For the past few months, I’ve been in a cave. I set a very aggressive schedule for myself of writing and it means I’ve had to put my head down and just write. I have a day job which pays the bills and keeps a roof over my head and at night, I write. I have no life, but I don’t mind. I’m realizing my dream and that’s been enough to fuel my fire and keep my butt in the seat and my hands on the keyboard. At the time of posting this blog, I am 32 days away from the release of my debut mystery, THE PLOT IS MURDER. This is the first book in what I hope will be a long running series, in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series.
If you’ve been following along, you know I sold THE PLOT IS MURDER to Kensington on April 20, 2016 (yep, 18 months ago). Thankfully, I’ve been busy writing and haven’t had time to stress out about the book release (well, not too much anyway). Today, I turned in book #4 in the series to my editor. For the first time in roughly eighteen months, I don’t have a deadline looming over me. I need to outline two books, but that’s not the same as having to write an entire manuscript. Of course, now I have time to market and promote my books, and to stress and obsess about all things book related.
For me, the scariest part about being an author is having people read my book. I, like most of the authors I know, am introverted and shy. Hard to believe? I can and do talk a lot, but not about things that are important. In fact, many people (family and friends) never knew that I was a writer. In fact, most only found out when I was forced to come out of the closet and reveal that, YES, I AM A WRITER.
Writing can be a very lonely exercise which allows writers to express themselves without having to talk to people directly. Now, my book is being read by real people (as opposed to the non-real people). And, those readers are leaving reviews and ratings of my book. The thing that’s grown inside of me for years and taken me years to birth is out there for critique and criticism. I’ve tried to steel myself against the negative reviews. I tell myself at least ten times each day, ‘everyone won’t like my book and that’s okay.’ However, no matter how many times I tell myself that, reading a negative review still feels like someone is telling me, ‘your baby is ugly.’ Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, a part of me (the childish part that needs to suck it up and grow up) wants to say, If you don’t have anything nice (i.e. productive) to say, don’t say anything.’ Alas, that is not the time in which we live.
My baby is out on Netgalley and my publisher has hosted a couple of giveaways on Goodreads. On November 28, 2017 the book will release and be available everywhere books are sold. Thank you to those of you who took the time to read it and left kind words. You will never know how kind, encouraging words have spurred me on. I’d also like to say thank you to those who didn’t like the book, but still took the time to leave honest feedback. All feedback, no matter how hard it is to swallow, can only help me to get better. So, not only have I had to come out and reveal to the world that I AM A WRITER. I am exposing myself for all to see and critique. Let the fun begin!