Please welcome today’s guest blogger, Dana Marton, whose novel The Third Scroll is an Amazon bestseller in epic fantasy. How cool is that? And if you’ve ever felt like things have gotten a little out of control, this is most definitely the post for you!
Of everything I learned in college, the single most important thing is something another student scribbled on the blackboard when he was giving a motivational seminar to the class as part of a project.
EVENT + RESPONSE = OUTCOME
I remember what a revelation this was to me at the time. Whatever happens to me does not define my life. The outcome is determined by things that happen AND my response to those things. Which means I have control!
What happens to me does not define how my life will be. I get a big say in the matter. How I respond to certain events can and will change everything.
EVENT + RESPONSE = OUTCOME
It’s the single most encouraging equation I can think of.
I just had a book come out, DEATHSCAPE, about an artist who, after a near-death experience, is compelled to paint visions of the dead. Then she paints a man buried alive and, recognizing the surroundings, she rushes to save him. Unfortunately, instead of being grateful to her for rescuing him, Detective Jack Sullivan accuses her of being in league with a serial killer.
She had problems, but so did I.
I started this book maybe five years ago. Agents loved it, editors loved it, but I still couldn’t get a contract for it. The obvious response would have been to put it under the bed in a box and move on. I chose a different response. And as I write this, DEATHSCAPE is #6 on Amazon’s romantic suspense bestseller list.
Do you have any life lessons that you’ve learned over the years and you keep coming back to? Would you share it with me?
I will raffle off a copy of THE THREE COWBOYS, my current release, among those who respond. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
Wishing you a fun and positive day!
And if you have a minute, come and Like me on Facebook. I do all sorts of fun giveaways there regularly. www.facebook.com/danamarton
Dana
Thanks so much for coming by, Dana!
Readers, be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Three Cowboys! {{Update from J.K.: Dana has picked and contacted a winner!}
And don’t forget to enter my holiday contest!
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Julie!!!
Dana
Thrilled you’re here!
My favorite life lesson is to slow down and enjoy life. I need to remember it more often.
It’s a hard one to remember, though!
Jenna, me too! Seems like we’re rushing through our days with the speed of light these days.
Hi Dana, there are so many lessons in life that seem to pass by without us even noticing. This same lesson came to me recently from about three different directions—all within days of each other. I thought, duh, okay, I get it. While I interpret it as “stimulus” instead of “event,” it’s really the same thing. Now, if I could only get to where I could practice that all the time in my real life instead of just my writing, that would be (to borrow the cliche) awesome. 🙂
Terry
Terry — that’s the real trick! It’s one thing to “get” it … it’s another to “do” it!!
Congratulations and thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Absolutely! Happy holidays!