It’s finally happening—-I think???

 

I started this blog two years ago when I felt the very idea of me having a blog was totally worthless. My book, though technically “finished” was being rewritten every few months, hoping with each new edition that ONE such copy would draw the attention of an agent; one who was NOT sending out form letters informing authors that he/she was  “accepting no material of this style/genre/whatever at this time.”

February 2012, thanks to a workshop sponsored by Atlanta Writers Club, I found an agent who WANTED me.  I signed a contract and began to do what she told me—change this, edit this, add that.  That took a few months, then she began to solicit publishers. Things got quiet, and it seemed to be back to the land of rejection again. A few months more, and a PUBLISHER wanted me.

 

November 2012—I signed a contract, then began to do what they told me—change this, edit this, cut this.  Change this, cut this.  Reword this—and this—and this. Then do the same kind of thing with Editor # 2, who was even more meticulous, and Editor #3. Change titles. Change cover. Proof again.  And again.  And again.

 

April 2013. Suddenly—I have a release date—August 6th.  The last proofs are in, so I have time to labor my “book promotion checklist.” I have approximately 4 months to plan a book launch, a blog tour, solicit blurbs and reviews, plan/order promo materials and “swag,” maybe even create a book trailer. “I can do this!” I say to myself, spending to 4 to 6 hours a day online, trying to stay organized and get everything in shape.  “You can only have one FIRST book, so do it RIGHT” I remember someone saying, and I swear that I will.  I go to Office Depot and print out spiral bound copies. I write letters, I beg for blurbs.  I order bookmarks, take them to conferences, and maybe by the last day I’ll have the nerve to actually GIVE THEM to someone.  I change my profile pic and screen saver to my book cover. I meet with other authors—online, at booksignings, and stalking them any way I find possible. I post my book cover, these meetings, my LIFE— all over Facebook, then individually send it to every I know—on the face of the earth! I sign up for conferences, reserve an expensive booth at a huge book festival, keep finding more and more stuff on this list that I missed the first, or second, or third times—–

 

It’s July 1st

My book was received by those who ordered from Amazon TODAY. By 10 am I have texts, emails, and facebook messages with pictures of it—yet I don’t have one. My publisher says my author’s copies should be here “by the end of the week, or middle of next week at the latest, with the holiday factor.” I order one from Amazon.com this morning—I simply HAVE to hold it in my hand before then. I had set a date for a launch party—August 15th.  I try to call the Arts Council (who was hosting the launch) back and move up the date—but they’re closed all week due to the holiday. What about those people who were planning my blog tour—do I call them and try to push up THOSE dates as well, or leave as is, or—will they be gone all week, too? I can’t do that one on my own, I’m not even sure I understand what a “blog tour” IS yet—-I’m doing Barnes & Noble at the Mall of Georgia with 3 other authors—-what if NO ONE comes to see ME? Will they call up all the other Barnes & Noble stores in THE WORLD and tell them I’m a loser?  I need to call libraries—should I start in South Georgia, the setting of the book or North Georgia, where I live? Can I DO THIS in just over a month? How did this happen?  Is it fate? Should I just give up NOW or———- —this is so confusing!

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