Hey, y’all.
It’s already June so I’ll get to the point. Here are a few things I didn’t expect to appreciate, waiting for MY time to come to publish a novel:
For years I worked as a frustrated grant writer, wishing for time to write what and how I wanted and to not have it scored by word count or on a rubric. I took pride in helping win funds to support underserved populations, but I hated some of the dance moves it took. Constantly pitching ideas. Dodging political potholes. Meeting relentless, non-negotiable deadlines. Who would have guessed those skills would serve me so well in birthing a novel?
Life in the grant-writing universe meant learning a whole lotta tools, many computer-based. Spreadsheets and databases. Search engines. Tracking software. Don’t get me started on learning about stretch goals and metrics. And Google Docs. I used to grit my teeth and say, “Once I retire, I’ll never use these things again.” Well…guess what?
Sometimes the writing life felt like a big ol’ waiting game—pausing until my kids were bigger, then ‘til my sandwich-generation days of caregiving were done. Was I grateful for all the delays back in the day? Hellz, no! But I learned about love and loss, and that life doesn’t always come through like we think it should.
These days I’m happy to have a little more life under my belt. (Most of the time!) I like being older but still young enough to learn and grow. I’m learning to navigate new software and web-based tools, like Satan (oops, I mean Atticus), BookFunnel, Publishers Rocket, and more. I’m confident collaborating with cover artists and editors, knowing when to speak up but also when to listen. And the friendships I’ve gained on the road to publication? Those are the icing. They leave me in awe of the beauty and talent all around us when we dare to live a creative life.
All this to say, it’s my time now. And I’m ready! SECRETS OF THE BLUE MOON, my debut novel, is still on target to launch this September 6th. (See the new BOOKS tab on my website for more information.)
Do I feel nervous to see it succeed? Of course! I want folks to like it and maybe even ponder its themes for a bit. But…no one will die (or go hungry or stay uneducated) if it’s a bust.
The best way to put it is, I feel empowered. I love how the writing and publishing and marketing keeps me growing every step of the way. Best of all, I’ve learned to embrace being my own gatekeeper. And I’ve got to say, it feels mighty fine.
