• Forest for the Trees
  • THE FOREST FOR THE TREES is about writing, publishing and what makes writers tick. This blog is dedicated to the self loathing that afflicts most writers. A community of like-minded malcontents gather here. I post less frequently now, but hopefully with as much vitriol. Please join in! Gluttons for punishment can scroll through the archives.

    If I’ve learned one thing about writers, it’s this: we really are all alone. Thanks for reading. Love, Betsy

Many Times I’ve Been Alone And Many TImes I’ve Cried

Posted on October 12, 2011 by betsylerner

I received an email today from an editor congratulating me for having another National Book Award nominee. What the fuck? I didn’t even know the nominations were being announced today. I scrolled down to Publishers Lunch and there it was, right there under the fiction nominees: THe Sojourn by ANdrew Krivak (Bellevue Press). I called Andrew who said he couldn’t talk because he was driving. Citizens! I asked him to pull over, hello, but he had to pick up his son. Okay. Was he in shock? Was I? He received the call on Friday from the head of the NBA, who instructed him not to tell anyone. And he didn’t. (More restraint than I’ve managed for my entire life.) My inbox started to fill with congratulations, including from a number of the editors who had passed on the book.  So gracious. Did I say I was in tears. I called to tell Patti and my mom. Guess who knew the right thing to say? Andrew called back, having gotten home and plied his three children with Graham Crackers.  (My mind immediately flashed on marshmallows and Hershey bars.) We enjoyed the moment. It had been a long haul to see this book published. I never wanted to give up. More important, he never did.

Congrats, Andrew.

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45 Responses

  2. Beth W., on October 12, 2011 at 9:37 pm said:

    Congratulations. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Sherry Stanfa-Stanley, on October 12, 2011 at 9:42 pm said:

    Damn, you know how to pick ’em. Congrats.

    Reply
  4. Thomas Dimopoulos, on October 12, 2011 at 10:18 pm said:

    Congratulations! You have Patti’s phone number???

    Reply
  5. Tetman, on October 12, 2011 at 10:35 pm said:

    Congratulations, Ms. Lerner.

    Reply
  6. Teri, on October 12, 2011 at 11:05 pm said:

    A huge congrats to you and Andrew. You’re on a roll. Proud of you.

    Reply
  7. Mary Lynne, on October 12, 2011 at 11:17 pm said:

    So impressive and well deserved all around. I love that you called both Patti Smith and your mother. That is a well rounded woman. Congratulation, Betsy.

    Reply
  8. Deb, on October 12, 2011 at 11:31 pm said:

    Well deserved. Congratulations to you both.

    Reply
  9. Elisabeth Crisp, on October 12, 2011 at 11:35 pm said:

    That’s the story we love to hear. Congratulations!

    Reply
  10. rea, on October 12, 2011 at 11:58 pm said:

    congrats!

    Reply
  11. Les, on October 13, 2011 at 12:17 am said:

    nice job, sis.

    Reply
  12. TP, on October 13, 2011 at 12:20 am said:

    So happy for the both of you, Betsy. You keep hitting them out of the park.

    I just went to Amazon to check it out, and found that he’s also written a memoir, of being in the priesthood, and then leaving. Jesuit, no less. The author photo isn’t bad either, to put it mildly. For this former Catholic school girl, this is pure chocolate cake. I’m looking forward to reading both of these books.

    Reply
  13. Catherine, on October 13, 2011 at 1:41 am said:

    I truly enjoyed reading this book and certain scenes are still strong in my head. Beautiful, measured writing and above all, a story.

    Best of luck to both of you for the award.

    Reply
  14. macdougalstreetbaby, on October 13, 2011 at 4:35 am said:

    No sojourn here. Looks like this book is here to stay. COngratuLations! I’m going to go check it out right this very second.

    Reply
  15. Bobbi, on October 13, 2011 at 4:52 am said:

    How exciting!! Felicitations. Post a photo of you celebrating please.

    Reply
  16. tamarapaulin, on October 13, 2011 at 5:20 am said:

    Wonderful news! Enjoy! I’m so happy for everyone involved.

    Reply
  17. Alice, on October 13, 2011 at 6:27 am said:

    That’s great Betsy. What’s more fun than vindication?

    Reply
  18. Deborah Serravalle, on October 13, 2011 at 6:56 am said:

    As an aspiring author, I’ve often daydreamed of a moment such as you had. What surprised me in my self-centered little world, however, was how much the publication and success of Andrew’s novel meant to you.

    Or, translated into BL lingo: “WTF! Even my agent is gobsmacked?!”

    Reply
  19. Bonnie, on October 13, 2011 at 6:57 am said:

    Congratulations! Wow!

    Reply
  20. Downith, on October 13, 2011 at 7:56 am said:

    This post is so zingy! I love “Citizens” and your comment “Guess who knew the right thing to say.”

    But most of all I love how thrilled you are for him – soft as a marshmallow, you.

    Congrats to you both.

    Will check out the book.

    Reply
  21. Lyra, on October 13, 2011 at 8:18 am said:

    How much do I love that you immediately called Patti along with your mom? Yeah, that much.

    Congrats to you and Andrew, two people who never wanted to give up.

    Reply
  22. Averil Dean, on October 13, 2011 at 9:00 am said:

    Congratulations, Betsy and Andrew. I’ve got another must-read on my bedside table.

    Reply
  23. Shanna, on October 13, 2011 at 9:02 am said:

    Andrew’s priorities make me want to cry. You have to love a dad who can’t talk ABOUT HIS NBA NOM until his kids are safe and fed. Swoon.

    Congratulations to you both.

    Reply
  24. Sally, on October 13, 2011 at 9:21 am said:

    I’m with Shanna.

    This does my heart good this morning. Congratulations to the both of you.

    Reply
  26. Marcella, on October 13, 2011 at 9:51 am said:

    Congratulations. I appreciate the long trek from finding a book you love, and want to see the light of day, to then connecting the author and the work to the best publisher for it. No mean feat.

    Reply
  27. Mike D, on October 13, 2011 at 10:11 am said:

    Congratulations! My favorite line in this entry was, We enjoyed the moment.

    Reply
  28. Kathy, on October 13, 2011 at 10:52 am said:

    How wonderful. This leaves me with chills. But I haven’t even heard of the book!! Is this my ignorance? Has it been widely publicized and I’ve missed it? Or does it need more publicity? Ah, the world of book publishing…..

    Reply
  29. SpringChicken, on October 13, 2011 at 1:38 pm said:

    Huge congrats! I must read this.

    Reply
  31. Dale, on October 13, 2011 at 9:41 pm said:

    We’re going to expect a “Lerner” in every batch of NBA nominees. Congratulations, Betsy. And to Andrew Krivak. And to Bellevue Literary Press.

    Reply
  32. Adele Richards, on October 14, 2011 at 1:06 pm said:

    Woman, you are totally awesome.

    Reply
  33. Henri, on October 16, 2011 at 7:12 am said:

    Congratulations and I must say the cover looks really intriguing. Kind of like a scene from ‘The King of Hearts’

    Reply
  34. Henri, on October 16, 2011 at 7:17 am said:

    Wonderful news and I must say the cover looks really intriguing. Kind of like a scene from ‘The King of Hearts’

    Reply
  35. Dave Cullen, on October 16, 2011 at 8:24 pm said:

    Hey, I just heard he was one of yours. Well deserved. And you have to love those msgs from editors who passed.

    Reply
  36. Dave Cullen, on October 17, 2011 at 2:15 pm said:

    Aren’t you guys relieved he wasn’t unfinalized? Good God.

    Reply
  37. macdougalstreetbaby, on October 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm said:

    I just finished the first chapter and all I want to do is crawl back into bed with a box of tissues. That’s some kind of perfect writing. All I can say right now is that the child better live. If he doesn’t, I can’t promise I won’t write a nasty letter to Mr. Krivak.

    Reply
  38. Alan Turkus, on October 19, 2011 at 1:16 am said:

    Congratulations to you and Andrew, Betsy! Fantastic news.

    Reply

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