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| Laura Breck |
I
believe in Karma. It's that intangible force that brings good things to us when
we live our lives in positive, helpful ways. When we do bad things, watch out!
Karma brings bad things back. And when we forget why we're doing good things,
Karma will send us a reminder to curb that non-altruistic pride.
I
once read that true generosity is the quality of helping others without
expecting anything in return. I try to live by that motto every day. When my
writers' group, Midwest Fiction Writers, a chapter of the Romance Writers of
America, put out a call for someone to organize and publish a fundraising
anthology to benefit the chapter, I knew this was something I could do to give
back to the organization that has helped me become the writer I am today.
The
anthology project has been a long, time-consuming challenge, and an experience
I am glad I chose to participate in. The seventeen-story anthology, Love in the Land of Lakes is in the last
few weeks of production, and will be published in digital format and paperback by
the end of January (keeping my fingers crossed.) For more information, and to
sign up for the mailing list, please click here.
Remember
what I said about helping others without expecting anything in return? Earlier
this month, our 2012 chapter awards were given at our monthly meeting. I was
surprised and honored to receive the MFW Chapter Service Award for my work on
the anthology.
The
trophy is lovely, even though it is difficult to photograph, but I tried my
best.
I
showed it off to my family, told my friends about it, and was thinking of posting
it on Facebook, when Karma did its thing to curb my pride. When the e-mail went
out to all members of my writers' group announcing the 2012 award winners, my
name was not on the list.
Bazinga,
as Sheldon Cooper would say. A very humbling reality check for me. It served
well to remind me why I had donated my time to organize the anthology. Not for
the reward of a trophy, and not for bragging rights, but for the joy of giving
of myself and the opportunity to help where I was needed. Lesson learned!
Working
with sixteen fabulous authors, one incredible cover artist, two amazing editors,
and a whole slew of talented beta readers - all volunteering their time - I
realized how lucky I am to be a part of this project. All these people donated
their time and talents to make the anthology the professional and creative book
that it is. Thanks, Karma, for sending this opportunity my way!
All
my best,
Laura
~Smart Women ~Sexy
Men ~Seductive Romance
LauraBreck.com
Dancing in a
Hurricane is available in digital and paperback formats at Amazon and in paperback at Createspace
