Featured Guest
From New York, Linda Feyder is the author of All Is Fair and Other California Stories. Her collection travels us to be in the company of fishermen, waitresses, boys who love dinosaurs, pregnant girls, housewives, murderers, and lost brothers. The stories ring true, each one a gem. Her pen is powerful when she sketches her characters and settings with bold lines and weaves engaging plots
I asked Linda to reflect on this question: “As a result of publishing your book, what have you learned about yourself and/or the writing process?” Her answer was honest and thoughtful.
“Publishing my first book was a bit like giving birth to my first child. I had no idea what to expect, developed a new vocabulary, and learned I had far more courage than I ever thought I had. To begin with, the new vocabulary: query integration, ARC, traditional distribution, publicity report, etc. Who knew? I learned as the process swept me along. My goal was the same as when carrying that new bundle of life through the front door threshold: do no harm and have faith you’ll figure it out.
Once the book was ready to enter the world, there was no end to the amount of work required to make it seen, and hopefully be given some respect. I had to go to bat for my book. That meant mustering the courage to leave my writer’s desk and enter bookstores for signings, develop a book launch, create social media platforms, ask for reviews, and generally do everything a writer avoids doing when creating words on a page in something akin to solitary confinement. It also takes courage to send a child out into the world knowing they will sometimes not receive the warmest reception, will not win the award, or maybe even require my voice to advocate for them.
But the rewards in both cases are plentiful. What I learned is that experiences that stretch me the most are also the ones that give me the most fortitude. As I write my second book, I’m excited for the process to begin all over again, this time with some newfound wisdom.”
In the Sun and in the Rain aspires to bring you creative work from many corners of the world and introduce friends the world over. From the blue skies of Thessaloniki, I wish you a joyful fall and many journeys, by train, bus, air, or sea, paintings and through books.
Feel free to share this Newsletter with your reading and writing community and friends who can also subscribe. Live long and prosper!
Best,
Sophia
