An Asteroid
We writers sometimes talk about “pellets”–little rewards that keep us–like rats–happily running around our writerly treadmills. A good review is a pellet. An email from an enthusiastic reader is a pellet.
Last week, I got something so far beyond a pellet that one of my writing buddies called it an “asteroid.” And indeed, it is cosmic and out there, and really wonderful, too.
I live in Iowa City, which is known as a literary town–the world-renowned Iowa Writers Workshop is here, and we have this Literary Walk, which is a line-up of beautiful brass plaques with quotations from the works of authors associated with Iowa and Iowa City, writers like Kurt Vonnegut and Flannery O’Connor, and John Irving. Here is the website describing it.
My asteroid is that the Literary Walk has been expanded, and I’m one of the authors represented.
Usually you don’t get a brass plaque until you’re dead (in case you can’t see it, this is a quotation from The Magic Thief.)
“The old man was a wizard, clear as clear, and what kind of fool sits down to eat dinner with a wizard?”
And look, this is me: still alive, with my asteroid!
(photos by Kellye Crocker)
Pretty sweet, huh?
10/11/2011 at 12:03 pm
Oh wow, Sarah!
Congratulations!!
This is really awesome!
Very happy for you :)))
10/11/2011 at 12:05 pm
Thank you!! As you can see from the picture, I’m pretty darn happy about it myself.
10/11/2011 at 12:10 pm
Wonderful! Congratulations!
10/11/2011 at 12:11 pm
Thanks, Becky!
10/11/2011 at 12:19 pm
That is great! Congratulations!!!
10/11/2011 at 12:50 pm
Thanks!
10/11/2011 at 12:26 pm
Very sweet indeed!
10/11/2011 at 12:50 pm
Even better than a pie shake.
10/11/2011 at 12:50 pm
That is unbelievably awesome!
10/11/2011 at 12:50 pm
Thanks, Tim!
10/11/2011 at 1:08 pm
Dude! That is AWESOME!! Congrats, you.
10/11/2011 at 1:09 pm
Thanks!
But I’m thinking maybe not quite as awesome as a rhinestone crown. 🙂
10/11/2011 at 3:55 pm
Wow!! That is absolutely gorgeous! Wouldn’t you like to take home a little mini version of it for your desk? 🙂
(What a great choice of quote, too!)
10/11/2011 at 4:07 pm
Thanks, Anne! It would make a good paperweight, wouldn’t it!
10/11/2011 at 4:14 pm
That is the coolest thing EVER.
10/11/2011 at 4:20 pm
Thanks, Merrie!
10/11/2011 at 4:34 pm
This is so great, and I think it’s extra-great that it happened while you’re still alive and able to enjoy it!
10/11/2011 at 6:10 pm
😀 I’m definitely enjoying the asteroid–partly because it’s right across the street from my favorite greasy-spoon diner!
10/11/2011 at 6:41 pm
Ooooh!
I’ll have to look for that the next time I’m downtown. Congrats!
(Though I have to admit, reading the tweet I thought you’d somehow gotten an actual asteroid named after you, which would have turned my jealousy up to eleven. Million. Roughly. 😛 )
10/11/2011 at 7:05 pm
Hee! I wondered if anybody would think that!
10/11/2011 at 7:33 pm
How utterly cool! So glad you didn’t have to die to get one. 🙂 Much more fun to enjoy it, all smiley and breathing. Congrats, Sarah! That rocks!
10/11/2011 at 9:10 pm
Thank you! All these nice comments are pellets, too.
10/13/2011 at 12:56 am
That is really great! Congratulations! You deserve it for the Magic Thief series, it is just awesome! 🙂
10/13/2011 at 7:30 am
Thanks, Dina! It’s a big thrill, sure as sure!
10/13/2011 at 4:12 am
That is one shiny wonderful asteroid! Congratulations!
10/13/2011 at 7:29 am
Thanks, Deva!
10/14/2011 at 7:11 pm
That is so awesome! Congratulations!
10/14/2011 at 7:31 pm
😀 Thanks for stopping by to comment!
10/15/2011 at 4:27 pm
When I’m in Iowa City next summer I’ll seek out your asteroid. How wonderful, Sarah! Congratulations!
10/15/2011 at 6:18 pm
Thanks, Sharelle!
Wish I was going to see you at the retreat in a couple of weeks.