I'm sure you are all aware of the game, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. If not...well, where have you been living for the past twenty years? I'll refrain from going into it here.
But, I recently came to realize I like to play a completely different version of this. Six degrees of fame. Essentially, how close to fame are you, personally?
The closest I came for a long time was four degrees. I have a brother. (Actually, I have five brothers, but who's counting?) He is a vocal instructor. He was trained under Seth Riggs. Seth isn't, himself, really famous, unless you are talking the world of vocal instructors. But, Seth is responsible for teaching famous persons including the likes of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. So, that's four. Michael Jackson, Seth Riggs, Eric Bruner, then me.
Then, a few years later, I was able to move that up. My brother (a different one, not the vocal instructor) started working for Dr. James Dobson. Now, not in every circle is he famous, but he is certainly well-known. So, that's three. Through my brother. James Dobson, Kurt Bruner, then me.
Next, I was able to move to two. My brother (the one who works for Dobson) has published several books, and, just a couple years ago, hit the Christian bestseller list for his books Finding God in the Lord of the Rings (co-authored by Jim Ware) and Inklings of God. On top of that, he would guest-host the radio program for Dr. Dobson on occasion. Soon, I found people would know about Kurt Bruner, and find it surprising I was his brother. (Hmm. I guess I don't seem like the type who could have a brother who is semi-famous.) So, that's two. Kurt Bruner, then me.
In the past two years, I have been able to reaffirm my status of two degrees. I've come to know many published authors. (Some famous, others, not yet famous.)
At this point, I have nowhere to go except to become famous myself. And that's where my current work-in-progress comes in. When it is published (or, if I'm published, I suppose...but I'm full of hope), then I might just move that up to one. Me!
I'm not there yet. And, there is certainly the possibility I will never get there. Frankly, I'm not really looking for fame. I hate the spotlight. When I sing in church, I prefer to hide in the hallways to avoid people coming up to me. Yet, I really want to see my novel published.
In the meantime, I have two degrees of fame. What about you?
