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Yesterday.
The river begins to open.
The release of the season starts.
Our frozen white highway over which we dragged nearly ninety logs bares elusive glimpses into the dark face of the Rio.
She laughs loudly now beneath our feet.
Her waters rise, ice thins, snow loses its strength. And we stand upon her remaining hard surface and what else can we do but hope she’ll hold?
We light the last of the slash piles upon the ice and listen. Open water beneath the flame. Floating fire.
Our tools are gathered, brought back to this side of the river. If the warm weather continues with daytime temperatures climbing steady into the 40s and 50s every afternoon as they have been, the Rio will no longer be passable. At least, not on her surface and I’m not big on swimming up here.
The timing is just right. Our work across river is done.
We’ve harvested what we need to build our home and shop. Should we need more for the barn, well, it’s safe to say there will be a new round of dead trees to harvest next year.
So now, the work on this side begins.
This is progress. We are pleased. Still there is a little bit of sadness too, for we have loved our time together by the river, silent as she had been, knowing she is there with us in the long blue shadows and heavy hoar frost and steaming breath and laughter and bloody noses and fat lips which were our only injuries and many a hot dog roasted over our slash piles over what in summer would be the middle of the river and our intimate involvement with our dying trees.
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An update on the birth of the book.
Thanks to so many for so much. For your support, encouragement and kindness.
For those who have been waiting, it is my understanding that the Kindle version will be available on Amazon later today.
For all those that did write and leave reviews, I can not thank you enough.
To so many, I send such sincere thanks, love and gratitude.
So, yeah… everything is going great… you’d think I’d be just floating on cloud nine with the wonderful reception and reviews that the launch of the book brought us.
But I’m not.
They warn you to expect bad review. It’s going to happen. Not everyone is going to like what you write. Some folks in particular will really not like it because they don’t like you, or they don’t like the fact that you did it and they did not or whatever goes through someone’s mind to justify saying mean things.
But what about no response at all? Brings back memories of all those years sending out my manuscript. I was lucky to get the rejection letter.
So yes, to hear from those who enjoy my writing… that means a lot.
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You know what they say is true: If you dare to put yourself out there, you better be prepared to be burned. Even if what burns is hearing nothing at all.
That’s the downside. And it’s down. It’s the pits, and it hurts. Some folks manage to bounce it all off their hard shell. Not me. It gets me. I’m softer than I care to admit.
Don’t be so sensitive, some say. Be stronger. Care less.
If I followed that advice, my writing would not be what it is, would it?
And for better or worse, I would not be either.
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Those who have been through this before, the big first book deal, compare the process to giving birth, with a longer gestation, (in my case, would you believe, five years in the making?) and a little less physical pain. That’s not too far off, having been through childbirth too. Hey, Mom and Dad, you were there when I did that. Remember all my screaming and cussing? Guess what – I did the same over these past five years and then some “birthing” my first book. My one hope is that each subsequent book will be a little easier. Dang, I hope so.
Some even say if you knew back then how hard it would be, I bet you wouldn’t have done it.
But for those of us who do write, I think we can’t not write. I am incomplete with out. Be it my gift or the part of my private self I can share.
It’s not just words. It’s a part of me.
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And at these times of introspection, we’re forced to ask ourselves this questions:
Who do I write for?
Family?
No.
My brothers both forgot. The lack of support (even acknowledgement) from most of my husband’s family on this accomplishment should not have surprised me but still did.
Thank goodness for good friends and new readers. And a few wonderful surprises along the way, including some close family and distant friends.
Who do I write for?
Not for myself, for although that is the advice of some successful writers, it is not what I care to do.
I guess I write for you. For the few still here with me reading whilst the rest have run off to other things, pressing issues, important matters, and something shiny and new.
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Gin Getz 
Received notice from Amazon that The Color of the Wild is in the mail – can hardly wait to see your voice!!
xo Cyndee! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it…
Mine will be here tomorrow. Can’t wait to read your beautiful words.
Thank you, my friend, thank you!
As the Rio Grande ‘laughs loudly’ beneath your feet, I look forward to hearing you laugh loudly as those reviews keep rolling in!
I have so far ordered a copy for my most precious one who, unlike me, has been there and will be able to relive some of the scenery that I can only imagine in my mind’s eye.
Am about to order some more copies for friends of mine. By the way, I am glad to hear I can order through amazaon.co.uk!
Bon courage Gin!
Thank you for all you do and are, for the pat on the back and gentle reminder, and for sharing with your precious one, so dear to the three of us as well. I did not know about the Amazon UK – more magic from Sammie, the publisher, I imagine. xo
I’ll see how my Amazon order for your book does…
I have horrid experiences with Amazon. I’ve placed orders many times and have not received one book. Shipping costs are outrageous – they throw on a little “tax” of some kind – I get nothing for ordering over a certain amount – all because I’m in Canada. It infuriates me. The last order I put in was for “Mandela’s Way” and a few days after the order, he died. Though I received a notice confirming it had been sent, it never arrived. They reimbursed me, but it’s uncanny the nutty stuff that happens to my orders from Amazon.
So, this time, I ordered three books – I may luck out. Ordered Mandela’s book again, yours “The Color of the Wild” and one by another blogger – Winter is Past.
I’ll be optimistic and trust it’ll arrive!
Can’t find it now, but I read something the other day about how to handle family and friends. Boils down to one old truism – from the Bible I believe – we can’t be prophets in our own land.
Blogging opened my eyes and toughened my skin. Some people can’t bear to see us step out of their perceived role for us.
Oh well…off I go being who I really am!
So much to say in response, dear Amy – where to begin? First with a thank you for being the bright, bold soul you are and saying it like it is.
Please let me know if my book makes it to you, and if not in the next week or two, I’ll figure out another way. Like have you come pick it up Let’s hope it makes it to you, and I don’t die. Not for a while at least.
As for family issues, I think you sum it up and say it well: Just “being who I really am.” One of the biggest lessons for so many holding onto family (and friends) we are afraid to let go of, cling to a false sense of obligation to continue with, and all along are never accepted for being who we really are. Old roles and expectations about as beneficial as stagnant waters.
What matters most? A book (what was the name????) on relationships friend Shari Allen shared that the three of us read aloud and loved summed up good relationships this way: They are for helping us bring out the best within ourselves, and visa versa. Thus they are positive, and we are better for them. So, when we find this is not the case (and I bet every single person reading this can think of a few), time to ask ourselves this: why are we still trying???? And, for whom? And who are we fooling (I see this one a lot)?
I once was told part of growing up was learning to choose your own family. You can choose to hold onto that which you had if you’re all lucky enough to have a positive one. Not everyone (I wonder if even the majority) has this. You can choose to walk away, and although the process might be painful, the end result can be healthier.
Same goes with friends, Amy, as we discussed over e-mail briefly earlier.
Then the thing to work on is this: To what extent do we keep those in our lives without damaging our lives or dragging us down because of some sense of obligation? At times we do (choose to) find a balance, and draw the line, set limitations. It has to work for each of us, and for each of us, it will be different.
Congratulations on the publication of your first book!
Having published two, so far, I know how tired, excited and vulnerable a new author feels. Only those who have gone through the process can really understand and appreciate the ups and downs. No matter what anyone says — and you will, no doubt, find appreciative readers — you did it!
I really enjoy your blog, esp. the photos. Every post takes me into a world far away and full of beauty. That’s a huge gift.