The last month or so, I've been checking my email each morning, and getting wonderful emails from other writers--writers who have read WAKING LAZARUS, and are sending me their thoughts. The endorsement game. We're just about to the end of that road now, and I have to say I'll miss that in the way a recovering junkie misses meth.

This is seriously addictive, opening your email and getting nice words from people you admire and respect. The list of current endorsements is on my reviews page, so I won't repeat them here. But man, it's fun getting emails from authors I've read and loved. (Still waiting to hear on a few more in the next couple of days, too, so I don't have to go cold turkey on this addiction just yet.)

I appreciate this because, well, these fine folks don't HAVE to read my book, or say anything about it. They're taking time out of their own schedules to do it. That means something. It also strikes me that this is a fine and worthwhile part of the creative process, this encouraging of others--perhaps more so in publishing than in any of the other entertainment arts. Yes, films rely on reviews, but you don't see Robert Altman films getting blurbed by Martin Scorsese. In writing and publishing, it seems to me, there is a special cameraderie among authors, and a desire to help others along on their own journey to publication. That whole standing on the shoulders of giants thing.

And so, thanks to the giants who have allowed me to stand on their shoulders. Especially because I weigh far more than the average cheerleader.

In the meantime, however, I need to go read through all these endorsements again. One more fix.