Today, my second book ever, Violet by Design, is officially in stores. I'm psyched! I'm also feeling reflective, so here's a little of that today, on this Anything Goes week at TFC.“In a weak moment, I have written a book.” –Margaret Michell
This has to be one of my all-time favorite quotes. I even have a magnet with these words on it, along with a photo of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind, on my refrigerator. (I want that haircut and her dress. Total girl crush.)
There is no denying that MM was a total rock star. The woman broke her ankle and was stuck in bed, so she wrote GONE WITH THE WIND, people! If I had a broken ankle, I could probably manage a few whiny blog entries, but this heroine churned out one of the most influential tomes of the last century, and then spoke about it as if it was just an afterthought, something silly to pass the time!
When I traveled to Atlanta last year (I was there to go to a prom dress fashion market while I was editing the prom issue of Seventeen—seriously), I had to take a break from tulle and taffeta to visit Miss Margaret’s former apartment. Just outside her door, there is a wooden banister with a lion’s head on the end. Apparently, writers have been rubbing this banister for years in hopes that it will bring them luck in their writerly pursuits.
You can bet I rubbed that lion’s head till it shone like the top of the Chrysler Building!
I wonder if writers are a special kind of superstitious, or if we all find ways to hedge our bets and ask fate to help us out when we really, really want something.
Anyone else got a good luck trick they’d like to share? With a new book out, I could use it!
Post your good luck ideas below, and I'll choose one person at random to win a signed copy of Violet by Design. I also reserve the right to try your tricks for myself!
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41 comments:
I'm a very, very firm believer in luck pennies. When I find a heads up one I'll keep it in front of my ID in my wallet until it falls out. Whenever I come across a penny that is tails up I flip it over.
I also have two rings that I wear all the time, my day generally goes awry if I forget to put them on.
I am totally into pennies too! I picked one up just yesterday...
Oh, AND, I forgot to say that I'll pick a contest winner on Friday, so feel free to keep posting here until then!
I recently went to Vegas, for my birthday, and every time I played one of those WHEEL OF FORTUNE slot machines, I won a jackpot. Seriously, 6 jackpots, in 3 different casinos, over like, a day and a half.
If I had any idea what I "DID" to make that happen---well, I'd MOVE to Vegas.
Anyway, I don't have any lucky charms though I will say:
MEGA HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO YOU!!
My lucky charm is my Klauda ring. It's an Irish ring, and since I'm Irish, my grandma got me one for my 13th birthday. Now, I won't go anywhere without it on.
Happy release day!!
je t'aime.
hope.
Melissa - happy release day (I'll be posting your blog tour later today!). I don't have any rituals, but my current wip has a statue that all the students touch the nose for good luck, so I was very pleased to hear your MM story!!!!
I have a pair of lucky socks that I wear whenever I have a big test or anything. I know it sounds silly, but I'm a believer in those socks, lol.
I also as well believe in lucky pennies. Whenever I see a heads up penny I just have to pick it up. I also leave random pennies around heads up for others to find.
Happy Release Day!!!
My lucky charm is this Harry Potter bracelet that me and all of my friends have. When I dont have it I feel so lost. I feel like it really helps me get through the day. =D
hey! happy release day!
i don't really have anything that i think is particularly lucky... maybe that is why i don't have any luck! i did used to have a lucky rabbits foot, but i think i lost it, not very lucky there! oh! the penny thing, i do actually do that! but only it is heads up!
I don't have any good luck charms but I will actually sit with my fingers crossed if I'm waiting to hear about something.
Congrats on the new release!! :-)
Oooh -- I'm big into repeating over and over in my head what I want to happen. Like, in Vegas I say over and over to myself "Triple Bars...triple bars...triple bars..." usually followed by a "D@mn!" :) But hey, it can't hurt to keep trying! "Sell a million copies...sell a million copies...." GOOD LUCK! :)
Happy release day. I don't have a good luck charm. But I do find that sometimes I write better in a certain pair of pants or something like that. Then I start convincing myself I have to wear these pants every time I go to the computer to churn out good words. But usually the good luck pants wear out and then I move on.
Congrats!
Love the MM quote, btw.
Happy Release Day Melissa!
I need to take a trip and rub the lion, trying to write short stories for myself is hard :)
I always wish on a rainbow when I see them. They seem to give me good luck.
Hugs, Danette
I have about 30 Buddha statues all over my desk. I light candles for inspiration. I wish on stars all the time.
And I have a "lucky" bathrobe that was my grandfather's. It's ripepd in the shoulder and a hideous plaid thing, but when I need inspiration desperately, I wear it.
E
i dont really have any good luck tricks. maybe that whole mind over matter thingy....
Great post, and happy release day, Melissa! So exciting.
Let's see ... lucky rituals. I used to do some acting, and right before I'd go to an audition, I'd play "Kiss" by Prince, as loud as I could stand and car-dance like crazy. Seriously, I ALWAYS got call backs. :)
congrats on the release! when I was younger I used to carry around a picture of my dog because I thought it was lucky! the day I brought it to school to show my friends...i got into the spelling bee! :)
Ooh, I love these. Today I'm going to: touch statues, rub someone else's Klauda ring (would that be weird?), put on some socks and pants that I deem lucky, cross my fingers, repeat a mantra, seek out a rainbow and a buddha statue, listen to Prince...
I may not be able to find a Harry Potter bracelet, but who knows?
Thanks, you guys!
And a pet photo! Yes! Good idea, Katie.
Hmmm...I need a lucky charm. Happy release day!! :)
For luck i put a coin in this big water fountain at Place de la Concorde in Paris when i was there last week
Happy Release Day!!!!
I don't have any lucky charms now... I used to when I was a kid and had exams!
I have a ring that spins... it's a good luck charm for me but I have no idea why...
Happy Release Day!!!!
I don't have any lucky charms now... I used to when I was a kid and had exams!
First, that quote by Margaret Michell reminds me of one by John Steinbeck:
"I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words and sentences." that goes along with this one: "What some people find in religion a writer may find in his craft."
Must be an amazing joy right?
Anyways, good luck charms:
You what's funny? I actually read a book (Stray by Stacey Goldblatt) that mentions this little porcelain statue of a dog that came from China (named Fu-Fu) that the main character rubs for good luck. :D
My good luck charms would have to include this ink pen I use (never will I ever write any essay without it) and a bracelet I wear everyday. I'm not terribly superstitious (trust me I know, one of my close friends is Filipino and she has A LOT of superstitions), but I need those two things ^_^.
Oh, and I just learned this today: apparently three people in a picture is a bad thing. Go figure.
I used to have a lucky pencil...but then I lost it. Maybe that's why I'm so unlucky now.
My mom and I are really lucky/talented at raffles. For real. My mom has won two (count 'em two!) TVs in random raffles at her work and my dad's work. Recently, my mom and I sat at different tables during a Chinese New Year luncheon. Just as I was telling my best friend how good at raffles the females in my family are, I won the centerpiece. Two seconds later, I learned my mom won the centerpiece as well. Go figure.
I'm not a writer, but I am an artist. I don't really have any "lucky" by definition tricks, but I do have some habits.
I do most of my work in the art studio at school. We listen to KUSC, 93.1 classical music; Lady Smith Black Mombazo; and I listen to "Yeah Yeah" by BodyRox ft. Luciana (D. Ramirez Radio Edit.)
At home, I'll listen to Pandora.
I have a whole lucky jewelry thing. I used to wear exactly 27 of those black rubber bracelets because I thought it was a lucky number (hmm, it did end up being how old I was when I sold my book). Now I have one lucky bracelet (way more manageable and professional looking for my dayjob). But my big thing is that whenever all the numbers on the clock are the same (11:11 or 3:33 frex), I make a wish. Sometimes I make three wishes cause they always get three wishes in the fairytales right?
I have a chain that I wear that has some charms that are of some of my favorite things... like Jack Skellington and a ring of mine from when I was a kid. I play with it and I tung on it when I get nervous, so if anything it feels like a lucky charm to me.
Plus I have a braclet that's painted black. I got it in Hawaii and its made from coconuts. Its my lucky charm it gives me balance.
;}
My favorite good luck charms that I have are my "little tiki man" and a white or purple crystal keychain that I bought at the Grand Canyon on a trip when I was about 9 or 10. My Little Tiki Man is a jade necklace of a tiki head that I got at a sporting goods shop on sale when I was getting ready to go camping. That year's camping trip was the best one yet, with no injuries and little sickness. (ha!) I should probably try to find them, I haven't seen them in a little while.....
hmmm...I don't really have a lucky charm. I'm not a very big fan of jewelry and I only wear them on special occasions. But for some reason i'm scared of the number 3. And I have no idea why! Like, if i took 3 of something (like cookies!)i'd go back and get another one or put one back. It's really wierd. i wonder what they will call that...threephobia? hahaha!
Grace
ps. i don't have a blog or anything like that so i'll just give you my email address (luv.jesus@hotmail.com) just in case you need to contact me to verify i'm in the contest or anything like that. ;)
More tasks for tomorrow: drop coin in fountain, wear spinny ring, find a good luck pen (I love the idea of that!), resurrect childhood jewelry habits, carry lucky tiki man (I have one from Hawaii!).
Thanks, guys!
Hi, Happy Release day to you! I wish you much success. If you try your best and it is meant to be, it will happen! Prayer is luck for me. Thy will be done! Please enter me in your giveaway contest. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Hi, I think if something is meant to happen it will. Karma or something like it. Prayer also helps. Thy will be done. Please enter me in your fabulous giveaway. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
love margaret mitchell books!!
forgot how long it took me the first time i read
gone with the wind
but sure glad i did
You know, I read GONE WITH THE WIND for the first time in Middle School and I have read it about ten times since then. I love Rhett, poor guy, falling in love with Scarlett.
Years ago, some dear friends gave me a silver bracelet with links that read 'inspiration', 'chance' and 'luck', which I have worn to every writers' conference since. Don't know if it's necessarily a good luck charm, but it's a ritual that makes me feel confident and loved.
Linda, who loves me some Violet!
I hold my breath hoping for good luck. Like, if an announcement that I hope will be good is about to be made, or if I'm opening a letter I hope will be good, or if I'm rolling the dice when playing a game or something. It doesn't actually work, but it always makes me feel better!
So excited about the book! As far as good luck I usually pray when I am nervous, stressed, worrying and need some luck! Simple but it usually works. Also, I've heard that eating black eyed peas on New Years Day brings luck!
Congratulations on your book!
And for luck? Well I used to have a lucky number --13 (which I guess is technically unlucky...) but now I have a silver bracelet with a red string (like the kabbalah ones)... but I think if the string breaks its supposed to be bad luck... which means I should have taken it off a few weeks ago. like before exams. Oops.
Prayer is always a good thing! And those string wish bracelets, Tali, I LOVE THEM! I think the breaking means the wish will come true though... it's a positive thing.
I used to have a necklace with a wishbone on a red string from Brazil. I was so sad when it fell off, even though it meant good luck.
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