This looks like a pretty good place to be right about now. One can only dream.
Reality for us right now is saying “no” to a vacation and saving our pennies so we can pay for what needs fixed on our house in order to sell. I know it’s the responsible thing to do, but some days I wish I didn’t have to be. Some days I want to say “the heck with it” and book a week with my husband at an all-inclusive resort or rent a cottage on a lake somewhere or take a road trip to the Grand Canyon (I will see the Grand Canyon. Oh yes, I will!).
My brain is in need of a break, though, that’s for sure. Writing, editing, book formatting, proofing, marketing. I seem to have developed “book launch amnesia”, because I went through all of this when I published The Truth About Drew last year, but I must have forgotten. It can be really hard and frustrating and overwhelming at times. I think I’m through the hard and frustrating part (editing, line editing, copy editing, book formatting, ebook formatting) and now I’m on to completely overwhelming.
I am a bit overwhelmed. I’ve got this great book and I want to share it with as many people as possible, but how do I do that? How do I get the word out? I’m no marketing genius, but I know how to share on social media. And I’m not a gifted salesman or public speaker (obviously, that’s why writing is perfect for me!), so how do I promote the book without sounding like all I’m saying is “BUY MY BOOK! BUY MY BOOK!”. It’s tricky, this marketing thing.
But I do want people to buy the book. Of course, I do. I love my sweet story and I want to share it.
And I want to be able to make a living with my writing, or at least contribute to our income, which requires me to sell my books.
I’m also overwhelmed in a good way by the positive reaction from those who have read advanced copies of Goodbye, Magnolia. I’d love to think that the word of mouth about the book will do all the selling for me, but I know that’s not realistic. Wouldn’t it be nice if it was? 😉
Again … overwhelming.
These are some of the things that are racing around in my brain lately. Especially as book launch gets closer (less than THREE WEEKS from now!), I have mixed emotions. I’m nervous and excited and giddy and terrified and hopeful and proud and scared. But mostly I’m just happy. Because writing makes me happy. And I hope the stories I write will bring some happiness to all of you who read them, too.