Here we go. Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop. Are you onboard with me and #MFRWauthor again this week?
Week 46: Let Me Brag for a Moment
Let me Brag for a Moment? Bragging is the topic for this week? Oh, for Pete’s sake! This isn’t going to be easy. I’m not a bragger, per se, so how do I write on this topic? It’s easier for me to write about what I CAN’T brag about. I could mention my kids, but I have during this past year. There are no grandchildren to post pictures or talk about. I’m not a great cook. It’s true. You can get out of practice by not cooking often. I don’t bake when I’m the only one here to eat it.
Here’s a good one: I could brag about my inner strength and the ability to persevere, but I believe we’ve covered those topics this year. Where does this leave me?
Hmmm…
I try not to brag about my books, reviews, etc. I’ve posted reviews and Amazon Best Selling list placement before. I find when I do much bragging about my books, bad things happen, so I don’t make a habit of this.
I deleted the rest of the original post from this point on. Instead, as hard as it is to brag, I will brag about my ability to pick myself up at the bootstraps and survive. Seven years ago I didn’t know how I’d survive financially after leaving my job and moving across the state to live with my youngest son. Thank you, Jim.
I admit, moving in with my son encouraged me to get serious about reaching for my dream. I published Howdy, Ma’am after struggling, for personal reasons, to write that book for over two years. It’s hard to write when your mind is in turmoil. In the end, the turmoil helped me to finish this book. It opened the door for me to continue writing western romance. I’m about to publish book number eleven. As soon as Finding Kimber is published, it’ll be my third book this year. Now, I’m proud to say I’m in my own apartment and comfortably taking care of myself. The point is, I picked myself up because I was determined to survive. These books contributed to that survival to this point. This is worth a little bragging to me.
Phew. This week’s topic is over. Can we move on now?
Hey, how about moving on with me to see what the other authors have to brag about because y’all know this is a BLOG HOP.
Heck, in reality, I think all of us authors, creatives, and everyone should be bragging about our accomplishments. We send our hearts out into the world every single day and are judged. Doesn’t that take some guts? Again, I think we might’ve covered ACCOMPLISHMENTS this year as well.
Enjoy your weekend. I can’t believe it’s Friday already.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
18 thoughts on “#AmWriting Yank On Those Bootstraps #MFRWauthor”
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RobinMichaela
Eleven books is quite an accomplishment, congrats! I wish I could say I had that many, lol.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Robin, it amazes me to say I published that number when it seems like yesterday I struggled with one out there alone. Eleven will be this week. Mainly, these books are what allowed me to survive on my own, so survival is a big incentive for me to keep at it. Thanks for visiting. I’m very slow at making rounds to other blogs this weekend, but I will get there.
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Cathy Brockman
Great post.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Cathy.
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Kenzie Michaels
Kudos to Number 11! I just hit that magic number myself this year and am working on #12. As authors, it IS hard to toot our own horn and still come across as humble:)
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Congrats to you, Kenzie! ❤ I like what you said: "It's hard to toot our own horn and still come across as humble." That couldn't be more true. Thank you.
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Helen Henderson
IMHO stating a fact isn’t bragging. Eleven books is an accomplishment. I think the great thing about this topic is that we are allowed to mention our books. Even if it isn’t in our nature to do so. Congrats.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Helen. It is hard to talk about my books unless I’m doing an excerpt or snippet. The last two going out this year surprised even me. The coloring book was a total surprise, but when the opportunity came up, I jumped on it. The designer did most of the work on that one. My upcoming book was such a struggle to write, I am so glad it came together for this year.
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Ed Hoornaert
Eleven books are definitely worth bragging about, particularly to this audience. And three books in one year is a major accomplishments. I’d love to do that, but I’m a slow writer — 13 months elapsed between my last book and the one coming up next month.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Ed, one of the books is a coloring book, so it didn’t take a lot of work on my part, but it’s a book. Thank you. I’m usually lucky to put out one a year. I always start another while waiting on edits so I’m ready to pick right up with the next book. Enjoy your weekend.
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Ed Hoornaert
It’s still a book, right? It counts, just as does the short story collection I published last year even though I just took some stories that had been previously published in magazines and added a couple other that the magazines never bought.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
🙂 Yes, you are correct, Ed. If it looks and feels like a book, it is a book! Thanks for that.
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D. Wallace Peach
Eleven books is something to brag about. I know how much work that takes, Mary. Grit and persistence and determination. It’s not easy. After all the hemming and hawing, a great post! 😀
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You’re so right about all the work it takes, Diana, and it doesn’t stop after publication. We have to keep on truckin’. LOL. I guess that phrase comes from being married to an asphalt cowboy once.
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alinakfield
“We send our hearts out into the world every single day and are judged.”
LOVE THIS! So true. I’m so glad you’re doing well and getting those stories out for readers to enjoy. Congratulations!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Alina. Looking at what I said in your comment does sound good if I say so myself. LOL. Oh, it’s so true. Thank you. I’m sure trying.
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