Making a Literary Life Friday: Pubbed!
Photo: Mikey Moto
We here at the Writers' Group couldn't be more pleased for our fellow bloggers on the occasion of their long-awaited books finally being published. We've read along as they got their book deals, covers, pub days, revamped covers, revamped pub days, and first fan mail. Congratulations to Therese Fowler, Eileen Cook, and Carleen Brice. You did it!
Lisa Marnell
Checking out far-reaching bookstores is always exciting! I did a back flip when I found Lynne's title, Negotiation Generation here in California last September. My mom in Montreal called that same week to say it was in her local bookstore, too. Congrats Eileen, Therese, and Carleen. I'll be spreading the word far and wide!
Amy MacKinnon
I've visited every bookstore within a sensible radius of my home to make sure they're carrying the above titles. When they don't -- *gasp* -- I ask if they'll order a couple. They're happy to comply. How exciting is it to see the fruition of another's dream? I'm so happy for each of you and I wish the same for all those working their way toward the same goal. I've said it before and hear me now: to paraphrase Amanda Eyre Ward, "...all those who persevere will get published..." Truer words were never spoken.Hannah Roveto
Here's to local bookstores, too, when it comes to new titles. I do order from Amazon now and then, and have done so sometimes in the hopes those purchases get noticed by publishers, but it's the local, independent bookstore that (a) gets that book right away if they don't have it already, of course, and (b) takes special notice when someone local asks for a title. Congratulations to Therese, Eileen and Carleen!
Lynne Griffin
When we first met each of these authors via our blog community, we were thrilled to learn of their upcoming debuts. Over the year or so, we've been generously given an inside view on the process. Thank you to each of you! Now at this exciting time, we're sure to hear more about their dreams come true. Congratulations, Carleen, Eileen and Therese. I'm so happy for all of you. And by the way, you all have books that really capture the eye. They really stand out, especially on those bookstore front tables.
13 comments:
What a timely post!
This is what the blogging community can do -- create a network of supportive writers.
I know I have been exposed to lots of books I ordinarily would not have due to blogging.
I had no idea how short the window was for debut authors- it's an eye opener.
Much aloha and luck to all...
Thanks so much Lisa, Amy, Hannah and Lynne! You have all been wonderful companions these months since my novel's sale.
And now it's ON sale. How can something so obviously true still feel unfathomable?
I eagerly await each of your debuts!
p.s. I'll be posting some good news later today...
Doesn't it make you proud to feel "connected" with these beautiful eye-catching books and to know what's inside is even better?! :)
Pat, I still remember reading about the sale of LOTTERY on PubMarketplace and thinking, "that is going to be some book." I was right! Any advice you want to give the rest of us about that window, we'd love to hear it.
Therese, congratulations on a dream come true! Can't wait to hear your news.
Larramie, it does. And it's introduced us to you!
Amy
I don't know how other not-yet-pubbed authors feel, but I've really enjoyed vicariously experiencing the excitement of publication through your blog and Therese's and Carleen's. Hope it doesn't make you guys feel creeped out that sometimes I pretend I'm you. ;-)
OMG, How nice are you??? At the risk of repeating myself (death for a writer), I'm blown away by how supportive this blog community is! Can't wait to post about your debuts on my blog.
I've read two out of three of these books--Orange Mint and Honey as well as Souvenir--so far and they're fantastic! K.
Carleen, we're just so excited for you and who doesn't like a good book? Congratulations again (now who's being redundant?).
Kristen, I've read Souvenir and pick-up my copies of OM&H and UNPREDICTABLE tomorrow. Aren't we all lucky to be part of such a smart community?
Amy
Congratulations, gals! And thanks writer's group for the support you lend to all of us out there trying to make something happen.
GG, we're all tilting at the same windmill, it's nice to to be able to do it together.
Call me a total word geek, but I had to look up the expression "tilting at windmills." Maybe it's because I'm a mostly Dutch word geek that I couldn't pass this up. :) Here's what I found on ask.com:
"This metaphoric expression alludes to the hero of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605), who rides with his lance at full tilt (poised to strike) against a row of windmills, which he mistakes for evil giants."
I'm afraid for many aspiring writers the publishing industry can seem to be filled with "evil giants" but it's nice to know from so many blogs in and about the industry that the opposite is true. K.
Hi, SS,
I've always used the term "tilting at windmills" in terms of the quixotic venture of trying to get a book published -- not the evil giant metaphor but the delusional metaphor. Meaning, we believe wholly in our quest -- we must, how else to justify all of this spent energy -- yet to others, we appear mad, trying in vain to achieve the impossible. Ride on, I say, faster, madly, ride on. Dream big.
Amy
PS- I've yet to meet an evil giant in the land of publishing. Everyone has been more than kind.
A writer's quest must seem delusional at times, especially to anyone who doesn’t love to write just for the sake of writing. The publishing part is icing on the cake. I don’t remember what Joyce Carol Oates said when someone asked her once why she writes fiction, but I can just imagine how odd she must’ve found such a question. K.
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