Tayari's Blog: It's My Anniversary
Posted by TayariJones on July 3, 2009 10:48 AM
Filed under
The Writing Life
On this day in 2000, my agent called me and said that Warner Books wanted to publish my first novel, Leaving Atlanta. This was six months after she sent it out and about a year after I had completed work on the manuscript. It would be two more years before the novel was actually in stores.
I remember that I was so excited, but I didn't have anyone to celebrate with. This is when I was living in Arizona and basically had one friend-- she was busy that night. About three months earlier, I'd bought myself a bottle of champagne and two pretty glasses that I was going to break out whenever there was news. I was by myself but I washed one of the flutes and filled it to the rim with bubbly. The bottle was expensive, so I didn't it to go to waste, so I drank most of it.
Needless to say, this was not an evening that ended well, but it was still the best day of my life.
I guess it's only right that I am spending today punching in edits for the last chapter of my third novel. It's not pretty. It's noon and I am still in my pajamas, my hair is all over my head, and I am about to eat a crazy lunch of assorted leftovers. It's not a glamorous life, but I'm still doing it. That in itself is worth a champagne toast.
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There are 6 comments on "It's My Anniversary". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by hotwater cornbread ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
cheers!!! happy anniversary!
July 3, 2009 01:37 PM
Comment #2, by nova
Tayari, Happy Anniversary!! I love that story. And so fitting that on this day of all days you're hard at work on the last chapter of a new novel! Perfect.
July 3, 2009 02:46 PM
Comment #3, by jamey
Cheers! So inspiring!
July 3, 2009 07:54 PM
Comment #4, by Bethany
That's awesome. :D Congrats on your anniversary!
July 3, 2009 10:02 PM
Comment #5, by Ladylee
*HaPPy AnnIVerSaRY*
...And pajamas and hair all over the head is glamorous in it's own rite!
July 4, 2009 08:18 AM
Comment #6, by minaj
As my grandmother would have said, "Pretty doesn't accomplish much." Your accomplishments are worth celebrating!
July 4, 2009 01:31 PM