Caught my mind wandering during prayer.

I think it’s very important to send out press releases, as an author, even if you think not much will come of it.

At least local media might run the story.

It’s always good to have an ‘angle’.

And it seems I’ve got two. For the Canadian media, I can play up the fact that I’m the only Canadian woman on the list and for Muslim media like Al Jazeera and such, I played up the fact that I’m the only Muslim on the list.

Well, I’d say the Toronto Star was more than local media and yup, they ran with the fact that I’m the only Canadian on the list.

The journalist who interviewed me was lovely! I spoke to her on the phone on Thursday evening. I thought she was coming over though for the interview, so I tidied up (quite the task because my grandkids are here and boy do they make a mess!), and I decided NOT to cook the chicken curry I’d been planning because the smell is quite strong for those not used to it. Instead I made a korma, whose strongest spices are cinnamon, bay leaf and black cardamon!

Then she didn’t come. It didn’t work out and we did the interview on the phone. But she did early Friday morning (8 am) to get a photo of me.

I had bags under my eyes because of getting up so early with the grandkiddies! But she took the photo with me looking up and smiling so the bags aren’t that noticeable (I think).

Learned that the piece would come out some time over the weekend, so we bought the paper yesterday and no sign of it.

While hubby went out this morning he was going to pick up another copy but before he could return, my very first fan (a lovely friend of ours who loved my story before she met me) called me up and gushed about the article!

She saw it before I got to!

She said it made her cry, the article was so beautiful! She said it was half a page! And in the entertainment section, not even in the books section!

Awww!

So later, when I finally saw it, sure enough, I love the angle! Jane Gerster focused on how the story was about myself and my older sister. The only mistake she made was misspelling her name. Her name was Bushra, but she had Bursha. But still…beautiful story!

My son said it was great placement, right above a piece about the Walking Dead, with pictures of zombies.

So when I was praying Zuhr, and supposed to be concentrating, instead I was building lofty palaces in the air! Daydreaming of what effects the article might have, and savoring the phone calls and emails I’d already received from friends and family and acquaintances, congratulating me on the beautiful piece and my success, and in the middle of all that, I stopped up short thinking, “Woa! There!”

I’m praying! I’m talking to God! My mind shouldn’t be wandering.

And all this…it’s good, but ultimately it isn’t about me. It’s about the story!

And the best thing it can do is make more people curious about picking up the book, and more kids absorbing the subtle ‘message’ from the story.

That’s what it’s all about.

Not me and my darn falutin’ ego!

And the rest of the prayer went better. I was able to concentrate a little bit more, but oh, what if I hadn’t caught myself?

*shudder*

And it seems that will be a constant threat!