Misty, Watercolored (Time of Your Life)
Cue the Streisand. Press play on the Green Day CD. Send in the clown(s) trumpet erotica. 
It’s time for these vagabond shoes to walk off into the sunset.
Well, not really. We’ll all still be around. Just not here in our own little piece of cyberspace where for three years we’ve held court, laughed, cried and in general had a grand time talking about this genre that for a myriad of reasons we all love so much.
As CM and Lindsey have already explained this week, the Romance Vagabonds were born out of the friendships that formed out of the 2006 Avon Fanlit competition. And when we started out Sara, Lindsey, Tiffany, Azalea, Elyssa and I knew next to nothing about blogging. But we all knew we wanted to write and we all knew that we wanted to somehow preserve the high we all got from being together. And so we blogged.
It was not easy. For those first few months it felt like we were sending our carefully crafted essays out into the ether to be read only by each other (and sometimes not even then). Or at least that’s what it felt like to me. But we learned. We realized what worked (lists!) and what didn’t (posts w/out images). We bit the bullet and invited authors we loved (and quaked in our boots when they accepted). We started getting requests from authors who wanted to guest blog (which made us quake in our boots again). And as time progressed we even got good at this blogging thing.
Things changed. Elyssa and Tiffany left to start the Vauxhall Vixens (which is still going strong) and Aza left to pursue her interior decorators license. And Sara and Lindsey and I invited Janga to come aboard. And we kept going.
So many things have happened since we started this gig in 2006. Heart surgeries, career changes, books written, authors met, books read, health scares, pets lost, agents gained. And that inescapable part of being a writer: rejections, lots and lots of rejection. And all this has only been what’s gone on with me. If we made a list of everything that’s happened to each of us we’d spend a couple more years blogging about the list.
Since we announced last week that we were closing up shop, we’ve had so many lovely comments from past Visiting Vagabonds as well as from “regulars” and lurkers. What I am most proud of from my time as a Vagabond is the sense of community that we were able to establish here. I count the friendships I have made here and during fanlit and on the Eloisa James Bulletin Board among the most important in my life.
Without them, I know I would never have had the courage to take writing seriously. And that’s what I’m doing now. Writing.
Seriously.
Thank you so much, Vagabonds, present and past, for letting me be a part of this special endeavor. It has been an honor and a privilege. I know I will work with you all again in some other capacity, but never again as a wandering gypsy with a keyboard and a story to tell.
And to all of you who have visited our blog over the past three years, I hope you have had half as much fun reading my blogs as I’ve had reading your comments. You’re a bloggers dream! Now go out there and show all those other blogs what you’re made of!
So, one last time, what about you? Do you have any words of wisdom to impart to us as we set out on our solo journeys? Or, if you do not feel comfortable dispensing words of wisdom, read any good books lately? Inquiring minds want to know!
I am so sad to see you go, but take comfort in the fact that you won’t be far.
No words of wisdom. Just a tear or two.
I love you people.
J
I’m with J. Bring on the Kleenex.
My words of wisdom are borrowed from an old song and they’re for all our community of vagabonds:
“Keep smiling, keep shining,
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure.
That’s what friends are for.”
What a beautiful farewell, Manda. It’s been a pleasure to have been a part of this intelligent, caring, funny and insightful caravan. No words of wisdom from me. I know all of you are going to be enormously successful in whatever endeavors you choose. Instead, I’d like to send you on your way with an old Irish prayer.
May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Okay, I don’t know if this speaks to may age or what, but I’m definitely hearing Paul Anka, here. Could it be possible that both Paul and Barbara have the same words to their songs? I’m gonna have to do some Googling after I comment.
Anyway, I’m gonna follow PJ’s lead and leave you all with another Irish Blessing (there isn’t a relative’s house I walked into when I was a kid where this wasn’t mounted up on the wall somewhere!):
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Good luck and Godspeed, Vagabonds. I know new and wonderful adventures await you all!
Do what you love.
Love what you do.
Work hard. Be Passionate about your passions.
And God willing, you’ll be among the successful few.
Even for the very talented, true success only comes through hard work and dedication. This woman dedicated 2700 hours and 360, 000 dollars to her dream …
Cue the Streisand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N4clkvSGLE
Awe.. you guys are so great! I read this and got the chills. What a great post, and it is also kind of sad. I am so excited for all of you though, and I hope you have fun, and hope you all find a way to keep us updated! I am def. a lurker here, but I have a special spot for anything fanlit and the friendships made there. Thanks for giving us three awesome years of blogging, and letting us get excited with you when good things happen, and for inviting us to give you some farewell hugs. I have some selfish wisdom… : come back here and post when amazing things happen to all of you. Tweet to us about it… and good luck!!!
Holy crap. I just saw this:
“Send in the clown(s) trumpet erotica. ”
hahahahaha!
Well, dang! Manda, you made me cry all over again! It’s been so wonderful to share this space with you guys. You’re a wise, fun, and funny group of women, and I can’t think of anything to tell you that you don’t already know. Safe journey to all of you, and may our paths cross often.
Oh, hey! One piece of advice. No clowns, please – they scare the hell out of me!
It’s the end of an era. A sad day, but not too sad knowing you all have such fantastic adventures underway. Thanks for the laughs and so many memories. And I’ll never regret clicking that clown smiley by mistake.
NO, I do not have any last words of anything!! I refuse.
I know the Vagabonds have got to move on in the blogging world, but I’m so glad to know we’ll all still be in touch on a regular basis. It comforts me. Manda, you and the vagabonds did a great job with this blog. You should all be so proud of what you accomplished with it.
*low, mournful clown bugle threesome*
Aww, you guys are the best! Seriously it has been so fun. Thank you. And I love all of your advice. And your non-advice. {{{group hug}}}
And this: *low, mournful clown bugle threesome* ?
Brilliant!Who knew that a misplaced smiley would give us all so many years of snarky fun?
This feels like the end of a holiday romance!
I’m going to miss you, but I’ll survive.
As a quantum physicist I am interested in the very small, so my best advice to writers about to publish:
Always read the small print.
Its been great to know you. Its been fascinating to follow the technical discussions, though I’m still a bit hazy on deep POV.
And above all its been tremendous fun!
Au Revouir Mes Amis
Play nicely in the big bad world.
And for God’s sake get that book published soon.
I can’t wait for ever! *grin*
Good Luck Manda
It’s so hard to say goodbye, Manda. No wisdom to add, but I’ll definitely miss discussing our favorite books.
I will definitely miss visiting everyday, my only words of wisdom – have fun and keep writing. I know you are all amazing writers with wonderful stories to tell. Please keep a cyber presence so we can keep track. All the best and thanks for all the smiles.
Dang it, Manda! I’m sad to see the wagons go off into the sunset but I take great comfort in knowing that the friendships forged here are timeless and priceless. You have been a great source of inspiration and encouragement for my writing, Manda. I am beyond excited for you Manda and the places your writing will take us.
I feel blessed to call you both peer and, more importantly, friend.
On your way now and don’t forget to pack up the clown trumpet erotica because I know you’ll have more “Secretsss” to tell in your usual wry brilliance. After all, Lord Northpole’s story is still begging to be told.
See you ’round cyberspace!
Sorry I missed plugging in earlier yesterday. I flaked out and didn’t turn on the computer until quite late.
I love all the memories you brought up. It’s been a fabulous ride and such a treat to see how we all have grown through the last couple of years.
Smiles,
Élodie
I’m so sad to see you guys leaving. Farewell and good luck.
It’s like saying bye to friends!
I will definitely miss visiting everyday, all the wonderful authors, books and stories. Thank you for all those.
Too bad to see you go. I dont have any words of wisdom, but I’m reading The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings.