Dear Reader,
Today’s guest author, Christina Estes, received the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest for Off the Air. During her 20-plus years in Phoenix, Arizona, Christina has covered presidential campaigns, public policy, crime, education and business. Her stories have appeared nationally on NPR and CBS. Having worked for several local TV stations, Christina now reports for the NPR member station in Phoenix.
Equal parts thought-provoking and entertaining, Off the Air introduces Jolene Garcia, a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, splitting her time between covering general assignments―anything from a monsoon storm to a newborn giraffe at the zoo―and special projects. Word gets out about a death at a radio station, and the body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long…
You could win one of three copies of Off the Air. Send an email with your preferred shipping address (in case you're a winner) to: [email protected]
Contact Christina at [email protected]
What a GenX Debut Author Learned From a Millennial Billionaire
It's March 2023. I'm in my hotel room in Tucson, Arizona, trying to convince myself if I can breathe slowly and deeply, it'll be okay.
"This is a big opportunity," I remind myself, as if the knots in my shoulders and stomach don't know. "Just breathe right!"
I'm skipping a morning session I wanted to attend at Left Coast Crime to stretch out on a yoga mat and calm my body and mind.
But it's not working. I roll off the mat and come up with a new plan: acknowledge my nerves and move on.
The mantra, "Acknowledge and move on" plays on a loop as I walk into the conference room, down the aisle, and to the stage for my first panel appearance. The topic fits me: writing in the Southwest but not the title. I stare at the name cards: J.A. Jance, Anne Hillerman, Ramona Emerson. And Christina Estes. Christina who? Exactly. What am I, a year away from being published, doing on a panel with such accomplished authors?
"Acknowledge and move on," I remind myself.
When I try to explain that J.A. Jance's novels set in Arizona inspired me to write, that the Tony Hillerman Prize named after Anne's father is how I received my publishing contract, and that Ramona Emerson's debut novel, longlisted for the National Book Awards, blew me away, my voice cracks, my vision blurs, and my nose starts to run.
It's horrifying.
People came to hear these amazing authors tell stories, not me sniffling away tears. I apologize to the audience and panelists and, while everyone is gracious, my embarrassment burns all day.
That night, after meeting debut author Erin E. Adams, I reveal my awful panel experience. Erin empathizes by sharing advice she heard from Taylor Swift: embrace cringe.
Easy for a billionaire singer/songwriter/businesswoman, I think.
Days later, back at home, I look up the commencement speech where Taylor Swift addresses cringe.
"Cringe is unavoidable over a lifetime," she tells graduates.
She's right. Why did I not acknowledge that during the panel? "Learn to live alongside cringe," she suggests.
While I hope my debut journey is not stuffed with awkward, embarrassing moments, I do feel more prepared, thanks to my new mantra: embrace cringe.
-- Christina Estes
Enter-to-win one of three copies of Off the Air. Send an email with your preferred shipping address (in case you're a winner) to: [email protected]
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
Comments