The Truth about Launching a Book -- Misha Herwin
Yesterday I
launched the second book in the series “The Adventures of Letty Parker.” It’s a
MG book, aimed at the 8-12 market, though as one reviewer, Kerry Parsons from www.chataboutbooks said “it will be enjoyed by children and
adults alike. I think it would sound great read aloud and enjoyed by the whole
family.”
There were more reviews, loads of
comments on FB and Twitter and I felt much supported by friends, fellow writers
and book-bloggers.
All in all a very positive experience,
but one which left me totally exhausted. Switching off the computer, pouring a
glass of wine I wondered why I was so tired. What I’d been doing was enjoyable.
I love interacting with people on social media and it was great to be able to
thanking friends for their comments and likes. After all, I hadn’t
done any hard physical work. I’d sat at my desk most of day, fuelled by cups of
coffee and glasses of water –I’d made sure I wasn’t dehydrated, so I should
have been fine.
Talking to other writers, I found I wasn’t
alone in my reaction to launching a new book and I came to the conclusion that,
however enjoyable the experience is one level, it is akin to being on stage and
performing for hours on end.
There is also the lead up, week, or
weeks, where blogposts are being set up, requests for reviews sent out and
tweets twittered to keep the forthcoming book out there in people’s mind.
And beneath it all is the sneaking fear
that none of this will work. That no one will notice, let alone like your new
book. That it will sink into obscurity and the months, possibly even years, of
writing, editing, re-writing and re-editing will come to nothing.
It’s the fear of rejection that is so
draining. The fear of stepping out there on that stage and being booed off, or
simply ignored. Of having made the mistake of daring to think you’re a writer,
when you so obviously aren’t.
And then suddenly, it’s all over. “Bridge
of Lies” is out there. No point in worrying, time to enjoy the short moments of
freedom before getting on with book 3.
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