England, 1152: After seventeen years of civil war, things are about to change...
…About the fact that you write &/or are published in romance fiction.
I admit to being a bit of a voyeur when I ask this. I want to hear other people’s stories about their moms, because my mom passed away just before everything I’d been working towards came true. Just before I got an agent, which was just before I finaled in the Golden Heart, which was just before I sold in a 2 book contract to Kensington, in the spring of 2008. She missed it all.
I know I am blessed. I have family, I have friends. I have my gorgeous son and my devoted husband. I have health, and a home, and the opportunity to do what I love and get paid for it. I have my step-father, a terrific family through my husband, and . . . I wish my mom were here.
I think, if my mom had been alive, she may have been the first person I called with the news. And I think she would have squealed. Actually, she would have screamed. A lot, I suspect.
She would have sent emails to everyone she knew, bragging to others about her daughter. She would have sent me newspapers clippings of every romance-related topic (from publishing related news to Dear Abby-type articles) which her local newspaper had published.
She would have told all her friends and her bridge club and her old colleagues. She would have told her mail delivery person, the vet, the gentleman who did her hair for thirty years and and the guy who does her brakes.
She certainly would have bought a lot of copies of my book, from whatever vendor I asked her to, not that I ever would have. She’d have given some away, and left the rest out for public viewing when people came over.
Nothing can stop him . . .
She would have come to the RWA National Conference in San Francisco to see if I won the Golden Heart Award. And I’m certain she would have flown across the country to be at my first book signing a few weeks ago. She would have done whatever I asked, and maybe a few things I wouldn’t have thought to ask, because she’s my mom.
Don’t get me wrong. My mom and I…well, we had our Moments. In fact, many of our moments were Moments. We ‘missed’ each other a lot, like meteors do the earth, emotionally, psychically.
But we loved each other with a genuine, oh-I-wish-you-could-do-better-than-this-but-I’ll-take-you-as-you are kind of love. The sort that gets you through all those years where, most days, most of the time, we both tried our hardest.
She’d have been my biggest fan. Oh, hell. She is my biggest fan.
And my mom would SO have done this: 
(Sorry that the end is an ad. Pretend it’s not. Unless you want the book. Then allow it to be an ad. )
How about you?
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Your post and the video brought tears to my eyes! My books are e-books, but if they were in print she’d go to Borders too!
When I was first published she bought an e-reader so she could read my books, had her friends sign up for my newsletter. She doesn’t ever talk to me about my books, but does ask me when they will be released so she can buy them and read them. I think the fact that I write romance is weird to her, but she is definitely proud!
Twitter: jeannieruesch
says:
I love that ad. I love Mrs. Corrigan. LOL And your post was wonderful.
I understand exactly where you are coming from, Kris. My mother passed away before I sold my first book, as well. She was a big romance reader – in fact, she is the one who gave me my first romance, when I was a teenager. And I just know that she (and my grandmother, who was also an avid reader of romance) are proud of me. They would be tickled pink to pick up a romance book and find my name on it.
And they SO would have done what Mrs. Corrigan did, too.
Ah, Kris, I empathize completely. I’m so sorry your mom never got to cheer you all the way the finish line the way she would have wanted.
My mom passed away in 2006, and she never knew that I realized my dream, either. She was always very supportive of my desire to write, but the stories I write (paranormal) made her raise her brows. She was an avid romance reader, so it wasn’t the sex scenes that earned me that look–it was the magic and the spells and the fantastical creatures.
Did I mention that I LOVE the cover of The Irish Warrior?
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Annette~
Oh, sweetie, I didn’t realize your mom passed so recently too. Before all your dreams started coming true. But htethenn, they saw us working hard on something we loved, so that must have carried its own, perhaps quieter, rewards. Is Dad still around?
LOL on your mom raising a brow at the paranormal elements and not the sex. It’s so funny, the ways people intersect each other, our own little Venn diagrams of interest and inclination.
Thank-you SO MUCH for your compliment about the cover for The Irish Warrior! It’s pretty good, huh?
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Eliza~
I love that your mom bought an eReader so she could read your books! That’s so wonderful. Even though she thinks it strange that you write romance. LOL
My mom was definitely surprised when she found out I was writing romance. It certainly surprises everyone when they find out. I think people see me as very strong and self-directed, and this jars with their image of what the romance genre is. So, the education has begun!
Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Jeannie~
I didn’t know your mom have you your first romance! I am fairly certain my grandmother game me my first, those original Harlequin medical ones. My mom didn’t read romance at all, but I never detected any disdain or condescension from her about it. My mom was a hard worker, and she respected the same in others when she saw it. So, to her, I think writing was a worthy pursuit because of the dedication required.
What a wonderful tribute to your mother. You’re right. She is your greatest fan, always.
On a different note, I have a funny story about my mother. We were in Borders and my mom pointed right to the category romances and said “I might have read romances when I was younger, but I never read that trash.”
And I said. “Mom, that’s what I write.”
My mother knew I wrote romance novels and wanted to be published. That was fine. She just didn’t know I wrote “those books.” Never mind that a lot of her current favorite authors started in category (Barbara Samuels, Linda Howard, Tami Hoag).
Now she keeps asking when she gets to read one! I think in a weird way she might actually be disappointed when she finds out I write sweet books and not every category book is the racy read she thinks it is! Maybe I’ll get her hooked on Blaze then
Ah, Kris, thank you for posting this. I’m sorry your mom hasn’t gotten to share in your triumph. You made me realize how lucky I am that my mom has, because she’s done everything you describe (right down to the bridge club).
In fact, she’s getting married in about a week, and the other day she told me she thought there might be a couple people at the wedding who didn’t have a signed copy of my book already, and could I bring a few??? I told her I draw the line at using her wedding as an opportunity to push my books, LOL. (But I’d be happy to sign them the day after!)
Allegra
Kris, your post choked me up. Stop that! You know what a faucet I can be! Love that video, but it needed like secret agent, sneaky music, lol. My mom has read my books and is a wonderful fan. Not sure she’d move stock around for me, but if she ever met a bad reviewer face to face, I’d warn that reviewer to carry mace. Hell hath no fury like my mom protecting her young!
Good grief, Kris! You fogged up my glasses, lady! What a touching and poignant blog.
I loved Mrs. Corrigan! I was touched that my mom posted my placings in Golden Gateway on her Facebook page. LOL It cracks me up how addicted she is to FB!
She’s been very supportive of my writing and goals of publication. LOL My dad said he’d read my book when I get pubbed. *heehee* I can’t wait for that day and the look on his face! It’s gonna be great! I may have to post that pic!
Twitter: violaestrella
says:
Oh wow, Kris, what a touching post. I’m tearing up over here! Your mom sounds like she was an amazing lady. I just bet she is your biggest fan.
I’m blessed to still have my mom. She’s not quite as enthusiastic as Mrs. Corrigan but she’s very supportive.
Really cute video.
And I LOVE your new cover!! Congrats!!