of the band, and while we were chatting I mentioned to him that I had started writing a memoir. He gave his contact info to me and a few days later I sent him a note thanking him for the fun we had hanging out with everyone back stage. I thought he'd get a kick out of my Air Supply story, so I pasted that in and sent it to him.

Well, it turns out he's also a movie producer, and he thought I was submitting a manuscript to him, unsolicited. "I don't usually accept them" he replied, "but I scanned the first few lines before falling asleep last night. What I read was good stuff. I'll finish it in the morning and get back to you."

I responded that actually, it wasn't a manuscript...more of a thank you note to Russell and Graham, that I thought they might get a kick out of. But then I never heard back from him so I figured he thought it was mash.

Now, seven months later he wrote me:

Sorry it's been so long, but I only just refound your email address. There was no contact info on your manuscript, and I had changed emails, etc., yada, poo... Anyway, you ARE a writer. Very good stuff. Has anything developed from it? Tell me all.

FYI:

The Reflections in the Mud movie trailer will be posted on our website this coming Monday, August 4th! It naturally features Jodi, the music of Graham, with a little tuneage from Jonni, as well as a quick appearance from Mr. Lightfoot himself as well.

You get a special advance teaser by going to http://www.reflectionsinthemud.com right now, and of course will be able to see the video trailer there later. We will stream via YouTube so hopefully we can get a few hits and make a splash so we can have the movie out soon!

We plan to keep the website alive from now on, with exclusive interviews with Jodi, Graham, Jonni, and the Movie's other stars over the next while.

Exciting times, and thank you so much for your support, it's been good to know you are out there as we struggle to get this to you!

- n y k

The part about the movie is definitely boiler plate; I'm sure he's just trying to drum up support for it, but it was fun to hear back from him.

I don't know what I'll tell him as far as writing goes. I canceled my book deal contract back in March for a variety of reasons which I won't bother getting into again, so without a deadline I've definitely lost writing momentum. Every now and then I pick it up, and perhaps when school starts up again and life isn't such a crazy whirlwind I'll get serious again and actually put a cohesive story together. But for now, I don't really have anything to show for myself.

Writing is therapeutic. I am doing it for me. Till that book deal thing I hadn't ever considered myself a writer, nor did I have any authorship aspirations. Then I started writing the book and discovered that it's really cathartic for me. Better than therapy for sure. So I want to keep writing, but I have no plans beyond that.

One of my favorite things is when I hear from someone that something they read has resonated with them. If any of my experiences ever inspired or helped even one other person navigate their way through a challenging time, or just hang on when things are dicey, that's just icing. If my stories impacted even one person the way Jeanette Wall's story The Glass Castle helped me, that would be amazing.

So I'm going to keep writing. It's slow and I know I have miles to go in terms of improving my writing style and ability. But it's not a race, and the journey is the reward.

Still, I DO wonder what's around the bend...