Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Finding Inspiration...



...the following passage was written by Paulo Coelho.


Enjoy ;)


"I remember receiving a letter from the American Publisher Harper Collins that said: 'Reading The Alchemist was like getting up at dawn and seeing the sun rise while the rest of the world still slept.'


I went outside, looked up at the sky, and thought to myself, 'So, the book is going to be published in English!'


At the time, I was struggling to establish myself as a writer and to follow my path despite all the voices telling me it was impossible.


And little by little, my dream was becoming reality.  Ten, a hundred, a thousand, a million copies sold in America.  


One day, a Brazilian journalist phoned to say that President Clinton had been photographed reading the book.  Some time later, when I was in Turkey, I opened the magazine Vanity Fair and there was Julia Roberts declaring that she adored the book.  Walking alone down a street in Miami, I heard a girl telling her mother, 'You must read The Alchemist!'


The book has translated into fifty-six languages, has sold more than twenty million copies, and people are beginning to ask, 'What's the secret behind such a huge success? 


The only honest response is, I don't know.  All I know is that, like Santiago the shepherd boy, we all need to be aware of our personal calling..."




...scheduling conflicts and the daily grind can often treat one's personal time in the same manner as a moist sponge held under a leaky sink.  If only enough quiet time remains for one great read over the summer months, choose wisely, and consider The Alchemist.  


You can thank me later ;)


...keep writing, my friends.


El

16 comments:

Julie said...

That is, by far, the greatest book I have ever read.
Thank you for posting this! It makes me want to read it again.

dolorah said...

Wow, hard to resist such inspiration.

......dhole

Elliot Grace said...

Hey Julie, agreed, it makes for an inspiring journey. Thanks for stopping by ;)

Hey Donna, the story only gets better from there. Being a die-hard bookworm, it takes something truly enjoyable to raise my eyebrows at this point, which The Alchemist pulled off.

El

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

I read the book years ago, probably not long after it came out in English. I need to read it again.

Anne Gallagher said...

Thanks El. It's now on my list for summer reading. Yay!

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Our books are like messages in bottles tossed out on the sea from our isolated island. We have no idea where the currents of chance will take it or to whom.

Now, you make me want to read that book!

May your own publishing dreams come true. Thanks for the inspiration, Roland

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Okay...maybe I need to read this book. With praise like that...yowsa.

Jemi Fraser said...

Love, LOVE this line... we all need to be aware of our personal calling

I haven't read the alchemist - I'll have to check itout! :)

Elliot Grace said...

Hey Richard, considering the amount of talented work literally resting at our fingertips, for our reading pleasure, I've found it difficult sacrificing precious time on a 2nd read. For this one however, I'd make an exception ;)

Hey Anne, wise decision. You won't be disappointed!

Hey Roland, certain stories of brilliant character tend to inspire those of us who pen our dreams for others to enjoy. Paulo's work falls into that realm of talent. You would appreciate this read ;)

Hey Michael, it would make for an enjoyable edition to your summer list.

Hey Jemi, depending on the maturity level of the students that you teach, you may want to add it to their reading list as well ;)

El

Dana said...

I haven't read The Alchemist, but your post has convinced me that I should. I'm adding it to the ever-growing list. Thanks.

Creepy Query Girl said...

wow! I remember hearing about this book a lot back when I first started writing. Very inspirational!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Elliot, nice to meet you. I too enjoyed The Alchemist a lot. Its one of my favourite of Coelho's books.

Your post makes me want to read it again :)

Rachel Frost said...

Looks like I'll have to check that one out!

His success story is exactly the sort of thing us writers always dream of. :) Thanks for sharing!

Golden Eagle said...

*adds to TBR list*

Carolyn V said...

Wow! That's amazing. It's on the tbr list. ;)

Elliot Grace said...

Hey Dana, you won't be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by!

Hey CreepyQueryGirl, Paulo is indeed an inspiration to us all, considering that he arrived on the scene in dusty street clothes, with a pocket full of lint, to the person he has become.

Hey Rachna, agreed, its my favorite as well ;)

Hey Rachel, I believe it to be one of those must reads for anyone in search of a literary jump start on their manuscript.

Hey Eagle, great decision!

Hey Carolyn, it reads fast, not one of those novels that are bursting with unnecessary jargon, yet sticks to the bones like Grandma's famous chicken soup ;) Trust me, you'll enjoy it.

El