The People You Don't See

Having a background in theatre, I know what it's like to be behind the scenes. I studied stage management. That was my career path. I wanted to be backstage to help the magic onstage happen. It's a lot of hard work and very little glory. The actors get the applause. Sometimes, they acknowledge the pit orchestra. But there's a lot that happens back there that no one knows about.

I'm finding the same in publishing. There are editors who whip a book into shape, yet remain nameless. Graphic designers who create amazing, eyecatching covers. Marketing strategists, agents, booksellers...the list of people who catapult an author to success goes on and on. Oh, and let's not forget the readers and fans!

As part of my prize package for winning the WestBow Press/Munce Group's Writing Contest, I got to do a video to be posted on the WestBow website. I've blogged about my nerves prior to doing the video. Over the last few weeks, I worried about the things I said. Did I do it right? Did I sound okay? Look okay?

Well, today, I got to preview the final cut. Thank heavens for a wonderful videographer and a talented editor! I am so pleased with the final result. It's very professional, and they made me look good! (I'm not tooting my own horn there. Promise. I'm tooting their horns!) The video should go up on October 1st. I will post a link, or maybe even embed the video if I can.

While I may be the front man of Asylum, there are many others who put a lot of work into it. I'd like to take a moment to thank them all. But above everything else - and I believe those folks would agree with me - the glory belongs to God. As I've been signing in my books - Psalm 72:18..."Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds."