Why? An Existential Post

Greetings Romance Bookers!

Liz Crowe here--published author, brewery owner, blogger and beer wencher.

I've been crazy busy, with writing, editing, promoting, writing, editing, promoting lately. I have a series that's trending nicely, and some great ideas in the hopper.  I'm also managing the busiest season of all for my craft brewery in Ann Arbor and things are going gangbusters. So much so we are expanding, hiring and dropping in new stainless steel fermenters so fast my own head is spinning.

46 Amazon review: 4.5 star average

But I'm here today to ask a simple question: Why?

That is to say, WHY do we write?  By its own definition it is a lonely task. And then, once accomplished (and no mean feat this, as you know if you have done it) there is still yet the long slog of brutal yet necessary editing, cover art and then (with another pass or 2 of editing) god willing, the damn thing is "live" or "released" or whatever you or your publisher calls it.  And .... you sit, and wait and watch the social networks and realize something: there are zillions of people out there ... doing the same thing as you.

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Sure there are breakout hits. Some better than others, some worse. 

But for the most part, most of us are just another name, just another cover art we pray someone else has not used, and just another blurb that begins with the words: "Heroine A thought she'd never love again until she met Hero B."

NO, no, no, no do not get me wrong--I am NOT denigrating the genre or those of us who write them.

But I'm going through a bit of an existential process here lately, trying to balance everything in my own life by asking :WHY? Why do I write? Do I write to get my husband on the Today Show answering asinine yet beautifully promotionally placed questions about me? Do I write so that I can have thousands of rabid fans salivating at the thought of my next highly literary tome? Do I write .... to make money? 

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And I've come to a conclusion: I write because I enjoy it. I mean, not just 3 years ago I was even smaller than I am now and I enjoyed it. I have had a few successes and am riding the wave of a Stewart Realty buzz that is fun and all. However, at the end of the day, I want to create. No...I have to create. And if it gets read by a few people great. If not, I've still done something I love to do.

Again, I don't want to give you the wrong idea about me. I'm a craven seeker of success. I'm even kinda Ricky Bobby-ish with the whole "If you're not first, you're last." I am highly driven to succeed and anything less than that at times makes me .... insane. 

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But I have a couple of mainstream and controversial projects ruminating around in my brain pan and when I realize that I'm willing to take valuable time to write stuff like that...well....I guess I just love to write.

cheers
Liz
(who has a KILLER contest going on right now: www.lizcrowe.com site ---click on the 2012 Contest tab and enter to win a KINDLE FIRE, $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD, A COMPLETE SIGNED STEWART REALTY SERIES SET, AND A SIGNED ARC OF ESCALATION CLAUSE--BOOK 6 IN THE SERIES).
haven't jumped in to the Stewart Realty fun yet? check me out today at the Literati Literature Lovers site....a killer interview and some fun insights into Liz the Writer.

 READ THE STEWART REALTY SERIES....
and if you are intrigued by the whole "Brewery Owner/Writer" thing...register here to win an ARC of "Paradise Hops" a brewery based novel of love and redemption....
blurb: 

 A brutal attack left Lori Brockton convinced she was damaged goods. By the time she emerges from hiding two years later, ready to run her family's famous brewery, she's determined to be independent--never rely on anyone ever again. Nearly a year of working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, teaches her all she needs to know about the business. Then, she comes face-to-face with masculine perfection in a suit and her world is rocked in more ways than one. Garret Hunter is the new Brockton business manager who takes one look at the beautiful, sad young woman and his entire existence coalesces around winning her heart. 

But standing between Garrett and what he believes is his true love, is a six-feet six-inch blond-haired bad boy brewer.

Eli Buchannan is a craft beer rock star, recently hired by Brockton to drag the company into the 21st century. He brings innovation and attitude plus a prima donna ladies man reputation.  But he's sworn off anything resembling commitment, personal or professional, after getting burned at his last job on both fronts. 

Garret Hunter is “The Perfect Man” -- handsome, successful, stable, eager to settle down. Eli Buchannan... is not.  Compelling, smoking hot, creative and elusive, he represents everything Lori Brockton should avoid.  But just as she makes a difficult choice, a drastic life-changing shift occurs, and nothing is ever the same again.