Or Launch, as in boats and books, is a fun, exciting culmination of a lot of hard work. Holding that first copy of your novel in your cramped 'carpal tunnel-ed' hand after weeks (or months!) of completing the first draft, then revisions followed by a final, clean copy is definitely cause for celebration.
The high of that moment is matched by the magic phone call offering a contract. Personally, those two events have only been eclipsed by the births of my two daughters, an aside I'm including should either happen to read this post. After that call, for a few hours or even days, I float in a dreamworld of congratulatory messages, high fives, hugs and at least one bottle of 'good' Champagne.
Then reality strikes. Oh. Now I have to actually write the book. And that's another roller coaster ride, isn't it? The highs of making characters come alive, giving them goals and emotionally challenging obstacles not to mention playing with their fantasies is a humbling and heady experience that can't be explained to non-writers.
As for the lows? I'm remembering sleepless nights as deadline looms; the dreaded sagging middle of the book when I (and usually my characters) run out of steam; the revision notes, line and copy edits - hurdles to haul my frazzled brain up and over to cross the finish line.
My story - mixed metaphors and all - is familiar and pertinent I'm sure to all writers. We know after our very first sale what to expect but our passion for the craft compels us to repeat (we hope!) the process again and again.
This past year I got to do that with the sale and now publication of my Heartwarming debut, For Love of a Dog. Those highs and lows came as expected and now I can finally say, "it's almost here - it's coming your way" on September 1st.
Check out that cute cover. What's not to love? And here's a peek at the back cover blurb.
This achievement couldn't been made without the encouragement of family and friends and especially, my editors - Claire Caldwell and Victoria Curran - for guiding me though that process.
Cheers to all my fellow Heartwarming authors for your support!
Pre-order For Love of a Dog at: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Goodreads.com, Harlequin.com
The high of that moment is matched by the magic phone call offering a contract. Personally, those two events have only been eclipsed by the births of my two daughters, an aside I'm including should either happen to read this post. After that call, for a few hours or even days, I float in a dreamworld of congratulatory messages, high fives, hugs and at least one bottle of 'good' Champagne.
Then reality strikes. Oh. Now I have to actually write the book. And that's another roller coaster ride, isn't it? The highs of making characters come alive, giving them goals and emotionally challenging obstacles not to mention playing with their fantasies is a humbling and heady experience that can't be explained to non-writers.
As for the lows? I'm remembering sleepless nights as deadline looms; the dreaded sagging middle of the book when I (and usually my characters) run out of steam; the revision notes, line and copy edits - hurdles to haul my frazzled brain up and over to cross the finish line.
My story - mixed metaphors and all - is familiar and pertinent I'm sure to all writers. We know after our very first sale what to expect but our passion for the craft compels us to repeat (we hope!) the process again and again.
This past year I got to do that with the sale and now publication of my Heartwarming debut, For Love of a Dog. Those highs and lows came as expected and now I can finally say, "it's almost here - it's coming your way" on September 1st.
Check out that cute cover. What's not to love? And here's a peek at the back cover blurb.
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Cheers to all my fellow Heartwarming authors for your support!
Pre-order For Love of a Dog at: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Goodreads.com, Harlequin.com
Janice, I am so excited for you for the release of FOR LOVE OF A DOG. You probably know enough about me that I can't resist a book with a cute dog on the cover and features that dog in a prominent role the book!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your debut and for many more books to come!!
Thanks Kate and yes to the magic of dogs!
DeleteI knew you'd have Kate's heart from the get-go! :-) The story sounds fabulous. Congratulations and best wishes on its release.
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz - from the responses of friends and family, the cover appeals to all. It was fun writing it, in spite of my angst in the post!
DeleteCongratulations, Janice! It sounds like a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jill. I like the story, though I am biased!:)
DeleteCongratulations on your release! Sounds like a great story.
ReplyDeleteThank you T.R. It's all very exciting, isn't it?
DeleteI have the book in my TBR stack. Now I need to find time to read. Great cover and blurb. Looking forward to reading the story.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Roz and I hope you like it! :)
DeleteGreat writing story, great cover, great blurb. All the best with this release. I could very much relate to your process and concerns. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Virginia and yes, I'm sure we can all relate. Perhaps even those who've been writing for years and have established international success.
DeleteWriting really is like a roller-coaster ride. Except for me, it's more like a roller-coaster that breaks down a couple times and leaves me hanging on for dear life for a while until it sputters back to life and takes off again. Thankfully, those highs outweigh the lows (and the break-downs). Congratulations on your debut HW! It sounds wonderful. And who could resist that cover and title?
ReplyDeleteWell put, Carol!! I know exactly what you mean, especially hanging on for dear life while waiting for it all to kick start again. And the highs have to outweigh the lows, right? Else we'd never try it all again.
DeleteWell, that was most APTLY put! It's a circus, that's for sure. And who among us doesn't love the extravaganza and the thrills of walking the high wire or the suspense of the trapeze? Congrats on your book. Love the cover, love the dog and can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kate...you had me with the dog!
Ah Carherine, you're so kind and generous. And you said it, it is an extravaganza! I hope you enjoy it. :)
DeleteYour cover is spot-on with showing how dogs draw people together. Congrats on your upcoming release!
ReplyDeleteThank you M.K. and I have the team at Harlequin to thank for choosing that particular scene! Dogs and pets in general do draw people together in a special way, don't they?
DeleteCongratulations, Janice! For Love of a Dog sounds like a great story. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteLinda, thank you for that and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
DeleteI've been looking forward to this story for a long time. A dog, a soldier and love. Perfect combination.
ReplyDeleteIt seems irresistible, doesn't it? That combo. Thanks Beth!
DeleteCongratulations on your Heartwarming debut!! That cover is sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Laurie. Thanks for the congrats!
DeleteCongratulations! It IS a lot of work to write a book, isn't it? I hope you celebrate this release with another bottle of the good stuff. ;) You deserve it!
ReplyDelete