• Tweet

• Tweet

Writing has given me many gifts. Some expected. Some not so much. Some appreciated. Some not so much.  Some helpful.  Some…yes, not so much.

It’s been a wild ride, at times exhilarating, at other times soul-crushing.

But the biggest gift by far that I have received from this crazy career are the people I’ve met along the way, especially the lovely ladies who have allowed me to share this blogging space with them.

To a one they have been kind, supportive, crazy in a recognizable way, interesting, delightful, always there with a kind word….okay, everyone except this one publishing professional I queried years ago. There is a special place in Hell for folks like him.

After sitting on my manuscript for months, he finally deigned to read it then jotted off a note in which he eviscerated the entire story, getting the names of most of the characters wrong, calling the book a “caper” and telling me that no one wants to read about high fashion and Vegas bright lights. He then suggested I rewrite the entire thing according to his suggestions, but…if I did, he wouldn’t guarantee me that he would look at it again.  So helpful….

But, besides him, everyone else has been stupendous.  The photo above is just a sampling of my wonderful writer friends.  They are Paul Levine (The Lassiter series and more), his love Marcia silver, Chuck Rosenberg (Death on a High Floor), his wonderful wife Sally Anne, and Chuck Greaves (Hush Money, Hard Twisted, and Green Eyed Lady).

I guess I should’ve known that the folks who like to write and those who like to read the stories would be people I’d want to know, people who I am humbled to count as fast friends until the end of time.  It seems obvious–like interests draw people into friendship.

But, hey, I was a lawyer and this friendship thing didn’t work quite so seamlessly in that venue.  I am not going to speculate as to why….we’ll just leave it at that.  Although you know that old joke about sharks not eating lawyers out of professional courtesy….I rest my case.  A cliche, but as Lucky knows, inside each cliche lives a kernel of truth.

Suffice it to say, I love my friends who see imaginary people.  And I love my friends who love to read about the exploits of our imaginary friends.  But, in fiction lies truth.  And the bond of shared human experience.

This holiday season and for all the days that follow, I wish you the gift of spending your days doing what you love with people you love, for this is the gift you’ve given to me.  One for which I am eternally grateful.

Luck and happiness always, my friends.

About Deborah Coonts

My mother tells me I was born a very long time ago, but I’m not so sure—my mother can’t be trusted. These things I do know: I was raised in Texas on barbeque, Mexican food and beer. I currently reside in Las Vegas, where my friends assure me I cannot get into too much trouble. Silly people. I am the author of WANNA GET LUCKY? (A NY Times Notable Crime Novel for 2010 and double RITA™ Finalist), LUCKY STIFF, SO DAMN LUCKY and two digital novellas, LUCKY IN LOVE and LUCKY BANG. My upcoming releases are tow digital novellas, LUCKY NOW AND THEN, Parts One and Two (March and April 2013) and the fourth Lucky novel, LUCKY BASTARD (May 14th in hardcover). I can usually be found at the bar, but also at www.deborahcoonts.com.