I didn't. I was laboring with my agent on publishing my six novels, as women on street corners, on TV, in groceries, in offices, were ecstatically quoting passages from the book and "Fifty Shades" was zooming, ballooning into bestseller-dom.
I didn't want to know, but I did want to know, so I skimmed reviews -- critics said it was ridiculous, poorly written, juvenile rambling. I didn't want to buy the book, so I visited Amazon ebooks online where you can skim a chapter before you buy. I skimmed twenty pages thinking igg and yuck.
The record breaking success of author E L James and her "Fifty Shades of Grey," and all the go-with-the-flow, be in tune with the times, earn money things I did while trying to be successful as a dancer, were on my mind as we were putting together a new website to sell my books.
I promoted my books with what was selling "Fifty Shades of Grey" like hot cakes, emphasizing the passionate-romance-bedroom aspects of my six books, even though my heroines are career woman, deeply committed and passionately pursuing ideas and projects.
Okay, it's been three years of ads and headlines about "Fifty Shades"-- author E L James' big money movie deal, E L transforming her book into a film.
Meanwhile, I've been very busy -- helping my husband with his one man show, writing and publishing my blogs, tweeting and Facebooking, publicizing my novels by developing a readership with my daily blog, Em's Talkery.
A few months ago, the film, "Fifty Shades" opened BIG, breaking opening-night records. Reviews, that I didn't but did want to see, were mostly negative, but folks flocked to see the film.
Right now the film is still at the top, but box office receipts are showing a 73 percent drop that tells the "Hollywood Reporter," "Variety" and other major trade publications and critics, that the film is succeeding like a "one night stand erotic movie."
Hey, I am delighted that this film's NOT a big hit, the kind of movie like "Gone With the Wind" that you'll want to see again and again for years. I'm chuckling, relieved. The rambling, crude, sexy stuff -- the trend that was infecting book-publishing is fading...yes! yay! Yessiree! It's going to disappear.
The me who I am today has plenty say about what's in vogue, about what's wrong with going with the flow and seeking best-seller-dom. Last week I started tackling a seventh novel, and yes, I'm also brewing an idea for novel number eight.
Why am I writing this sour grapesy story? Because I know how easy it is to lose faith in yourself and get stuck feeling sorry for yourself because you're clobbered by a trend.
Hey, here's a link to the official preview for Fifty Shades -- it's not iggy, yuck or erotic, but I saw enough to know I don't need to see the film until it's shown for free on some cable channel.
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2 comments:
In my memoir, I talked about a simple epiphany I had while traveling. It's been said before in other ways, but it came to me like this: "The purpose of my life is not to get what I want. The purpose of my life is to become who I am." The author of "Fifty Shades of Gray" made a load of cash, but I write stories that allow me to express myself as the author I truly want to be. I'm good with that, and I can tell you are too. That's why I love visiting your page, Em.
You're right as usual Em. People: Start your own trends. Look for your own what = new. That's how you will inspire others that might even remember you. Don't be afraid to take chances. Create without the fear of loosing what you create to someone else. That's why we are all here, no matter how tough that is to bare. The stars in heaven will keep on shinning long after we've all been lost and tossed to frolic in the stormy sands beneath the waves. sez Dustspeck
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