Theresa Bazelli is a newcomer to the genre scene. She has some short fiction published, but has yet to establish a name in. Quintessentially, I’m her equal. We are both young hopefuls with eyes towards a brighter tomorrow* and creative realization, because there’s nothing more profound than validation of your dream – it means you’ve won in life. As cliché as it sounds, chasing THE dream is a journey and although the final destination matters, it’s all about the person you end up gossiping with at the back of the bus while the driver is trying to fix the AC – the driver is an old corgi with a tail-chasing habit.**
I’m pleased to say my gossip buddy is Theresa Bazelli who hails from Canada and as with all the meaningful friendships I’ve ever had, I have no frigging idea how I met her. I don’t recall how I first heard her name or what our first exchange was, which to some might seem rather unfair to the other person. It’s peculiar how memory works and how it can easily cheat you out of a really serendipitous moment. Nevertheless, I find this a positive thing. After all, you don’t really need to know about a time before you met someone who you feel has been a constant presence in your life, now do you?
Theresa’s been my alpha and beta. She’s heard all my project ideas and probably needs a lifetime supply of vodka to drown the din of my overly excited voice. If I’m going to gossip and babble, I will do so properly and stuff every word with enough emoticons to embarrass a 14-year-old. I’m pretty sure this sounds like a post, in which I talk exclusively about myself and not enough about my subject, but there’s a reason for this.
Writing for me is a dialogue. I physically need to discuss works-in-progress. I need to expel the ideas and observe what happens when they thrust outside their mushy homes in my head. Will a story weather the transition? Will it hold or will it sit dead in the chat box? I’ve had some sales in the past two years and all the shorts I have completed and sold have gone through Theresa for a general check-up from inception to execution and editorial execution. To me Theresa’s presence is as equal for my writer’s process as inspiration to write.
It’s what a true alpha and beta reader ought to be in an ideal world. The camaraderie we have for each other has certainly created a very positive writing environment for the both of us, because we welcome the ideas of the other without reservations. I have yet to find something to write that is too out there for Theresa and likewise. Needless to say, Theresa possesses an incredible mind and writes fantastic fiction. I’m certain someday she’ll leave an enviable body of work (or you know, someone will discover her thanks to my post. Agents, pay attention please. Pretty please?) and I will be there to heap praises.
Theresa inspires me, supports me, believes in me and honestly, every writers needs that one very special person to mention in the dedications. It’s what makes chasing a career in publishing all the sweeter and totally worth it when you succeed. I have a long way to go, but I’m not worried about the distance. I’m not worried about the corgi or whether it will lose control over the damn steering wheel to chase its tail. I know I’ll be fine, because I have an extraordinary friend to be on the ride with me.
*Excerpt from Harry’s personal dictionary:
‘a brighter tomorrow’ – six figure book deals and private beach tenders. If Meyer can get filthy rich, why not us, eh?
**Life’s fucked up like that.
You are entirely too flattering. Thank you for all the kind words 🙂
As I have said already, all are well-deserved words. It would be a shame not to mention you as an influential woman in my life.