The loss of Covetousness

Critter Robin has done it.

She got the call from her agent yesterday that Steeple Hill is offering her a contract. She's the first of our little band to get that call, as we all knew she would be. No one works harder at this game than Robin.

There was a time, no so long ago, when I would have felt just a twinge of jealousy. We always say that's to be expected, natural. But I have a hard time with that. We're called, as Christians, to be beyond such feelings. After all, we've got an eternity with our Lord to look forward to. Why do we fret over what others here on earth have that we don't? It takes away our focus from God. That's why it's a commandment, people.

So I didn't jump up and down or giggle all over myself like my silly crit partners undoubtedly did. I'm the male in the group. I'm supposed to be like Clint Eastwood after gunning down an entire gang of Mexican bad guys. I just squint, shove a self-rolled cigarette between my lips, and peer off toward the horizon, where another mob of bad-guys awaits. Robin knows I'm proud of her because I grunt and don't spit chewing tobacco on her shoes.

Okay. I'm not quite that cool. I'll get giddy when I see her at the conference.

I can honestly say that I didn't feel the least bit jealous, though. What it does is inspire me. Despite the dire numbers thrown at newbies regarding the publishing business, there is hope for those who don't give up. Robin is like Han Solo--"Never tell me the odds." I like to think I'm that way, too. And Dineen. And Ronie. And Heather and everyone else who seems to stand apart from those who will give it one shot and go back to stamp collecting (I, myself, have a basement full of woodworking tools collecting dust).

This is what we do. This victory will erase the bitter memories of rejection after rejection for Robin. She'll do an blog interview soon and be asked if she ever had any doubts. "Ohhhhh Nooooooo," she'll say. "I just knew if I kept at it and gave it all to God's glory and kept improving my craft why one day I'd have my name on a book cover too I mean if that Collin's gal kin do it why can't I I'm just as witty and funny and charming and I don't use passive verbs and don't ya just love that new sitcom with the girl and the murders and what's with all these morons who post those rambling book reviews on Amazon why they can just BITE ME not a one of 'em has ever picked up a pen and probably think Harlequin is the height of literature and..."

Good job, Robin! (Key in theme song from "The Jeffersons")

Now get back to work.