Winter Writer Blues and Streisand on Oprah

The latest person to view my novel ( a publicist I met by phone, serendipitously) gave it thumbs up. Granted, I heard this second hand through her cousin, my unofficial agent, my novel's champion! (No actual agent, yet.) So should I follow his advice to self publish? Should I make an e-book?

I am confused, tired, bemused, annoyed, perhaps depressed. I have an urge to burn all my old diaries.

In other, better news, Oprah pays tribute to the great Barbra Streisand today. In a previous Oprah interview, Streisand revealed she forgot the words once and did not perform publicly again for twenty-seven years . I was shocked, and oddly comforted. Maybe there is yet hope for my twelve year old unfinished first novel. And the fifty-odd old songs of mine hiding in a folder. And the current, four years in process, novel? Maybe in time these hidden talents will see the light of day.

I keep thinking too much time has passed. During those twenty-seven years I wonder if Streisand obsessed over not performing like I obsess over not publishing.

Eventually though, she stood on a stage again and let her voice rise up.

How do we find the courage, the heart, to keep putting our voices out there?

Be On Oprah

My Nashville Singer Girl sent me a link to be on Oprah. I filled it out thinking only of being invited to be in the audience. It asked how an episode of Oprah might have changed your life.

I told the same story to them (the producers) as I've told here (see Blog entries 1-5.)

Then after I hit send I realized it was a link to appear as a guest. Ayeee!
(Not that she will call, she won't. And even so, I don't want to tell it on TV.)
But what if???

Oprah has a habit of asking people, "What do you know for sure?"
What I know is:
NO ONE CAN TELL YOU YOUR FINGERPRINTS ARE MADE WRONG.

Oprah always says, "Dream your biggest dream."
My biggest dream, currently, is:
TO HAVE BARBRA STREISAND RECORD ONE OF MY SONGS.
(the song is called "Believe in Me.")

(Strangely, I did not know I had this dream until I imagined being on Oprah, and what if she asked me about my biggest dream...)

What is your biggest dream?