If you follow me on social media, you’ll know that I’m getting close to the home stretch in the publishing process of Someone to Kiss. And, if you know me in person, you’ll know that it’s basically all I talk about. I’ve had to start holding back until asked about it because I’m predicting people are going to start getting irritated. But, if you do ask? Watch out. Because I will let you know how my book is going until I see your eyes glaze over.
When I finally stop talking, the thing most people say is, “You must be so excited!” and I always say, “I totally am!” And it’s true, I am very excited. But, lately, another emotion has crept in: fear.
For the last two years or so, I’ve been happily circling the writing —> feedback —> editing loop, and it’s been great. Each piece of feedback has made the book better. Unlike a lot of authors, I actually like editing, so I’ve been relishing the comfort of smarter people telling me what to do to move the book closer and closer to something someone might actually want to read.
Now, however, I’m nearing the end of this part. I only have a couple more steps; a couple more opportunities to get feedback; a couple more tries to make my book better. And then what? Then the fun part is over. Then the book goes out to the public and those actual people will read it. People who aren’t my super supportive friends and family, who like it because they know me and are kind with their critiques.
And that, frankly, terrifies me. While a big part of me really wants to see my book in print, another (possibly larger) part of me, wants to stay in this protective little editing bubble forever. Once it’s out there, I can’t take the feedback I get and make the book better. I can’t depend on my friends and family to be gentle with their criticisms. I have to deal with the very real possibility that maybe the book will not be well-received and people won’t like it, and maybe even HATE it, and WHAT HAPPENS THEN?!
I was relaying all of this to a friend the other day and she nodded and smiled and waited for me to shut up, and then she gave me a great little nugget to think about: Alanis Morissette once said (I’m paraphrasing), that after she put her music out into the world, the songs were no longer hers. Once she released them, people listened to them with the filter of their own experiences, and she couldn’t control their reactions. “Why don’t you think of it like that,” my friend said.
Now, I’m obviously nowhere near the caliber of Alanis Morissette, but I love that way of thinking. So, that’s what I’m going to try to do. And maybe I’ll succeed, and maybe I won’t, but, if anything, it may just do the trick in tipping the scales in favour of me being more excited than terrified. And, if not, there’s always wine.
The biggest, most exciting update I have is that I’ve seen the proof of the cover image for Someone to Kiss! And I love it so, so much! It’s perfectly exactly what I had in mind but couldn’t put into words. I can’t wait to show it to you. Subscribers to this newsletter will see it first, so watch your inbox in June.
Other updates:
Someone to Kiss has now been sent to all Beta Readers for feedback! In three weeks the feedback will hopefully come pouring in and then, after I make the revisions, it will go for a final line edit and then proofread. The launch is scheduled for late September/early October.
Running from Christmas has been through the first revision and is with my publisher waiting for her thoughts. If she likes it, it will be sent to the editor. For those who don’t remember, this is the free PDF novella that you will get for signing up for the newsletter.
What I’m reading
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of excellent, easy-to-read romances and thrillers. The Chestnut Man, however, has quite a few characters and lots of stuff going on and I’m finding that I need to really pay attention. Not that that’s a bad thing; I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m about a quarter of the way through and, true to the reviews, it is quite a bit like Stieg Larsson and his Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, which I loved a lot. Søren Sveistrup is also the writer of The Killing which I also loved so it is not a surprise that I’m digging this book. If you like well-written, international thrillers with a bit of gore, this one is for you.
Romance Twitter - did anyone know this existed? I did not.
Writer’s Bone - Another good writing and books podcast
Garbage Day newsletter - This has nothing to do with writing, but I really like it.