I get by with a little help from my friends
Word of the Week: Friend at First Sight — When, within minutes of meeting someone, you know for a fact that you will be friends for life.
I know yesterday was Happy Sunday, with plenty of space to list all the things I’m thankful for, but I’ve decided to add an extra Day of Gratitude to WIPs this week, because I’ve got two extra-special items to be thankful for. :angelme
#1 — I’ve got some of the greatest friends in the world. One of those friends is the fabulous Virginia Kantra. Virginia & I have been friends for ages, ever since her first book came out with Silhouette Intimate Moments. I was not yet published, she was signing at the book fair after a New Jersey Romance Writers conference, I bought a copy of her book, she was sweet as a Georgia peach, we hit it off…& the rest is history.
Well, just recently, Virginia sent me a copy of her newest “Children of the Sea” release, Forgotten Sea. I was momentarily stymied, since I certainly wasn’t expecting it. (And I always buy my own copies of Virginia’s books almost before the publisher is finished printing them—duh. :tongue )
But this one is special because..
A.) She signed it. (Yes, I still get her to sign my books once in a while, but we usually have to do that when we manage to be at the same conference in the same city for a change.)
B.) She mentioned me in her dedication. Woot! :chick And I quote: “Special thanks to my online community of writer buddies…who have mentored, supported, & inspired me, especially Susan Andersen, Heidi Betts, Suzanne Brockmann…” See—that’s me! In the middle! :claphat
& C.) She used a quote at the beginning of the book that I sent her. “The cure for 
anything is salt water—sweat, tears, or the sea.” How could I not think of Virginia & her awesome “Children of the Sea” series when I saw that?!
So now I’ve got two copies of Forgotten Sea & may have to give one away here in The Dungeon for an upcoming Free Book Friday. But not the signed one. Oh, no…that one is a super-duper extra-special forever Keeper copy. :bees
#2 — I just got a Get Well card in the mail from our very own Darling Laura J. Thank goodness I didn’t have stitches & was feeling much better by then, because I laughed so hard, I could have done some real damage! :oucher
Here is the front:
And inside, it says, “Hope to see your sassy butt out of bed real soon.” How did she know I have a sassy butt? Oh, yeah…it’s implied under the “Sexy, sassy, sensational!” header. :eyelashes
But that’s not all! Inside the card was an equally fabulous bookmark:
I do worry about zombies! How did she know?! :hide
But as much as I love it—& I do! I really, really do!—I can never use it for fear it might get bunged up. It must remain inside it’s protective plastic sleeve forever & ever. I might use it if I end up reading by candlelight during the Zombie Apocalypse, though.
Thank you so much, Virginia & Laura! You have made my day, my week, & with Mercury in Retrograde, possibly my whole month. :jump
Comments
7 Comments • Comments Feed
Jessica Lemmon says:
I love this post! :bees Truly, there are so many people I am grateful for. It blows my mind that many of the people I add to that column are friends from Twitter or the internet whom I’ve yet to meet in person! Hmm… this would be a great post for Sm:)e Feel Good, no? :chick
(PS – totally haven’t written ?s for your interview – it hasn’t slipped my mind completely! :knock I’m thinking of a post at the end of this month/beginning Sept – how’s that timing sound to you?)
On August 8, 2011 at 9:23 am
Heidi says:
I know, right? Some of my favorite people in the world are ones I hardly ever see. :crying (Oh, who am I kidding? MOST of them are! :ROFL ) So feel free to steal the idea, as long as I’m one of the fabulous people mentioned in your post. :whistledev
And I forgot about the interview already :knock but I’m still up for it. In fact, there are some deets we should probably discuss. Can you e-mail me? kthxbye! :howyoudoin
On August 8, 2011 at 12:38 pm
KathleenO says:
I have a friend like that, and we have been friends now for over 30yrs. Was just a chance meeting. I was waiting for my turn to get a drink at the bar at our club. She was a guest, a group from another club in the states was visiting with us. We do an Hands across the border type events from time to time and she was in front of me. She turned aournd, I introduced myself and welcomed her to our club and and this was her first trip to Canada, I welcomed her for that to, and the rest they say is history.
We don’t see each other as often as we did, for about the first 25yrs in was at least two or three times a year, I have not seen them now for few years, but we talk all the time.
I love your friends sense of humour.. Much like mine..
It is a great blessing in life to have friends, especially gal pals. They see us thorugh so much in life…
On August 8, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Heidi says:
I love meeting people this way. It’s like—omg, we were separated at birth! :bees
On August 8, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Laura J. says:
I’m glad you liked it. I was trying to find a card with a naked guy on it. Do you know how hard it is to find a get well card with a naked guy on it?!?!? Believe me, I looked high and low for one.
I loved the zombie bookmarks!! I saw it and knew I had to get if for you.
On the Merc in Retro prob…Don’t worry!! Your friends have your back (but uh….could you please not wear that sassy, bile green number up above? Kthks).
On August 8, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Heidi says:
You did such a good job, I absolutely love it. Thank you again!
And I promise not to wear the open-back hospital gown by choice. :oucher Mine was actually blue, but it was still quite unattractive. :bart
On August 8, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Robin D says:
What a great post! 🙂
On August 8, 2011 at 11:28 pm