BitterSweetLife

We’ve all heard the buzz.

Ya know, how blogging can change your life, immerse you in an interactive, real-time community, give you a voice, put politics in the hands of the populace, channel creativity; basically everything besides raise children.

I never fully believed it until today, when I got my first book deal.

Now I’m lookin’ in the rearview mirror like the guy who always laughed at “making the big time” until he got there. Moments later, self-same guy is shopping for ice and sporting the bling-bling wrist watch on the way to the arena.

I feel sheepish writing this, like I should have believed. I guess I should have, really. I should have had faith. Now I feel like a straw man, turned to solid gold despite my doubts. Isn’t this kind of thing supposed to happen to the guy who really thinks it will? You know, the whole Cinderella story. She never doubted her Fairy Blogmothe-I mean, Godmother.

I’m a two-faced hypocrite. But I’m takin’ it to the bank, so deal with it.

Like I said, this was my first book deal. And the clincher is that it’s at absolutely no cost to me. S&H is included. So far as I know, I’m not even required to read it. I just got this unsolicited email and—BLAMMO—free book deal. It happened as follows.

Unsolicited email:

>>Ariel...
I would like to send you a copy of my book, Going Deeper—How to Make Sense of Your Life When Your Life Makes No Sense…

Going Deeper was just honored by being acclaimed as the best metaphysical book of 2004 by the editors of Allbooks Reviews… It is a significant teaching novel that takes readers on a wild, profound, humorous, and utterly fascinating ride to the edges of the universe and beyond… I look forward to hearing your comments.

Warmest regards,
Jean-Claude Koven<<

Obviously, personal communication from the award-winning author was flattering. But was it fo’ real? A query was in order.

>>Sounds good to me. How was I selected for this honor?
Ariel<<

Mr. Koven wasted no time in giving me the big picture.

>>Ariel...
How, indeed.
The Internet moves in mysterious ways and I, currently in human guise, merely follow. Perhaps, after you've read the book, we'll both understand?<<

And just like that, the dots were connected. Still, it was…mysterious. Almost like a whodunit. Surely it had something to do with the blog? Regardless, the prospect of my first book deal—that is, my first free book—was irresistible. Opportunity was trying to knock me, but I got him first. I quickly articulated my agreement.

>>Fair enough. I'll put it on the "priority" pile.<<

I don’t know what the future holds, but I think congratulations are in order.