The Best Place to Be Famous

Some years ago I shared parts of this post about how to know if you were famous. At the time, a kid at a book event had asked me “Are you famous?” I didn’t exactly know how to answer him. I was there trying to get people interested in some books I’d written. But does writing a book make one famous?

I don’t think so, especially not in this internet age where books are so easily put out there for readers. Maybe not easily written, but easily published if you want to do it independently instead of traditonally. Most of my books are traditionally published, but many have success publishing their onw work. Anyway, as is often the case, I came up with a best answer for this young man days later.  I decided my best answer to him would have been if you have to ask somebody if they’re famous then they probably aren’t famous in the way you are thinking they might be.

But his question had me thinking about fame. What is fame? And why do so many people seek after it? I went out quote hunting to see what other people have said about fame and found out many people have much to say about fame. Here are some of my gleanings.

• You’re not famous until my mother has heard of you. – Jay Leno
• I never wanted to be famous: I only wanted to be great. – Ray Charles
• A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized. – Fred Allen
• Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wing. Only one thing endures and that is character. – Horace Greeley
• Don’t confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller the other. – Erma Bombeck
• Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. – John Wooden

All this thinking about fame has come up at a perfect time since today I’ll be part of a Festival of Books in a nearby town, Frankfort this afternoon. I’ll be selling and autographing copies of some of my books along with other writers. Or I will be hoping to sell a few books, but I’ve been to events where nobody seems to want to carry one of my books home with them.  Nobody asking if I’m famous there. LOL. Then next week I am heading to the JustRead Rendezvous to spend a day talking books with other authors and readers. I know I’ll have fun, but I won’t be feeling famous, only fortunate to be able to share about my stories and writing with other readers.

But you know what? The best place to be “famous” – that is to be loved and appreciated is in your own family. That’s why I shared the picture up top. I am blessed with a beautiful family where I’m “famous” as their mom and grandmom and I celebrate their “fame” as my children and grandchildren.

Then we’re all well known by God. So it’s good to build our fame in the places that matter most. I hope you have many blessings to count in this Thanksgiving month.

Have you ever wanted to be (or maybe you are) famous?