tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post4241624851816105588..comments2024-03-22T14:36:03.503-04:00Comments on Tonya Kappes : At What Point Do Feel You've Succeeded?Tonya Kappeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-8387933229254625372012-03-04T09:45:51.241-05:002012-03-04T09:45:51.241-05:00Thats a really interesting observation Kelly. I wo...Thats a really interesting observation Kelly. I wonder. We are creatures of the world, our biological systems have evolved with seasons, why not our inclinations towards creativity?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493757677737987301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-55787065218861334682012-03-04T09:42:55.380-05:002012-03-04T09:42:55.380-05:00Thanks so much Tonya, and I must say, this is my f...Thanks so much Tonya, and I must say, this is my favorite writing BLOG now. I only recently discovered you, but your how you manage a day job, writing, and time to help your fellow authors out via this BLOG, boggles my mind.<br /><br />You go girl!<br /><br />LOLAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493757677737987301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-51679857111477592862012-03-03T12:53:19.642-05:002012-03-03T12:53:19.642-05:00Congratulations! And thank you for showing us the ...Congratulations! And thank you for showing us the steps you took to reach the success you have. I don't think we're ever done, if we're serious. There will always be another hill to climb, like a different genre to explore. I think to continue to challenge yourself is the real goal, yet you must also have fun and enjoy that challenge.Robena Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18389730409379890816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-65415556729892034292012-03-03T09:23:37.233-05:002012-03-03T09:23:37.233-05:00Great post. I feel it's important to measure ...Great post. I feel it's important to measure your success. If we all went out the gate to be Konrath or Rowling, we'd all be miserable failures in comparison. But if we make measured goals, we can attain those and be encouraged to move towards a bigger, better goal.<br /><br />My success is currently defined as 'sales'. And I'm seeing those. I'm only seeing enough for a little spending money, but it's something. And for my first book - I'm happy with it. <br /><br />My new goal? Blog tour. Never done it - need to do it.Alex Taylor Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00483021744690754354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-48651576364713643502012-03-03T07:44:55.965-05:002012-03-03T07:44:55.965-05:00Great post. Do you think success has seasons? Spri...Great post. Do you think success has seasons? Spring is for those dreams of finishing a book. Summer for publishing the book and the things that flow from that, like signings and awards. Autumn for pulling back and saving our best creativity for the things we love to do. Winter for writing those books we didn't dare write when we were first starting out.<br /><br />I don't know. At every step of my publishing journey, I've found my goals changing, but always around how to create space and time to write the books I want to write. I'm still not there, but I hope to be there one day. I really don't like dithering over which book to write next (even more important when you know you will be putting on Amazon et al and actually selling it!). But that may be my essential nature -- to never quite believe I can call myself successful for publishing twelve books in traditonal publishing, reissuing my backlist in ebook, and embarking on an indie original career where I call the shots.Kelly McClymerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04038223302234193266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-17782280744571813062012-03-02T17:57:27.901-05:002012-03-02T17:57:27.901-05:00BJ, what a lovely comment and so inspiring. Your s...BJ, what a lovely comment and so inspiring. Your so right. Success to me is NOT about fortune or fame, it's about reaching my dream. Books are a great way to escape and be transported. You are a blessing.Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-6797790503940813282012-03-02T17:56:04.801-05:002012-03-02T17:56:04.801-05:00Hi, Louise. Thank you for commenting. This keeps m...Hi, Louise. Thank you for commenting. This keeps me encouraged to keep going and reaching for those stars.Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-89012250921388152832012-03-02T17:55:36.771-05:002012-03-02T17:55:36.771-05:00Oh! Eoghan that is fabulous! I'm striving for ...Oh! Eoghan that is fabulous! I'm striving for the same goal, to quit that day job and make writing my one and only. It will happen. <br />It's so important to be able to write what you want and make a living from it. That is successful in its own.Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-20697849865673731092012-03-02T17:54:31.409-05:002012-03-02T17:54:31.409-05:00"Persistence, hard work and dedication are th..."Persistence, hard work and dedication are the keys to success." Yes indeed, Geraldine!Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-26692877977296991412012-03-02T17:54:05.262-05:002012-03-02T17:54:05.262-05:00Andrew, I love that about making it fun. I have en...Andrew, I love that about making it fun. I have enjoyed every single rung of this ladder and can't wait to see where it takes me!Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-44569832254196332872012-03-02T17:53:26.620-05:002012-03-02T17:53:26.620-05:00Hi, Richard! I'm so glad you stopped by. Welco...Hi, Richard! I'm so glad you stopped by. Welcome. This is a great lesson for every author at every stage in their career.Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-40560482328948143932012-03-02T17:52:34.352-05:002012-03-02T17:52:34.352-05:00Me too, PJ!Me too, PJ!Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-84556762295025390822012-03-02T17:52:24.313-05:002012-03-02T17:52:24.313-05:00Hi, Lorie! YES! I think there are so many levels a...Hi, Lorie! YES! I think there are so many levels and I'm going to keep climbing.Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-90183562044942944232012-03-02T17:51:48.970-05:002012-03-02T17:51:48.970-05:00Awww. . .thanks, Melissa! I absolutely love every ...Awww. . .thanks, Melissa! I absolutely love every single aspect of this journey, but I wonder when you are really truly satisfied and feel like you made it?Tonya Kappeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252788425268305047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-60865588192308542752012-03-02T14:58:35.523-05:002012-03-02T14:58:35.523-05:00Congratulations on all your accomplishments and bl...Congratulations on all your accomplishments and blessings, first of all! I don't have an agent. I don't have a best seller. I have two Christian romantic suspense novels published, and I have won first prize for a short story. I've published articles, devotionals, poems, and short stories. Like you, I'm still striving for more. I'd love to have a best seller. That's human nature, but so far my biggest success comes from hearing from my readers, that they've enjoyed my novels, and were touched by them. If I bring enjoyment and entertainment to readers, that's success. If I touch hearts and lives, that's success. If I see favorable reviews posted on Amazon, that's success. If my publisher signs me for another novel, that's success. My manuscripts are no longer collecting dust in a file cabinet or sitting in a computer folder. People are actually buying my two novels and sometimes, like yesterday for example, buying both from Amazon at one time. I love connecting with my readers and gaining feedback. I love meeting new people on Facebook as a result of my writing. I didn't self publish, but I have to admit I've thought about it. If I touch one person's heart for God, that's success. My novels are both full of romance and suspense, but I write for Him, and I love it. That's success. I'm an avid reader and a passionate writer, and I write out my heart and soul for Him. That's success. It's not always defined in terms of fame and fortune. Those two would be the icing on the cake. I love writing, and I'm happy when I'm creating other worlds for readers to journey through the pages of a book. As a child, I learned the best way to fight boredom or to go places I couldn't go in real life, was through a good book. I've traveled many places I may never in real life and plan to travel many more, Lord willing. Blessings and success to all of us in our individual ways, the Lord's will for our writing. BJ RobinsonB. J. Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06192745848258713549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-51897960315133703222012-03-02T14:41:11.527-05:002012-03-02T14:41:11.527-05:00Great blog, Tonya. I think people are wired to al...Great blog, Tonya. I think people are wired to always want more. stiffle them long enough and they re-direct those wants into another direction.<br /><br />thanks for the encouragement and insight.<br /><br />well doneLouise Behielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115359639886414011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-19233837999643171172012-03-02T14:10:48.273-05:002012-03-02T14:10:48.273-05:00I am very close to my goal now of being able to su...I am very close to my goal now of being able to support my family on my writing income alone. That's all I strive for. Let me further qualify: that also means I'm not writing for others, such as technical writing, freelance magazine articles etc. I'm writing books I want to write, and nothing else.<br /><br />I am so close I can taste it!<br /><br />And it's only now that technology and social media have progressed to where they are that it's possible for me to do this. I would not have been able to be independent, and commercially viable 10 years ago. Now I can.<br /><br />htto://www.eoghanodinsson.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493757677737987301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-26090570820381274702012-03-02T13:00:27.568-05:002012-03-02T13:00:27.568-05:00Congrats, Tonya! You need to celebrate all these m...Congrats, Tonya! You need to celebrate all these milestones. I'm so proud of you! I love Og Mandino's quote and I feel the same way as you do to keep reaching for the stars. Persistence, hard work and dedication are the keys to success. Keep going, my friend!Geraldinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14443234161051483653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-65874228174344190042012-03-02T12:49:56.870-05:002012-03-02T12:49:56.870-05:00There is no end to wanting to be successful. Becau...There is no end to wanting to be successful. Because if it's truly something you're passionate about, there's always a ladder to climb. And that's not a bad thing either because that's what makes it fun (assuming you don't get frustrated with it).<br /><br />Congratulations on your two years of success in the making. 'Tis quite amazing how you progressed in such a short time.Andrew Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06060120060835650690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-40879678153227043212012-03-02T12:30:00.895-05:002012-03-02T12:30:00.895-05:00Thanks for this blog. It shows what is possible fo...Thanks for this blog. It shows what is possible for those of us just starting out. Quite encouraging. Thanks.Richard Monrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02183396254116956361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-86231886932237685582012-03-02T10:42:04.581-05:002012-03-02T10:42:04.581-05:00I don't think it ever ends. We always want mor...I don't think it ever ends. We always want more.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843816981385732033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-8736668080753595712012-03-02T10:31:12.884-05:002012-03-02T10:31:12.884-05:00Love Og Mandino. Thank you for the quote!!Love Og Mandino. Thank you for the quote!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-41071483737602917482012-03-02T09:06:11.327-05:002012-03-02T09:06:11.327-05:00Tonya,
This is the 10 million dollar question isn&...Tonya,<br />This is the 10 million dollar question isn't it? I think there could always be another level of success we are trying to achieve as authors, so we need to celebrate each step as a victory or we'll never be satisfied. <br />I think you've done a wonderful job of this in your timeline above! Seeing how far you've come and celebrating that. <br />You ARE a success, my friend! :DLorie Langdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600136786128596257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5443047332769568071.post-58601090402572954012012-03-02T08:11:27.257-05:002012-03-02T08:11:27.257-05:00Hi Tonya, we've all been there and you have su...Hi Tonya, we've all been there and you have succeeded. Representation is only one measure of success. I wrote a similar post a while back --everyone feels it:-) YOU ARE A SUPERSTAR!!!Melissa Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508368065806823185noreply@blogger.com