That Quote is Attributed to...

“When you turn around, you’ll see something I bet you’ve never seen before. If it takes your breath away, then you’ll fit in nicely. If you don’t feel anything, then maybe you don’t belong here.”  - Veronica Randolph Batterson, Daniel’s Esperanza

If you write books, you hope people will read them.  In fact, you remind them, beg them, bug them, post on social media about your work until everyone ignores your pleas (or unfollows/unfriends you, or whatever ‘un’ of the moment happens to be that I’ve never heard before).  It’s wonderful when folks buy your books, and even better when you receive a positive review and shout-out from someone.  Recommendations are priceless because they rarely come, and I love them when they do.

Recognition and referral usually happen after someone reads the book, and I’ve received both.  But I have to say I’m very surprised as to how my book, Daniel’s Esperanza, has gotten attention lately.  It’s through the above quote, and I have no idea how it happened.  It’s being used on various sites by individuals I don’t know, and is being attached to personal photographs that have meaning to the people using it.  I’m told when something appears on Pinterest, it spreads like wildfire (the same with Instagram). I’m not on either one of the sites but my quote is, and it appears to be true.  It’s also being shared on Twitter, and other places I’m not even familiar with.  I guess hashtags are amazing. 

Daniel's Esperanza

Most of the people who use the quote attribute it to me and to the book, and I’m okay with this.  I appreciate it, and it's pretty special that people get something from it.  However, there are some who don’t give me credit, and that’s a problem for me.  It took over three years of work to get the book published, and the quote is actually a piece of dialogue in the book about seeing a band of wild horses for the first time.  Using it as your own by deleting my name and from where it came is essentially stealing.

Hey, I like it that other folks like it.  I like it that it’s being used in the way it has been.  Just give me that byline for it.  It’s deserved, it’s right, it’s cool…it’s what you’re supposed to do.  I’ve even included a photograph here of the book page where it’s published in paperback (about the fifth paragraph), in case someone wants proof that it’s mine.  Also, I’m sharing a screenshot of one person’s use of it (and she attributed it to me and my book – thanks!).

The quote finds itself here

By the way, I just became aware of how this quote has gone viral as I was preparing a blog post on Intellectual Property and Copyright.  I guess I’ll be sharing that next time, but this is certainly an introduction for it, and coincidental. And for those who think I'm being a little goofy about this, I'm not.  It's my work.  Finally, to all those people who like the quote so much:  there’s a whole book waiting to be read that I’m sure you’ll like even better.  Daniel’s Esperanza.  On Amazon. $12.95 paperback. $3.99 Kindle.  And sharing that is even better.