pcmag
May 21, 2006 |
ABC News - May 17, 2006 2:33 PM
Two Southern Digital Castles On a quiet cul-de-sac north of Charlotte, North Carolina, overlooking Lake Norman, real estate developer Mark Adkins lives in a palatial mansion with a decidedly Southern flavor.
Susie Parker-Perry - PC Magazine
Susie Parker-Perry - PC Magazine
I went to Barnes and Noble this afternoon and lo and behold, the June 6th issue is on the newsstands. It was kind of surreal to see my name in PC Magazine - in a good way. However, at $5.99/copy, I only bought two.
Actually, it brought back nice memories of the fun day I spent in Huntersville with Darren Rembert, Joyce Townsend, Dan Ormsby, Michael and, of course, the stars of the piece, Will and Mark Adkins. I still kind of wish I would have been brave enough to take them up on their offer of a ride in their helicopter (Dan Ormbsy didn't hesitate and he took some amazing photos!). It was a wonderful day and it really didn't feel anything like work.
I would also like to thank Bruce for passing my name along to features editor Erik Rhey, because he was too busy to take the assignment and, in no small measure, a huge thanks to Erik for taking a chance on me. What a pleasure he was to work with.
Last Friday (May 12), I met Erik for lunch and had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Ziff-Davis Media Building at 28 E. 28th Street in Manhattan. Not only is Erik an exceptional writer and editor, but an all-around kind, unassuming gentleman (even if he does like fiction). He even chose a fantastic restaurant, right around the corner from his office. It was a lovely way to begin a hectic weekend of moving Katie and John into their 350 square feet. Erik, if you ever need someone in the South, you have my number. I would love to work with/for you again.
And of course, a huge thanks to my husband who, in an effort to keep my head out of the clouds, gently reminded me, "You know, hardly anyone ever reads to the end to see who writes that stuff...". After all my giddiness instantly evaporated and my ego painfully recovered from it's rapid decompression, I was reminded of what Anne Lamott wrote in "Bird by Bird":
"But I still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do - the actual act of writing - turns out to be the best part. It's like discovering that while you thought you needed the tea ceremony for the caffeine, what you really needed was the tea ceremony. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward."
That's all very true and the same experience from writing - submission - rewriting - revisions of revisions - more revisions - nothing brings out the perfectionism in a person like being asked to perform any of the aforementioned tasks. And in the middle of an assignment, I swear...SWEAR (literally) I am never going to take on anything like whatever it is I am presently attacking. Ever. No chance. And I stick by that - until it's polished, has been submitted and I feel as if I did as well as I was capable. I sigh with relief. I enjoy the nonexistance of a looming deadline for at least 2 or 3 days and then I wonder...when can I have another one of those deadlines? There must be some insatiable addiction built into writing - even if the topic isn't remotely within your preferred genre. You just want more. And you live in fear until you are tapped again.
Come to think of it, I have no idea what Anne Lamott was talking about. It's the best buzz going to be published! It's better than...let's just say it rocks. :-)
Actually, it brought back nice memories of the fun day I spent in Huntersville with Darren Rembert, Joyce Townsend, Dan Ormsby, Michael and, of course, the stars of the piece, Will and Mark Adkins. I still kind of wish I would have been brave enough to take them up on their offer of a ride in their helicopter (Dan Ormbsy didn't hesitate and he took some amazing photos!). It was a wonderful day and it really didn't feel anything like work.
I would also like to thank Bruce for passing my name along to features editor Erik Rhey, because he was too busy to take the assignment and, in no small measure, a huge thanks to Erik for taking a chance on me. What a pleasure he was to work with.
Last Friday (May 12), I met Erik for lunch and had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Ziff-Davis Media Building at 28 E. 28th Street in Manhattan. Not only is Erik an exceptional writer and editor, but an all-around kind, unassuming gentleman (even if he does like fiction). He even chose a fantastic restaurant, right around the corner from his office. It was a lovely way to begin a hectic weekend of moving Katie and John into their 350 square feet. Erik, if you ever need someone in the South, you have my number. I would love to work with/for you again.
And of course, a huge thanks to my husband who, in an effort to keep my head out of the clouds, gently reminded me, "You know, hardly anyone ever reads to the end to see who writes that stuff...". After all my giddiness instantly evaporated and my ego painfully recovered from it's rapid decompression, I was reminded of what Anne Lamott wrote in "Bird by Bird":
"But I still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do - the actual act of writing - turns out to be the best part. It's like discovering that while you thought you needed the tea ceremony for the caffeine, what you really needed was the tea ceremony. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward."
That's all very true and the same experience from writing - submission - rewriting - revisions of revisions - more revisions - nothing brings out the perfectionism in a person like being asked to perform any of the aforementioned tasks. And in the middle of an assignment, I swear...SWEAR (literally) I am never going to take on anything like whatever it is I am presently attacking. Ever. No chance. And I stick by that - until it's polished, has been submitted and I feel as if I did as well as I was capable. I sigh with relief. I enjoy the nonexistance of a looming deadline for at least 2 or 3 days and then I wonder...when can I have another one of those deadlines? There must be some insatiable addiction built into writing - even if the topic isn't remotely within your preferred genre. You just want more. And you live in fear until you are tapped again.
Come to think of it, I have no idea what Anne Lamott was talking about. It's the best buzz going to be published! It's better than...let's just say it rocks. :-)
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1 comment:
Congrats to you, Susie! Way to go girl.
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